A Panel Discussion with Author Cassie Premo Steele, Scholar Emily Fairfax and, Moderator Elizabeth Vernon (E.V.) Bell

Author

Cassie Premo Steele (she/her), the author of the new novel, Beaver Girl, the 2024 selection for the One Book Project for Columbia, South Carolina, is an environmental writer who holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the author of many books, including 7 books of poetry and 3 novels. She is the recipient of numerous writing awards , among them the Archibald Rutledge Prize, named after the first Poet Laureate of South Carolina, where she lives in Columbia with her wife.
Cassie’s Website

Scholar

Dr. Emily Fairfax (she/her) is an Assistant Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Society at the University of Minnesota, and has been featured on PBS, BBC, CBS, the New York Times, LA Times, NPR, Science Friday, and other media outlets. Her research, which was a major source of inspiration for the author Cassie Premo Steele in writing the novel, Beaver Girl, focuses on the ecohydrology of riparian areas, particularly those that have been impacted by beaver damming. She uses a combination of remote sensing, modeling, and field work to understand how beaver damming changes these landscapes and on what timescales those changes operate. She also has an interest in science education research, particularly curriculum development.
Emily’s Website

Moderator

Elizabeth Vernon (E.V.) Bell (she/her) is the Marine Education Specialist for the SC Sea Grant Consortium and a recipient of the 2023 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. Among many other programs and achievements, E.V. coordinates the “All Booked Up” environmental book club for South Carolina, and she frequently hosts virtual book club and author discussions as a part of this role. Her background in environmental and marine science, and her love for books and for authors, make her the perfect choice to moderate this event. 
Elizabeth’s Website

We're excited to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery, our monthly show premiering on First Thursdays. This month we're featuring K. Wayne Thornley

Artist Bio

K. Wayne Thornley is an artist working in mixed media painting and assemblage.

His award-winning work has been show in group and solo exhibitions throughout the Southeast and purchased for several private and corporate collections including The Greenwood Genetics Center and Wells Fargo.

Recent juried exhibitions include the South Carolina Watermedia Society Annual Exhibition (Signature Member) and the Greenville Artists Guild Annual Small Works Exhibition.

Mixed media work by the artist has been selected for exhibition at Artfields (2018 & 2019), an annual art competition and survey of Southeastern art held annually in Lake City, SC.

He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he studied art, design and marketing.

Sponsored in part by Samuel C. Waters & Dr. Mary Baskin Waters.
Sterling Elliot sponsored by Truist.

AN ARTISTIC COLLABORATION WITH THE JASPER PROJECT

The SC Philharmonic closes the 59th Season with an inspiring interdisciplinary integration of classical music and visual art. Collaborating with the Jasper Project, the SC Phil welcomes 14 SC artists to respond to the works and movements presented on this program, creating new pieces to express their reactions. These new creations will be projected on the sides of the concert hall during the performance, providing audiences with a distinctive artistic experience.

The SC Philharmonic also welcomes guest cellist Sterling Elliot to perform Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme. Acclaimed for his stellar stage presence and joyous musicianship, cellist Sterling Elliott is a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the winner of the Senior Division of the 2019 National Sphinx Competition. Already in his young career, he has appeared with such major orchestras as the Philadelphia Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Detroit Symphony, and the Dallas Symphony.

In addition to the Tchaikovsky, audiences will delight in Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 and Rose Absolute, a contemporary work by Japanese composer Karen Tanaka that was inspired by a perfume of the same name. Don’t miss the dynamic and exhilarating finale of our 2023/2024 Masterworks Season!

Journaling With Cassie Premo Steele, Author of Beaver Girl

Join us for our FREE Forest Wellness Program with Cassie Premo Steele, the author of the new novel, Beaver Girl, an environmental novel set in Congaree National Park. Relieve the stresses of your everyday life by taking the time to reconnect with nature and learn more about the importance of this special ecosystem. The program will include a 2-mile (round trip) meditative walk and a journaling workshop. In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to participate in mindful reflection, meditation, and journaling.

No previous experience is necessary, and all writing will be kept private. A free Congaree National Park journal and pen will be provided to registered participants.

Please meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center. All you need to participate is yourself, a water bottle, comfortable shoes, and comfortable clothing. Space is limited, so please sign up ahead of time. For questions or more information please email e-mail us

Pets are not permitted on this program, but service animals are welcome.

Registration is limited to 20 and opens March 26 on Eventbrite

Congaree National Park Event Listing

The public is invited to join the Jasper Project, One Columbia, and All Good Books, along with our host, Bierkeller Brewing Company on Sunday afternoon, April 21st from 3 – 5 pm for the announcement of our new book selection for Columbia’s 2024 ONE BOOK project!

As an Earth Day Eve event, the Bierkeller has invited representatives from local environmental organizations to be on hand to help us set the stage for the announcement of this year’s book selection. A few hints: the author lives, works, and writes in Columbia, the book’s theme centers around nature, environmental responsibility, and climate change, and there are characters in the book that transcend perceived racial, gender, sexual orientation, and even biological divisions to remind us that we are all citizens of this planet.

Columbia city poet laureate Jennifer Bartell Boykin will read a poem dedicated to the city, and southeastern regional poetry event host Al Black has created a new poem inspired by the selected book. Dr. Melissa Stuckey, USC professor of History, will speak as will One Columbia’s Xavier Blake, All Good Book’s Jared Johnson, and the Jasper Project’s Cindi Boiter. There will be an interactive arts table for the children, environmental information booths, and various arts and crafts vendors will share their wares and talents with attendees. And, of course, beer, wine, and authentic German dishes will be available from the Bierkeller.

In addition to announcing the calendar of events for Columbia’s 2024 ONE BOOK  celebration, the pre-Earth Day event will also allow for the announcement of a Jasper Project – sponsored and ONE BOOK - inspired visual art, literary art, and singer-songwriter competition open to Midlands area artists with prizes and a 2024 ONE BOOK culminating party on September 22, 2024.

A collaboration between Richland Library and the Jasper Project, this show features 22 previous Tiny Gallery artists. Opening on March 15th, the show will be up until April 26th.

Tiny Gallery is a virtual gallery that gives artists an opportunity to show a selection of smaller pieces offered at affordable price points attractive to beginning collectors and patrons with smaller budgets. Pieces can be any medium but must be under 15” x 15” and under $200, with no more than 50% of works being above $100; artists show around 15-25 pieces.

Starting in 2018, Tiny Gallery began in Tapp's Art Center with a goal to get local art in as many homes as possible. This celebration of Tiny Gallery's specific participants are:

Adam Corbett
Benji Hicks
Christopher Lane
Crush Rush
Fredrick Townsend
Ginny Merett
Jeffrey Miller
K. Wayne Thornley
Kathryn Van Aernum
Keith Tolen
Lindsay Radford Wiggins
Lucas Sams
Mary Ann Haven
Michael Krajewski
Pascale Sexton Bilgis
Regina Langston
Richard Hill
Ron Hagell
Sean Rayford
Tennyson Corley
Thomas Washington
Vanessa Hewitt DeVore

The SC Philharmonic closes the 59th Season with an inspiring interdisciplinary integration of classical music and visual art. Collaborating with the Jasper Project, the SC Phil welcomes 14 SC artists to respond to the works and movements presented on this program, creating new pieces to express their reactions. These new creations will be projected on the sides of the concert hall during the performance, providing audiences with a distinctive artistic experience.

Opening during Jasper Galleries usual monthly Third Thursday slot at Koger Center's The Nook, the show's featured artists are:

Alejandro Garcia-Lemos
Anthony Lewis
Eileen Blyth
Fred Townsend
K. Wayne Thornley
Keith Tolen
Laura Garner Hine
Lindsay Radford Wiggins
Lori Starnes Isom
Michael Krajewski
Regina Langston
Stephen Chesley
Thomas Washington
Wilma Ruth King

Jasper Galleries features monthly artists at Koger Center's The Nook, and our featured Third Thursday artist for the month of March is Josef Berlinger!

Artist Statement

The signature affixed to all of my work is "Jobey." Jobey is the more outgoing and confident alter ego of Josef Berliner. Behind the mask is a thoughtful, somewhat shy, and introspective artist. Armed with the knowledge that I am not alone in this attribute, I seek through all of my art, but most especially my portraiture, to go behind the surface facade of my subject matter and search for the deeper and often hidden and complex personae beneath.

As I delve deeper and deeper into my paintings, I feel an almost organic connection between myself and the canvas, as if our combined energies feed off of one another and a mutual bonding process emerges. There is never a precise moment when this melding occurs, but I know that it will, and while I may anticipate it eagerly, I also understand better than to try to force or rush it, as it must happen naturally and at its own pace.

Bio

To quote the artist himself, " I feel that it's my mission (and duty) to try to make the world a more beautiful place, even if it's only one canvas at a time."

The artistic journey of Josef Berliner began in early childhood, when his parents noticed that his favorite birthday and holiday gifts were sketchpads, young readers instructional books, and drawing pencils. His relatives (particularly his aunt, who was an artist herself) nurtured his interest, encouraging his creative spirit and inquiring mind. Cited for his renderings throughout his formative school years, his artwork was selected to be part of the national touring exhibition of the Scholastic Art Awards, where, at sixteen, he first exhibited at a stop on the tour at the Columbia Museum of Art.

He attended the University of South Carolina, with a double major in Theatre and Studio Art, surrounding himself with creative and brilliant instructors and classmates, many of whom have remained lifelong friends. Although he was determined to make his mark in the art world, fate had other plans for Josef, and his ear and skill with mixing dance music beckoned, so for many years he became best known as a premier nightclub deejay, performing at many of the largest and best-known clubs in the Southeast, winning a multitude of awards and commendations along the way. During this period, he met his biggest supporter and the most honest critic of his work, his husband Josh. it should be pointed out, however, that while the years behind turntables were both personally and professionally fulfilling, art still remained a driving passion.

He began accepting commission work on a limited basis. Clients appreciated what he was capable of achieving. Josh gave his full and complete support, backing his desire to assume the mantle of professional artist. He then became a fixture in both solo and group gallery shows.

He has been recognized as a contributor to many charitable causes, always willing to give of himself as much as possible. He has been cited for his participation in organizations such as Bullets and Band-Aids, the University of South Carolina Department of Dance Gala (in which he also serves as a board member), the Atlantic Institute, and most recently was honored to be a featured artist for the Artists for Africa winter event, an organization he has fervently supported for a number of years. His artwork has been seen in local theatre, where he has provided lobby art, touring exhibitions, as well as private collections not just on a national level, but internationally as well.

Josef works predominantly in oil on canvas, with a keen eye for detail and the innate ability to look far deeper than the mere surface, all the while seeking for a level of perfection that, while perhaps unattainable, is indeed his ultimate and far-reaching goal.

NEVER STOP REACHING....

A collaboration between Richland Library and the Jasper Project, this show features 22 previous Tiny Gallery artists. Opening on March 15th, the show will be up until April 26th.

Tiny Gallery is a virtual gallery that gives artists an opportunity to show a selection of smaller pieces offered at affordable price points attractive to beginning collectors and patrons with smaller budgets. Pieces can be any medium but must be under 15” x 15” and under $200, with no more than 50% of works being above $100; artists show around 15-25 pieces.

Starting in 2018, Tiny Gallery began in Tapp's Art Center with a goal to get local art in as many homes as possible. This celebration of Tiny Gallery's specific participants are:

Adam Corbett
Benji Hicks
Christopher Lane
Crush Rush
Fredrick Townsend
Ginny Merett
Jeffrey Miller
K. Wayne Thornley
Kathryn Van Aernum
Keith Tolen
Lindsay Radford Wiggins
Lucas Sams
Mary Ann Haven
Michael Krajewski
Pascale Sexton Bilgis
Regina Langston
Richard Hill
Ron Hagell
Sean Rayford
Tennyson Corley
Thomas Washington
Vanessa Hewitt DeVore

We're delighted to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery. This month we're featuring Benji Hicks

Artist Bio

Benji Hicks was born in 1970 in Columbia, South Carolina. With no formal training, he is a self-taught artist and woodblock print maker.

Working professionally as a carpenter and painter, including murals and sign painting, he has always enjoyed drawing, painting and wood carving. 

After discovering the art of Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock printing), he decided to combine his skills to create woodblock prints.

He is just as passionate about the tools, materials and techniques of woodblock printing, as he is about the images he creates. Benji draws inspiration from art, culture and the natural world around him.

Benji also uses his carpentry skills to make frames from reclaimed wood to add that finished touch to his prints.

Artist Statement

For this show, I wanted to show some of the paintings I make when coming up with woodblock print designs. 

These paintings are an essential part of making my woodblock prints. Especially for figuring out all the different color blocks needed to make the print.

Traditionally, Japanese woodblock  prints were made by three artisans and then sold by a publisher. 

First, an artist would create a painting. Then, a carver would carve all the woodblocks needed for every color in the print.

The blocks would then go to a printmaker who would make the prints. The prints would then go to the publisher for sale.

My prints are self drawn, self carved, self printed and self published. I have found that, for me, these four stages tend to line up with the four seasons.

In the winter, when it’s cold and the days are short, I find myself inside my art studio drawing and painting.

In the spring when the weather starts to warm up, I find myself in the woodworking shop, cutting, sanding and carving woodblocks and making frames.

During the hot days of summer I will be back inside my studio making new print editions and framing everything for the upcoming holiday season.

Then during the fall, my focus is on selling. These months are always the best for sales.

Once the holidays are over, it’s back to the drawing board to do it all over again .

This show is a collection of some of my earlier prints along with some new ones and also some of the original paintings made to create my prints. I have even included a series of new paintings that will be the inspiration for my next woodblock prints.

Did you miss Michael Krajewski's Opening Reception this month? This is another -- and final! -- chance to see the show before it comes down. Come spend an afternoon with us, see Michael and his work, pick up your purchased pieces, and get some lunch!

Michael Krajewski is a self-taught artist who has shown in numerous galleries, collaborated on large, commissioned pieces for museums, painted live at art events and been the subject of magazine and newspaper profiles. He was Jasper Magazine’s first centerfold in 2011. His style has been called neo-expressionist and compared to Jean-Michel Basquiat's, though Krajewski says he is less interested in defining, more interested in producing. He’s had solo shows at the HoFP Gallery, Frame of Mind, and Anastasia & Friends in Columbia, SC, and participated in a two-person show at the Waterfront Gallery in Charleston and in a group show at 701 Whaley.

Join The Jasper Project and Anthony Lewis as we celebrate the opening of his exhibition in the gallery space at Harbison Theatre. 
 
At 6:30 PM, Anthony will speak briefly and give you the opportunity to enjoy his work prior to the opening curtain for The String Queens. During intermission, you’re invited to revisit the art and speak with Anthony individually. His artwork will be available for purchase. Learn more about Anthony and his work below.

The exhibition is free and available for viewing from March through May 2024.

About Anthony Lewis

Anthony Lewis is a South Carolina based abstract figurative painter and photographer. Lewis studied at the School of Visual Art and Design where he graduated from the University of South Carolina with his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Studio Art with a concentration on painting.  

Anthony, a multi-disciplined visual artist, likes to explore the good the bad and the injustices around the black folks' experience in the United States such as, mass incarceration, black on black crime, police brutality, mental health, suicide, the beauty of being black and the everyday struggles of the black man, woman, and child dating back to the early 1900s throughout the great black migration, Harlem Renaissance and well up into the 70s.  He enjoys the concept of being able to travel back in time and capture the being of black folk. 

He likes the use of different techniques and mediums such as acrylic, oil, charcoal, mixed-media, assemblage, and black and white film photography. He merges small scale vintage black and white photographs and larger scale paintings of black people in his paintings to form a collage. He enjoys the exploration of the creative process so he can stretch the limits of his ingenuity, flexibility and mediums needed to be successful during the process. He admires the thought of not being confined in an innovative box.  

Artist Statement

As a visual artist, I like to explore the good the bad and the injustices around the black folks’ experiences, such as, mass incarceration, black on black crime, police brutality, mental health, suicide, and the beauty of being black and the everyday struggles of the black man, woman, and child. His African American men and women dating back the early 1900's, the Black Migration, and the Harlem Renaissance. 

I have always enjoyed thinking about what my life would have been like if I could time travel and live in a different time and place, how I would have existed, loved, struggled, and breathed in another climate, so I named this series, “Blk Beingz-Essence of Matter’ as a need to revisit the existence of black children from different times in the past, like the renaissance era, slavery, the early 1900s and the great migration. 

This series will introduce you to the work I have done over the course of my BFA program at the University of South Carolina. This body of work includes different techniques and mediums such as oil, graphite, mixed media, collage, assemblage, black and white photos. 

I enjoy the exploration of the creative process so I can stretch the limits of my ingenuity, flexibility and mediums needed to be successful during the process. I also admire the thought of not being confined to an innovative box. 

Some of Anthony’s influences are, but not limited to, Jacob Lawrence, Gordon Parks, Augusta Savage, Bisa Butler, Kara Walker, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Romare Bearden.

More details to come!

Jasper is excited to present “Infamous Lovers,” a night of art and entertainment in celebration of love. Join us dressed as your favorite infamous lover for a memorable evening of food, drinks, and fun. We are taking it back to the '70s with Columbia’s own Big Love – bringing the legendary music (and drama) of Fleetwood Mac to life! Come dance the night away to their greatest hits, enjoy performances by Tiny Coven Dance, partake in heavy hors d'oeuvres by Chef Joe Turkaly, and strut the red carpet in our costume contest.

Tickets

All advanced tickets have sold out. A limited number of General Admissions tickets will be available at the door for $40 each.

Love Quest

Stop by next door at the 701 Community Hall Gallery for Jasper’s yearly Valentine’s Day art exhibition, this year featuring the mesmerizing narrative art of Thomas Washington’s “Love Quest.”

In addition to providing a spectacular night full of fun, the main goal of this event is to fund the Spring 2024 issue of Jasper Magazine, distributed for free to nearly 100 locations throughout the Midlands. More surprises and announcements to come!

A Huge Thanks to Our Sponsors

House of Fabrics

New Brookland Tavern

Peak Drift Brewing

Shvaas Spa

Sound Bites Eatery

Smoked

The War Mouth

WXRY 99.3 FM 

If you are interested in sponsoring please reach out to bekah@jasperproject.org

The Jasper Project is excited to announce that ephemeral visual artist Thomas Washington will be our featured artist in the 701 Whaley Hallway Gallery for February 2024 with his one-person show LOVE QUEST.

There will be an opening reception on Sunday, February 11th from 3 - 5 pm in the gallery.

In keeping with 2023’s featured artists — Wilma King and Wayne Thornley and their two-person show Love Hurts/Love Heals — Washington’s exhibition of LOVE QUEST will show for the month of February and will coincide with the Jasper Project’s fundraising Valentine’s Day show and party Infamous Lovers on February 14th at 7pm in the 701 Whaley Market Space. (Tickets available here.) Infamous Lovers will feature the music of Fleetwood Mac cover band, BIG LOVE, Tiny Coven Dance, and more!

Washington’s reception on 2/11 is free and open to the public and will offer light refreshments.

More about Thomas Washington, in his own words …

“Perhaps the most important pursuit of an artist is the facilitation of Escapism. Perhaps each project is the equivalent of a Narnian door…or that lamppost beyond, coaxing a wanderer into another realm.  

Thomas Washington Jr. (thomas the younger) functions on that premise. Since his childhood, he has produced multitudinous works in this vein—from being hired (out of high school) to illustrate in a local graphic anthology, he has subsequently striven to bring stories in every medium; to breathe life into the fantastical by imbuing it with the familiar…and, of course, to find fun and fulfillment along the way. 

As a result, it required the birth of his children to make him care about money. (He still struggles with this.) –For years, he was perfectly fine living as a Bohemian: he laid his head in strange places among strangers, eventually becoming a pleasant strain of strange in the process. He thus entertains all sorts of bizarre notions—the importance of world peace, an unshakeable belief in fundamental similarities that make Humanity one big family, intense opinions on interstellar travel, and so-forth. 

Recently, he took the leap of emerging in his local scene. He has sat on panels, joined the instructor roster for community arts centers, partaken in various shows, (finally!) founded a website, and essentially joined the dialogue of Art’s Place in Society.

We're delighted to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery. This month we're featuring Michael Krajewski.

More details to come.

Join us for our first Koger Center show of 2024 featuring the incomparable Wilma King! Her work will be up until mid-February.

Artist Statement:

This collection, “Love Heals: The Margins and Time In-between," includes 14 new works that expand on “Love Heals," which debuted February 14, 2023. Thanks to The Jasper Project for sponsoring both exhibits, and to the South Carolina Arts Commission for funding this current endeavor.

Indulge me as I share my lifetime in these series of montages comprised of memories of two generations before and after me – thus, the “Time In-between.”

I focus on dreams, hopes and desires of individuals in various stages and with various obstacles in their everyday lives, including elderly, autistic individuals; young children with Cancer and their families; mentally challenged and long-termed ill individuals.

I tell stories of my parents, their lifetimes, their influences. There are memories of me playing with my grandfather Manuel’s gold pocket watch; wallpapering the walls of my aunt Sedonia’s house (which was destroyed by a Louisiana storm last year); me ritually painting my mother’s nails; or dancing like nobody’s watching just to keep my cousin upbeat during her last few months!

We all have turning points in our lives -- some are cataclysmic. But I believe that the persistent, more powerful triggers are those that are slow, unforgettable images, sometimes rising out of nowhere, that quietly give us a heartfelt thump. Words are not needed, but touches, smells, soft sounds, and even tastes lend to the very intimate and secret thoughts that we hold close inside.

These moments are the perfect companionship and fulfillment – a very pure form of love and loveliness – for whatever voids we need or want to fill. Although faceted, these “ordinary” and “frequent” thoughts and memories are what I wish to capture in my art.

I usually rely on memories, and sometimes collaborative storytelling with family and friends. Most often, the fusion of these memories and recollections are didactic approaches manifested in the art that I enjoy creating. I fully enjoy the outcomes as I see the bits and pieces of the storytellers’ realities and attempts to bring the pieces together in a relationship-building effort and artwork.

Bio:

South Carolina native, Wilma R. King, endeavors to combine her experiences of living in 11 states (including Alaska) with her educational background into a visual storytelling collaboration
through her painting. Her pursuit and passion goes beyond a daily practice of technique and development. She believes that universality -- seeking common ground -- is what makes art
purposeful.

Wilma taught public relations, communication studies, advertising design, publication design, and photography for more than 30 years in American universities in Kentucky, Tennessee, New
York, Virginia, Texas, and South Carolina, and taught Study abroad courses in Italy several years. She was an associate professor of Public Relations at both Western Kentucky University
(Bowling Green, KY) and Rochester Institute of Technology (Henrietta, NY), and served on faculty at Benedict College (Columbia, SC), where she wrote the curriculum for, and taught the first courses in the college’s now defunct commercial art program; O’More College of Design (Franklin, TN); Texas Southern University (Houston, TX); The Art Institute of Houston (Houston, TX).

Wilma has collaborated on more than 13 papers, and conference presentations in Italy, across the United States, and Spain, and has also collaborated on courses in Italy and in the States on ethics in fashion, international PR, and events planning and PR in the Italian tourism industry.

Her fellowships and grants include: the American Society of Newspaper Editors’ (ASNE) Institute for Journalism Excellence Fellow (news, and features editor for Gannett News Service, and USA TODAY graphics, Arlington, VA); the Kentucky Press Association (KPA) Fellow (advertising designer, copy editor, and graphic artist for the Fulton Leader, Fulton, KY). Her commissions
include: Graphic designer of the Houston Economic Summit Host Committee’s newsletter staff, Summitimes, newspaper ads, logos and brochures for the World Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations; and newspaper design of the Texas Medical Center News. Ms. King has a M.A. in Journalism from Texas Southern University in Advertising/Public Relations, and Organizational Communication; and a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of
South Carolina Studio Minor with a Journalism minor, and non-credit coursework at St. Bernard’s School of Ministry and Theology, Pittsford, NY. She has certificates in Arts and Heritage Management; Managing Fashion and Luxury Companies; Managing Food and Beverage Companies; and, International Leadership and Organizational Behavior – all from the Università Bocconi; International Organizations Management – from the University of Geneva; The Changing Global Order – from the Universiteit Leiden; How to Change the World – from Wesleyan University; and, Leadership in 21st Century Organizations – from the Copenhagen Business School.

Join us as we kick off our first Motor Supply artist of 2024 -- Ija Charles. Her work is now showing and will be up until the end of March 2024.

Join The Jasper Project and Laurie McIntosh as we celebrate the opening of her exhibition in the gallery space at Harbison Theatre. 
 
At 6:30 PM, Laurie will speak briefly and give you the opportunity to enjoy her work prior to the opening curtain for Rumours: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute. During intermission, you’re invited to revisit the art and speak with Laurie individually. Her artwork will be available for purchase. Learn more about Laurie and her work below. 
 
The exhibition is free and available for viewing from December 2023 through February 2024. 

About Laurie Brownwell McIntosh

I was raised in an environment that supported and encouraged the creative process.

Her Art

I have discovered through the years that I don’t work like many artist do. I don’t have an exact style or medium that defines me. I work in large bodies of work that usually take years to explore. These large bodies are many times divided into series within the body. Most of these bodies of work are driven by line and shape trying to express ideas and stories through mark making, color, shape and texture.

Several times it has been a true calling from within myself... sounds corny but it’s true. This is the work that can’t be denied. Or I find something that intrigues me, something I want to explore, and then I research and pursue that avenue until I have exhausted my curiosity and then I move on. The medium I use is the one that solves the problem presented before me.

In my head I compare it to a writer who writes novels. The idea.. the reserch.. the execution.. the editing… the chapters... the final execution and the presentation of the finished pieces. Once this is done, onto the next. Almost always, within the present body of work I stumble on the next path. Almost...

I have also discovered that the quickest way to become dissatisfied with my work is to create art for people I do not know. I have to trust my gut and follow my own lead and my own truth. If I make art with the thought of what others might like, or buy, I’ve sold myself out. I will have left none of myself behind when I’m gone if I’ve spent my time trying to please others and by guessing what strangers might want.

In my newest body of work in linocut is a result of studying a new medium, navigating the isolation of the past three years and celebrating our coming out of it. My family enjoyed being together during that time, spending time gathering crabs and fish, growing tomatoes, and doing the things outdoors that we love. It kept us busy.

My family’s most treasured times are sharing that bounty with dear friends, which is reflected in the collection. Being able to gather with people again and enjoy homegrown and home-caught food, tell some tall tales, drink a cold beer, and have a laugh is what my family is all about. I hope that love of people and the land comes across in this body of work.

Every Third Thursday, Jasper Galleries kicks off a new show at Koger Center's The Nook. This month, we're featuring David West!

We're delighted to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery. This month we're featuring Barbie Mathis.

Artist Bio

Barbie Mathis, a native of Columbia, SC, has been working as a professional artist since 1980. Over the years, she has evolved as an illustrator, designer and painter working in various media with her main emphasis being Watermedia (Acrylic and Watercolor) painting. Barbie’s primary focus has been on realistic florals and landscapes immersed in layers of colorful glazes, dramatic lighting and rich, natural backgrounds. She has also done artistic renditions of people and animals. Most recently, Barbie has been experimenting with a variety of realistic, abstracted and mixed-media styles in Acrylic Paint.

Barbie studied Fashion Design and Illustration at Bauder Fashion College in Atlanta, GA. She has since worked in advertising, graphic design and mat design for various newspapers, printing companies and art galleries. She has been published by Bentley House Publishing and currently self-publishes a limited number of fine art prints. Barbie was awarded her Signature Membership in the South Carolina Watermedia Society in 2006. She has exhibited and won awards in numerous shows, and her work is in both public and private collections around the country. Barbie was an adjunct instructor at Midlands Technical College for 9 years. And, she currently teaches painting at City Art Gallery in Columbia, SC. She also teaches private classes and workshops for individuals and art leagues in South Carolina and throughout the Southeast. Her work and contact information may be found on FB: Barbie Mathis Studio or IG: @BarbieMathisArt

Artist Statement

“The Great Experiment”, a show of small, experimental Acrylic paintings by Barbie Mathis

My word for 2023 has been Experiment. Exploring Acrylic paint, and painting some of the many looks and styles that it can achieve has been my “Great Experiment”. This show represents a variety of ways that I have used Acrylic paint to look like Watercolors, Oils, Acrylics and Mixed-Media in all of its thick and thin, realistic to abstracted styles. I have also explored both hard and soft details and patterns in nature, shapes and artificial textures. It is my hope that the viewer will find pleasure in the differences.

Black Nerd Mafia and The Jasper Project are proud to present Frightmare on Main Street, a night of spooky fun, music, and prizes!

5:00pm – Doors

$10 for all events and activities + 5 candy votes for the pumpkin carving contest. Kids under 10 get in free!

5:30pm - Horror Movie Trivia

Bring your team and kick off the night with trivia hosted by Black Nerd Mafia.

6:30pm - Horror Movie Talk Panel

Listen to Kwasi Brown, Tyler Wise, and Shanika Piche discuss the films that made them fall in love with the genre and their thoughts on the best horror villains of all time.

7:00pm - Jasper’s 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

These aren’t your everyday jack-o'-lanterns. Vote on your favorite pumpkins carved by local artists and bid in our silent auction to take one home. All proceeds benefit the Jasper Project and the winning artist takes home a fabulous prize! Candy votes will be available for sale and 5 votes are included for free with the cost of admission.

Cosplay Costume Contest

Contest categories include Best Pet Costume, Best Children's Costume, Best Group Costume, and Best Adult Costume. All winners receive a prize, but only the best will walk away with $100 cash!

Winners for the Pumpkin Carving and Cosplay Costume Contest will be announced around 8pm.

Pumpkin Bidding with close at 8:45pm

9:00pm – Death Ray Robin

Don’t miss this phenomenal Alt-R&B act featuring Black-Korean vocalist Desirée Richardson and a rotating cast of instrumentalists from Columbia.

More to be announced soon!

A huge thanks for our sponsors:

Black Nerd Mafia
Curiosity Coffee
Gardeners Outpost
South Carolina Philharmonic
Nickelodeon Theatre
Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College
Koger Center for the Arts
The Dragon Room
Uncle Willie's Grocery Store
Heroes & Dragons
Bang Back Pinball Lounge
Columbia Museum of Art
Groovy Tails Mobile Grooming Spaw

Join us in celebrating the release of the Fall 2023 issue of Jasper Magazine at The Ernest A. Finney, Jr. Cultural Arts Center! Come meet and mingle with artists featured in this issue and grab your copy of the magazine.
Our celebration features live music from EezyMoonStone, TiffanyJ, and Lang Owen, and artwork for sale by Anthony Lewis, Malik Greene, Benji Hicks, and Jean Lomasto.

More details to come!

This issue features:

Malik Greene, Anthony Lewis, Benji Hicks, Jean Lomasto, Lonetta Thompson, Marilyn Matheus, Ric Edwards, Black Nerd Mafia, Opus and the Frequencies, TiffanyJ, Brandy and the Butcher, Jason Kendall’s, Nikky Finney, Jim “Soni” Sonefeld, Jordan Sheridan, Rhy Robidoux, Joyce M. Rose-Harris, Ed Madden, George Singleton, Darren Woodlief, Jenks Farmer, Lowcountry, SceneSC, Michele Reese, Benjamin Wilson Woodruff, Jr., and Marty Fort

Every Third Thursday, Jasper Galleries kicks off a new show at Koger Center's The Nook. This month, we're featuring Alicia Leeke.

Artist Statement

My creativity is inspired by the French Salon painters and how they captured history, social conscience and architecture by painting the people and environments surrounding them. My travels to paint landscapes during my plein-air painting sessions led me to produce a body of beautiful impressionistic works of art inspired by nature’s ever-changing scenery and familiar places.

You may contact Alicia about her paintings by calling 803-429-5456, via email at info@alicialeeke.com or by visiting www.alicialeeke.com.

You’re invited to join the Jasper Project and some of your favorite local writers of poetry and prose under the Jasper Literary Arts Tent at the 2023 Rosewood Art & Music Festival on Saturday, October 7th from noon – 5 pm.*

You’ll get to hear some of your favorite Columbia-based writers read from a selection of their works, purchase their books, and then meet the authors and have your books signed.

*Authors will read during the first half of each hour and then sign and greet friends during the second half of each hour.

901 S Holly St, Columbia, SC 29205

 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Noon – 1 pm

Carla Damron
Jane Zenger
Sandra Johnson 

1 – 2 pm

Evelyn Berry
Debbie Daniel
Susan Craig 

2 - 3 pm

Terri McCord
Ann Chadwell Humphries
Robert (Bo) Petersen 

3 – 4 pm

Jo Angela Edwins
Randy Spencer
Kristine Hartvigsen 

4 – 5 pm

Al Black
Ed Madden
Cassie Premo Steele

Every Third Thursday, Jasper Galleries kicks off a new show at Koger Center's The Nook. This month, we're featuring Stephen Chesley

Artist Bio

Stephen Chesley was born in Schenectady, New York in 1952. He exhibited a natural proclivity for drawing and art almost as soon as he could hold pastels and pencils, which were often Christmas gifts from his family. Growing up in Virginia Beach in the late 1950s, he was exposed to the Beat Generation of musicians, artists and writers when it was still a seasonal seaside resort. Self motivated, he continued with his drawing and small paintings along with exposure to local artists. Recognized in 1981 by the Columbia Museum of Art as an emerging talent, he went on to win top 100 in the first National Parks competition of 1987. He continues his creative journey with an art spirit in Columbia, SC. 

Artist Statement - Zen

This exhibition is the result of ghost prints from direct painting in a variant style of Sumi Japanese ink drawings. The inclusion of Asian aesthetic in the manner of Zen brush drills is to obtain emotional content through understanding abstraction of tone and form. The sheer thousands in volume of process has the intent of teaching one's understanding of autography and brushstroke. The yin-yang of black and white references balance of nature embellished with concepts of summary outline and simultaneous contrast set forth by Ogden Rood's 1879 color treatise notably embraced by George Seurat. Images in this exhibition are a unique hybrid of direct painting and printmaking. Elements of mysticism in these works emanate from ideas of forerunners Morris Graves, Paul Gauguin, Walter Anderson, and George Inness, who all sought to reveal the spriit world always before us. These figure ground pieces present and lyrical and poetic rendering of the gift of the sublime ordinary found in life and nature. All life, both animate and inanimate, is in consideration of treatises of physics including: Big Bang, singularity, and concepts of deep time. It is apparent that we share atoms with all things and that there is unfathomable structure and connection that is universal, timeless, and infinate. Human sentience is not the only sentience. As we look at landscapes, trees, animals, plants, waves, clouds, and stars, we look at ourselves.

Be. 

We're delighted to kick-off another Jasper Galleries at Sound Bites Eatery. This month we're featuring Amy Kuenzie.

Artist Bio

A native South Carolinian currently based in Lexington, Amy’s artistic inspiration is the beauty in everyday life. This is the result of living in the moment and seeking refuge from memories of trauma. Amy’s favorite medium is acrylic and she uses special techniques such as bokeh and brush work to create depth and focus. Amy studied art for seven years in her youth but did not pursue further education after high school. After retiring, she began painting as a means of therapy for C-PTSD. Her work has been included in over a dozen shows including Piccolo Spoleto 2022 (City Gallery, Charleston, SC).

Artist Statement

Borrowing subjects from my life or nature, I use color and depth of field to draw the viewer in to see the emotion and personality of each piece. Painting has helped me heal from Complex-PTSD and to connect with my truest self. Through use of value and contrast, I expose and preserve a moment in time and provide the viewer a new perspective on the beauty all around us.

Every Third Thursday, Jasper Galleries kicks off a new show at Koger Center's The Nook. This month, we're featuring Rebecca Horne.

Join us for the Closing Reception of Lauren’s beautiful show, where she’ll be selling one-of-a kind new small paintings and prints of larger pieces!

Artist Statement
This body of work is a series of Taylor Swift portraits in the medium of gouache and watercolor on paper. It is my first time painting with gouache which I started after seeing “The Eras Tour.” Creating this series was a wonderful way to begin my understanding of how I respond to this material in various sizes, colors, and compositions. More than simply “fan art” I see this series as an important evolution for myself as an artist and for my studio practice. Seeing her perform Eras really inspired me to get back into the studio and start experimenting. I have always been inspired by how prolific Taylor is and how it has helped her refine, and experience so many different genres of sound. It has felt so great to bring this show to life. Just like the anticipation for the next song at her show, each painting I started made me excited for the next one. I learned that I did not need to approach painting realistically to arrive at a place where I feel I’ve truly captured her. It’s really been about trusting myself, and painting every day for the past few months. I admire Taylor’s tenacity to speak her truth using her platform to highlight and support women's and LGBTQ+ rights. I believe she is someone to look up to, and I had chills hearing people of all ages singing together joyfully and unapologetically because I believe in this world we all benefit from a woman who unapologetically speaks her mind. I have just experienced the best few months leading up to this show. I was lucky enough to see The Eras Tour, and in the process fell back in love with painting. It’s a love story.

Casassa's Bio
Lauren Casassa (b. 1990) is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and lives in Columbia, SC. She received her BFA in Painting at the University of South Carolina. Casassa has been awarded the Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Award for excellence in Visual Arts, the Yaghjian Studio arts scholarship at USC, and the 2018 Artfields Solo Award Exhibition at Jones-Carter Gallery. She has been featured in Garnet and Black, Daily Gamecocks, The State, Free Times, and Susie Magazine. She has lectured for classes at USC, SC State University, and spent a summer residency in Monte Castello, Italy. Exhibitions include group shows in Italy, New York, South Carolina and solo shows in Iowa and South Carolina.

She creates immersive environments via vibrant thick textured romantic paintings telling short stories, in the forms of fables, folklore, and fairy tales challenging our current cultural climate through the eyes of feminine figures and personified creatures. The narrative of the work promote lessons from my personal experiences and question dangerous themes within American society.

The Jasper Project Presents a Staged Reading of the Play Therapy by Lonetta Thompson

Please join the Jasper Project for a staged reading of our third Play Right Series winning play, THERAPY by LONETTA THOMPSON. Directed by Elena Martinez-Vidal, THERAPY features Allison Allgood, Richard Edward III, Kimberly Jacobs, and Marilyn Matheus as Dr. V.

Tickets

Tickets are $15 day of event or at the door. Signed copies of the book are also available for purchase.

Therapy is produced and sponsored by Betsy Newman, Keith Tolen, Kirkland and James Smith, Amy and Vincent Sheheen, Wade Sellers, Bill Schmidt, Shannon and Steven Huffman, Libby Turner-Campbell and guests, Cindi Boiter, and an anonymous donor.

What is the Play Right Project? In an effort to enlighten and empower audiences with information about the process involved in creating theatrical arts, at the same time that we engineer and increase opportunities for SC theatre artists to create and perform new works of theatre arts , the Jasper Project created a new series of audience-friendly plays called the Play Right Series.

The development process is facilitated by Community Producers—audience members invested in the development process and supportive of the state’s theatrical and literary talent who exchange a modest financial contribution for the experience.

“Development,” in this case, means round-table readings and discussions with a paid professional director, cast, and crew, and attended by Community Producers and other professionals, followed by rehearsals, and a public presentation of a fully realized staged reading.

A final version of the winning play is published and filed with the Library of Congress, with copies distributed to the winning playwright as well as industry leaders in the area and are available for purchase for $10.

Professor Jon Tuttle serves as the Project Manager for the Jasper Project’s Play Right Series.