Opening Reception for Anthony Lewis at Harbison Theatre - Friday, March 1st

Anthony Lewis at Harbison Theatre Gallery

• Friday, March 1, 2024

• 6:30 PM 8:30 PM

• Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College7300 College Street

• Irmo, SC

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.

Jasper's Sidewalk Gallery at the Meridian Building Featured Artist -- REGINA LANGSTON

Regina Langston

Gina’s paintings embody the goddess mystique, celebrating the curves and edges of the feminine form using intense colors and vividly bold compositions. While she often varies her subject matter, her work largely focuses on the female figure as well as on the myriad faces of the nonbinary human spirit.

At first glance, it is easy to see the influences of Picasso and Klimt in Gina’s paintings. However, she has a wide portfolio of inspiration, including the whimsical post-war modernist work of a lesser-known painter, the late Friedensreich Hundertwasser of Austria, whose wildly colorful work was punctuated with organic shapes and spirals.

Gina returned to the Palmetto State with her family in 2018 and currently resides in The Avenues of Cayce. Her work has been exhibited at numerous SC venues, including 701 Whaley, Tapp’s Arts Center, University of South Carolina at Beaufort, and – most         recently – as part of Jasper Magazine’s “Tiny Gallery” series. She was featured in The Limelight, A Compendium of Contemporary Columbia Artists, Volume II, published by Muddy Ford Press in 2015. She has a studio in downtown Columbia, where she creates her own works and accepts commissions

Jasper's Sidewalk Gallery at The Meridian Building Featured Artist - CAROLINE CLARK

Caroline Clark

My functional ceramic sculptures highlight a sense of joy and wonder in everyday items. I explore my own variations of the hidden symbiotic systems of coral reefs and mycelium networks: systems that seem simple and beautiful at first, but upon closer examination are wildly complicated and predicated on mutual care. These systems in which every part depends on the others, and in which every part is vital and precious, draw a parallel to our human communities and support systems and invite examination of our own interconnectedness, growth, and movement.

I believe in magic. Not the potions and poof! kind, not the creation of another more beautiful and mysterious world, but the deep and unshakable knowledge that this, our world, is more extraordinary, strange, and awe-inspiring than any I could imagine. My work highlights that magic, refines and amplifies it, revealing a secret world nestled into the fabric of our own.

Jasper Welcomes Dogon Krigga to the Koger Center’s Nook for February’s Third Thursday

The Jasper Project is proud to present Dogon Krigga as our featured February artist in the Koger Center’s Nook Gallery. The opening reception is February 15, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Grand Tier lobby of the Koger Center. The event is free and open to the public, and features DJ Nori Noir providing live music.

Dogon is known for their mixed media collages and murals printed on vinyl, paper, and other adhesive substrates. They draw inspiration from spiritual principles and esoteric concepts found across the African Diaspora to create surrealist artworks. The viewer can then view their artwork as a kind of portal that allows them to peer into other realms, providing perspectives of Queer and Black people, identities, and cultures in a type of alternate dimension. Dogon’s work aims to challenge the status quo and disrupt the conventions of what we know to be cisgendered, heteronormative, and patriarchal ideologies, while offering something beautiful and uplifting in its place. The featured collection of work in the Nook is a body of work completed from 2021 through 2023. These pieces have also shown at the Columbia Museum of Art, Mike Brown Contemporary Gallery, Tapp’s Outpost, the 1013 Co-Op, The Bakery ATL (Atlanta, GA), and The Space (Charleston, SC).

Even if you can’t make it to the reception, Dogon’s art will be available for viewers to stop by and admire until mid-March. The Koger Center is open from 9 am – 5 pm Monday-Friday, and an hour prior to any Koger Center performance.

Artist Bio: Dogon Krigga (they/them) is a Columbia based multidisciplinary artist. Their interests in journalism and music production brought them into the community with musicians for whom Dogon began creating commissioned works of digital collage. They received early creative mentorship and influence from Tom Feelings and Walter Rutledge.

Krigga evolved their practice from digital art to include hand-cut paper collage and assemblage with printed and cut vinyl on acrylic and metal as well as installations. Krigga is a graphic designer with experience in commercial print, signage design, and signage project management that includes wide-format printing, metal fabrication, and acrylic fabrication. Krigga has created murals, exterior and interior signage displays for the main branch of Richland Library, SC State University, the 1801 Extension of SCSU, and Urban Wok restaurants.

Their works have been shown in several solo and group exhibitions including Tapp's Fine Art Center, The Sumter County Gallery of Art, Columbia Museum of Art, and The Goodall Gallery. Krigga's work can be found in numerous public and private collections, including the IP Stanback Museum. In 2023, they were Artist-in-Residence for Richland Library in Columbia, SC, producing and hosting community-based art programming and an exhibition Time & Time Again: Exploring the Antique Blacks--A Rootworker's Tarot. Dogon's artistic ventures also include the Collaborative Cohort Residency with the Highlander Center in New Market, TN (2020). Krigga is a recipient of grants from the SC Arts Commission.

Publication features of their work include "The African American Dream" by De Volkskrant (Amsterdam, March 2018), Volume 25.1: Yemassee Journal (USC, 2018), and "Dogon Krigga and Afrofuturism" by Jasper Magazine (2017). Krigga has been commissioned to design artwork for the covers of "Black Quantum Futurism" by Rasheedah Philips, and "BloodFresh" by Ebony Stewart. Dogon served as the lead designer for Ingrid LaFleur's 2017 mayoral campaign for Detroit, MI. Krigga has designed album artwork for King Britt, Kyle Bent, Hieroglyphic Being, Monty Luke, and Vibes Records. Dogon currently serves as the Art Director for the Atlanta-based music festival, Camp N Trip.

Hyatt Park Community Art Project with Artist Keith Tolen

Join visual artist Keith Tolen and his young guests and collaborators in the unveiling of the Hyatt Park Community Art Project Friday, February 15th at Hyatt Park.

Hyatt Park students have partnered with veteran artist and arts educator (and member of the Jasper Project board of directors, we’re proud to say!) in creating this beautiful piece of public art which will go on display in the city of Columbia.

Their collaborative sculpture will be unveiled at 4200 North Main Street. The event is free and open to the public.

Come out to celebrate public art, young art, and the collaboration of youth and experience!

Jasper's Sidewalk Gallery at The Meridian Building Featured Artist - BOHUMILA AUGUSTINOVA

Bohumila Augustinova

Augustinova spent her childhood in Czechoslavakia, now known as the Czech Republic.  She recalls that her younger years were spent always making something and that she could “never keep her hands still.”

My mom and dad were very supportive, so even as a small child they taught me how to knit, crochet, sew, cook and use power tools.”  Augustinova remembers, “My mom and I used to make all the costumes for me and my brothers, and I was making my own clothes by the time I was 9.”

Augustinova used to experience and passion to pursue fashion design, which she received a degree in, but soon after, she desired a fresh artistic venture and has since worked with primarily wire art and pottery, being self-taught in both.

Augustinova notes that beyond being inspired to make art, the process of making is inspiring and therapeutic all on its own.  She insists that the mutable clay sliding under her hands and the constant hum of the wheel moving is meditative, and she often throws with her eyes closed.

“What I hope is that people will see my pottery as usable art.  Almost all of my pottery is fully glazed and food safe.  I love seeing flower arrangements in my vases, and I love people drinking out of my cups.”  Augustinova effuses.  “One of my favorite pottery moments was when a friend told me that he was visiting a friend and his tea was served in one of my mugs.”

Jasper's Sidewalk Gallery at The Meridian Building Featured Artist - ANNA HERRERA

I am a local artists originally from Charlotte NC, but I have lived in Columbia for 15 years. I work with acrylic paint mostly, sketch, and use charcoal in my free time. I enjoy the downtown area, going to art events and markets that support locals. I hope to one day have my own show at my mother’s restaurant, Sound Bites Eatery, which is located on Sumter street that regularly hosts art shows and events.

I take art lessons when I can at Painting with a Twist gallery located in the Harbison area, which I’ve been going to for years. I hope to learn more about painting and how to apply different techniques and materials to my work. Expanding my knowledge can benefit my work and allow me to further my potential as an artist as well as become better recognized for more future showing opportunities.

Jasper Welcomes MICHAEL KRAJEWSKI to SOUND BITES EATERY GALLERY for First Thursday

A veteran of Jasper Galleries, we’re excited to bring artist Michael Krajewski to our gallery space at Sound Bites Eatery, which is one of our favorite places to admire and discuss art with so many of our Midlands area friends. The exhibition opens Thursday night, during First Thursday, at 6 pm. Sound Bites is located at 1425 Sumter Street, just a short block off Main

Jasper asked Krajewski for a little tease about what he is bringing to Sound Bites and he’s what he gave us:

Jasper: What have you been working on lately and what should we expect to see in this new show? Any surprises? 

Krajewski: I've been doing a bit of everything! Commissions, teaching private lessons, and ongoing mural work at the Black Rooster. Newest mix media project is a 72in trout sculpture for City of Columbia. For the new show at Sound Bites, folks can expect to see some familiar favorites and some new smaller pieces, as well as some older work. I do have a new larger piece that I'll be showing for the first time, but no spoilers there [puts on his best Matthew McConaughey impression] 'Wouldn't be a surprise if I told ya, now would it?"

Jasper: There seems to be a new and unique quality to your work -- have you noticed it? to what do you attribute this? 

Krajewski: I can't really say that I've noticed. That's really interesting though, and I'll take it as a compliment. I think my art evolves with me, so I'd like to think that it's just a sign my own evolution. 

Jasper:  Can you tell us about 2 or 3 of your favorite pieces that you will be offering at this show?  

Krajewski: This show is sprinkled through with notes on love and nostalgia... I'm hoping folks check out "Holding hands" (especially if you like otters in party hats) I just finished a mix media piece (paint on a record) Titled "Love Me for What I am" that I hope people respond to. 

Thanks Michael! We’ll see you all this Thursday night, February 1st, 2024 from 6 - 9 pm!

For more info on Jasper Galleries and to submit YOUR WORK for consideration, please check us out here!

Jasper Presents Laurie Brownell McIntosh at Harbison Theatre - Reception January 25th at 6:30 pm

The Jasper Project is delighted to present the work of visual artist Laurie Brownell McIntosh at the Jasper Gallery at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, 7300 College Street in Irmo, SC. On display from December 2023 through February 2024, McIntosh’s exhibition is currently on display and available for viewing during normal business hours and special events.

There will be a reception for the McIntosh show at 6:30 pm on January 25th during which the artist will meet and greet patrons and answer questions about her work. The artist reception is in conjunction with the evening’s performance by Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken. The artist reception is free to the public but tickets are required for the musical performance.

McIntosh says, “I was raised in an environment that supported and encouraged the creative process.” Continuing that, “I have discovered through the years that I don’t work like many artists 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.”

In a brief interview with Jasper Magazine editor Cindi Boiter, McIntosh answered the following questions:

Jasper: I know your art often presents itself to you as something of a project and that sometimes it takes a while for that project to reveal itself to you. This seems fairly mystical to me and it's one of the things I most appreciate about your work. How does this exhibition represent where you are with this body of work? How far along the way are you? What does this exhibition mean to you at this stage of your artistic journey?

McIntosh: That’s a big ole question…I started this journey with linocut reductions towards the end of my Swimmer series and the beginnings of Covid. I love the line quality and color breakdown it brings to an image. This process is a big-time commitment and takes a lot of muscle, but the results are worth it. Added bonus is you get multiple original works. I find the carving involved to be meditative and calming which is why it was such a God send during Covid. I keep pushing the difficulty factor and I am presently experimenting with taking the outtakes and leftovers into mixed media pieces. The images that result from the bones of the plate after it has been carved to its bare minimum are fascinating. Might work…might not. I won't know until I try.  

I always feel so good about showing my art in Columbia. Especially at a venue that is so dedicated to the arts with the support and backing of Jasper.

Jasper: Can you talk about your medium for this exhibition?

McIntosh: Linocut Reduction is a relief printing process in which the artist carves a reverse image in a block of linoleum. The image is inked in a single color and printed on paper. The artist then carves an additional layer, applies a different color, and prints again. Each piece must be carefully and exactly registered into place for each color pull. The process is repeated until all color layers are applied. Because the process does not allow an artist to adjust a prior layer, the process is sometimes referred to as “suicide printing.” 

The artist must commit to a number of prints from the start knowing there is going to be spoilage along the way. I normally begin with 10-20 knowing I will lose 25-40% to errors along the way. 

Jasper: Of the pieces in this body of work, what do you like the most and why?

McIntosh: I love the large, complicated pieces such as Henredon Heron, The Alligator King, and Git Da Net. They take so much time, muscle, and energy. I just have to be proud of them. Henredon Heron alone has over 150 hours of carving and hand printing time involved

Jasper Welcomes Charles Hite to the Warm Walls of the Jasper Sound Bites Gallery

As we come out of our cozy holiday shells and start blinking in the cold winter sun, Jasper invites you to visit Sound Bites Eatery where both the food and the walls are comforting and warm.

Jasper’s featured artist for January is photographer Charles Hite, whose work is engaging and inspiring.

Charles is a lifelong resident of Lexington County. A retired U.S. Army veteran Hite started paying closer attention to his art in 2009 at the tender age of 60. His love of nature in all aspects can be seen in his images. When asked, he enthusiastically shares the stories of his images with others and he enjoys listening to their experiences, thereby gaining information about interesting subject matter. Many of his images are of nature, old buildings, historic sites, and astronomy related events.  

Most of his images are visually accurate, but he no longer feels constrained to “take what the camera gives him.” Instead, he embraces the freedom to use available tools and capture techniques to render his impression of the scene before him, much like a painter, to make the subject his own. 

In the artist’s own words …

I have lived in Lexington County of SC all but 2 years of the 74 years I have been alive.  The other 2 years were spent in Germany while serving in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971.  During my time in the Midlands, I have seen a lot of change.  Some good and some not so good…but mostly good.

I do not photograph people (except family) …for money or pleasure.  It is too much like work for me.  Instead, I enjoy nature and “things” …especially old “things.”  And it seems the older I get the more I like old things.  I like to be outdoors and take my time with my subjects.  I like to be at the site well before the good light begins and watch the scene develop and well after the good light in the evening. I capture the scene and then I spend leisure time there.

As you can see from my images, there is no rhyme or reason to what interest me. Fortunately, some of my work has been juried into several shows and exhibitions.  Some shows that I’m especially proud of are these: 

• Columbia Metropolitan Airport 2014 Exhibition

• Rosewood Art and Music Festival…several years.    

• ArtFields in Lake City, SC, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

• SC State Museum 30th Anniversary Art Exhibition - 2018

• Piccolo Spoleto in Charleston, SC – 2019, 2022

Jasper Project Announces THOMAS WASHINGTON as our FEATURED ARTIST in the 701 Whaley Hallway Gallery in February

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.

Jasper's Tiny Gallery Features Fred Townsend

Fred Townsend—Jasper’s January Tiny Gallery artist—grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where his childhood had plenty of adventure—though art itself was not originally in the forefront.  

“Art was not directly part of my childhood, I was more inclined to be in the woods near my house playing with bamboo,” Townsend recalls, “I had art classes in middle school, but did not get fully immersed in art until high school.”  

Townsend attended the Baton Rouge Magnet High School, a visual and performing arts school that set the foundation for attending the University of South Carolina and graduating with a degree in Studio Art. Townsend’s courses here were foundational for him in the mediums he still uses today. 

“I loved to draw in charcoal, but then I took an oil painting class, and that was that. I did use other mediums for my own art pieces while still in college, pastels, and acrylic paint, but nothing gave me the feeling like oil paint,” Townsend says. “I recently made a decision to start using oil pastels with some pieces, but it is hard to break away from just oil. Oils give me the textures I want for my floral paintings.” 

Though oil is a consistent love, Townsend’s style is harder to pin down. “I have only dipped my foot into themes that are close to me—mental health, loss, and decay,” Townsend shares. “It’s hard to go there and focus because it’s a touchy subject matter and takes me to a sad place.”  

Townsend often works out images in his sketchbook, putting together “concrete images”—“the only thing I may play with are the color schemes for dramatic effect,” he says. “As far as feeling finished, it’s done when I see and get that feeling that gave me the initial emotion for the idea.” 

For his Tiny Gallery show, Townsend has put together “a mix of new and old.” Viewing the show, patrons can see brightly colored frogs, wary warm cats, vivid stormy sunsets, and creatures that marry the wild with the feminine. The show also has “some smaller sizes of things [he] want[s] to do larger. The cat and the door. The door has been on the back burner to do larger for a while.” 

Recently, Townsend received his certification to teach art and to share his perspective with others. Currently, he teaches for Richland One at Edward E Taylor Elementary. In the past, he has worked as an activity therapist for students with mental health struggles at Williams S. Hall. 

Townsend reflects on the selling of two of his magnolias here in Columbia as well as meeting other local artists and educators like Tyrone Geter and Keith Tolen as highlights of his art journey. He also recently had a piece that was accepted into an online gallery exhibition. 

Interested patrons can view Townsend’s work via Jasper’s online Tiny Gallery until January 31st. People can also follow Townsend on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with his work.

Koger Center’s Third Thursday Lineup in the Nook Kicks Off with Wilma King

It’s a new calendar year, which means a brand-new lineup of talented artists from the Midlands will decorate the walls of each Jasper Gallery location. In the Nook at the Koger Center, Wilma King is the opening artist. King is a South Carolina native who endeavors to combine her experiences of living around the United States with her educational background into a visual storytelling collaboration through her painting.

King’s featured exhibit in the Nook is titled Love Heals: The Margins and Time In-Between. This body of work expands upon her Love Heals collection, which debuted at our Bernie Love Valentine’s Day event in 2023. The addendum includes 14 new works and received funding by the South Carolina Arts Commission’s Emerging Artist Grant. King notes that the pieces are a “series of montages comprised of memories of two generations before and after [her] -- thus, the time ‘in-between.’” She highlights the dreams, hopes, and desires of individuals at different stages of their lives while facing different obstacles like cancer or mental illness. Much of the subject matter derives from King’s own memories of adolescence and the relationships she fostered with her family. No moment is too small or grand for King to make compelling subject matter. Memories and storytelling often mesh to create a brand-new path for her work to take.

The opening reception will be held from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on January 18, 2024, on the Grand Tier Lobby of the Koger Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Excerpt from Wilma King’s Artist statement:

“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.”

— Emily Moffitt

Jasper Project Announces Our Full 2024 Line-up of Artists for JASPER GALLERIES 2024!

Jasper’s first regularly scheduled gallery – Tiny Gallery – opened in October 2018 at an intimate space inside Tapp’s Arts Center on Main Street in Columbia, SC. Over the past five years, many shifts have happened, including the moving of Tiny Gallery online and the inception of five additional gallery locations. As these spaces increased, Jasper Galleries itself was created as an expanding series that promotes Midlands artists’ work. 

Jasper is delighted to announce the lineup of over 60 artists whose work we will have the fortune to support and show in 2024. Be sure to mark your calendars, follow our social media, and sign up for our weekly newsletter to hear more about these creators as their individual shows draw near.

Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College 

Shows at Harbison Theatre are Jasper’s only galleries that run seasonally versus yearly, with shows opening and closing in conjunction with the theatre’s season of shows. 1-2 final artists will be announced in late summer along with Harbison’s 2024-2025 season calendar. 

January 8th: Laurie Brownell McIntosh

March 1st: Anthony Lewis

June 9th: Barbara Yongue

Koger Center for the Arts

Shows at Koger feature artists in The Nook, an intimate open-wall gallery adjacent to Koger’s Donors Gallery. All shows open on the Third Thursday of the respective month. In April, Jasper will feature a group show of artists painting works related to compositions from the Philharmonic’s “The Art of Symphony” event. 

January: Wilma King

February: Dogon Krigga

March: Josef Berliner

April: Group Philharmonic-Inspired Show

May: Malik Greene

June: Jordan Sheridan

July: Toni Elkins

August: Christopher Lane

September: Ellen Yaghjian

October: Heidi Darr-Hope

November: Janet Swigler

December: Ellie Rose

 The Meridian Building 

These street-facing windows in the Meridian Building feature group shows accessible to viewers 24/7. On both Washington Street and Sumter Street, patrons can view a pair of 2D and 3D artists in each block-long window. First Thursdays are a wonderful time to walk around and see these two-month long shows.

January—February: Gina Langston Brewer, Anna Herrera, Bohumila Augustinova, and Caroline Clark

March—April: Libby Gamble, Debi Kelly, Gretchen Evans Parker, & Curran Stone

May—June: Judy Sellers, Devon Corley, Tennyson Corley, & Lucy Bailey

July—August: Charles Hite, Steven White, Levi Wright, & Renee Rouillier

September—October: Richard Lund, Pat Gillam, Debbie Patwin, & Jennifer Hill

November—December: JJ Burton, Sean McGuinness, Chilly Waters, & Sharon Licata

Motor Supply Company Bistro 

These quarterly solo shows fill the walls of Motor Supply Bistro with opening receptions typically occurring the first or second Friday of the respective artist’s starting month. Official announcements will be made on Jasper’s online magazine and social media. 

January—March: Ija Charles

April—June: Laurel Steckel

July—September: Darren Young

October—December: Michel McNinch

Sound Bites Eatery 

These shows at Sound Bites Eatery have artist’s work prominently displayed across one of the restaurant’s main walls, celebrated monthly in conjunction with First Thursday. August, the restaurant’s birthday, is curated by the restaurant’s owners, and December features a unique holiday show whose theme will be announced later in 2024. 

January: Charles Hite

February: Michael Krajewski

March: Benji Hicks

April: Jean Capalbo

May: K. Wayne Thornley

June: Sean Madden

July: Elisabeth LaRose

August: Sound Bites Birthday Show

September: Kelly Bryant

October: Jean Lomasto

November: Jarid Lyfe Brown

December: Holiday Show

Tiny Gallery 

Finally, the gallery that started it all. Moved online during COVID-19 and kept there due to its success and the ability to show local art to patrons anytime, anyplace, Tiny Gallery features solo artists monthly with an ornament show to close the year. 2024’s ornament makers will be announced midyear. 

January: Fred Townsend

February: Jamie Peterson

March: Cait Patel

April: Candace Catoe

May: Pat Callahan

June: Pat Gillam

July: Virginia Russo

August: Alex Ruskell

September: Emily Moffitt

October: Olivia Pope

November: Kristin Holzer

December: Ornament Show

Jasper is incredibly grateful to the artists, patrons, and especially the business owners that continue to make promoting local art and supporting artists a possibility.

Happiest holidays to all, and we look forward to helping you fill your walls with local art in 2024!

Visit Sound Bites Eatery on Sumter Street for Delicious Food, Welcoming Vibes, and this month, Art from the Jasper Project's Board of Directors Visual Artists!

One of the great joys of working with the Jasper Project is becoming warm friends with members of our hard-working board of directors as well as the owner/operators of the institutions that work with us and the venues that host us. A perfect example would be the good people at Sound Bites Eatery who welcomed Jasper as soon as their doors were opened and invited us to make use of their walls to hang art by local artists. This month we are combining our appreciation for both by featuring the art of Jasper Project Board Artists, Emily Moffitt, Laura Garner Hine, Keith Tolen, and Kimber Carpenter in the Jasper Gallery Space at Sound Bites Eatery.

Curated by a committee chaired by Christina Xan who serves as the Jasper Project’s gallery manager, Jasper hangs local art throughout the city at Motor Supply Bistro, Koger Center for the Arts, Harbison Theatre, the Meridian Sidewalk Gallery Space as well as Sound Bites Eatery. But we’re always looking for new permanent or temporary spaces to feature the work of Columbia-based artists.

While we enjoy celebrating new shows with receptions, one of the advantages of showing art in these public spaces is that the art is available for purchase any time day or night by accessing a QR code attached to every piece of art. So if you’re still looking for the perfect gift for someone you love, consider giving art by visiting one of the Jasper Gallery spaces easily accessible in the greater Columbia area!

Marius Valdes Mounts Massive Exhibition of JOYOUS CREATURES at Koger Center for the Arts

The Koger Center for the Arts’ Upstairs Gallery is now home to the wonderous, whimsical works of Marius Valdes. The featured exhibition is aptly titled “Joyous Creatures,” and will reside in the Upstairs Gallery from December 1, 2023, to March 11, 2024.

Marius Valdes is an artist currently based in Columbia, South Carolina. Valdes has been recognized by design publications such as Graphic Design USA, HOW, Print, Communication Arts, Creative Boom, Creative Quarterly, Step, and industry competitions including American Illustration, and The World Illustration Awards. In 2022, the UK's Creative Boom Website named Valdes as one of its "20 Most Exciting Illustrators" to follow. This recent creative endeavor of Valdes’ holds over 200 paintings on both canvas and paper bags. Those familiar with his work can expect to see big, bright-eyed creatures of all kinds, shapes, and sizes amidst boldly colored backgrounds. Anyone interested in getting a sneak peek at the featured work can visit the exhibit’s website, www.joyouscreatures.com. This website functions as a digital catalog as well as the site to use for any artwork purchases.

Joyous Creatures Artist Statement: Joyous Creatures aims to make you smile or laugh if only for a moment. I celebrate characters and creatures from the imagination whether they are dogs, frogs, blobs, or aliens. Character-based art has the capacity to create memorable and engaging visual language that speaks to people of all ages and nationalities. I use my characters to educate, inform, and entertain.

There will be an opening reception for the exhibition on December 6, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. at the Koger Center’s Upstairs Gallery. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be provided. For more information, contact the Koger Center at kogercenter@sc.edu, or 803-777-7500.

David West Closes Out the 2023 Nook Lineup – Jasper Galleries

Our last resident artist of 2023 in the Koger Center’s Nook Gallery is David West. West is currently a visual arts teacher and the Fine Arts Department Dean at White Knoll High School in Lexington, SC. West’s formal education in the arts includes a year of Commercial Art training in a vocational school, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting, and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Art Education. For 13 years, West worked as a graphic designer, relishing the challenge of crafting designs that met the needs of diverse clients.

His journey into teaching art began when he took on the role of organizing and conducting figure drawing sessions for the “About Face” figure study group at the Columbia Museum of Art. Encouragement from fellow art educators within the group led him to explore a career in art education.

Art has been a constant companion for West throughout his life, operating as “an enduring source of inspiration and fascination.” His artistic journey was shaped by the influential figures in his family, particularly his mother, who loved painting, and his grandfather, whom he calls “a true Renaissance man” due to his background in architecture and talent for engineering, drawing, painting, and designing. While harboring an interest in multiple forms of visual art, West has been enamored with woodcut printmaking ever since he participated in the printmaking program at the University of South Carolina.

In his upcoming show in the Nook, there is work from West’s past, examples made from high school art lessons, and some of his current work. He often draws from the “canvas of [his] own life experiences” as he weaves personal narratives into universal themes in his work. He aims to create art that resonates with the viewer on an emotional level, avoiding overt or blatant expressions of ideas. He encourages the viewer to bring their unique feelings and experiences to his work, connecting his artistic expression to their own life stories. He views his work as a bridge, inviting others to explore and reflect on the shared human experience while his own artistic journey continues to evolve and inspire.

The opening reception for West’s exhibit is November 17, 2023, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. and will be up until January of 2024. The reception is free and open to the public.

Caroline Hatchell: Full Circle Experiences with Bead Weaving

Our resident Tiny Gallery artist of November is Caroline Hatchell. A jewelry maker known for her intricate traditional bead weaving, we are honored to carry her earrings for the rest of the month to purchase! We spoke to Caroline about her creative tendencies, what drives her to create, and more.

JASPER: Was art in your family/childhood?

HATCHELL: As a child of the seventies, I grew up a latch key kid. I spent most of my time running free along the banks of the Congaree River. I did not have much art influence in my childhood home, but I was always drawn to creative endeavors. I remember I liked making mini bouquets out of the tiniest wildflowers. I also remember art in elementary school was very special and I always tried to make my "make and take projects" unique.

JASPER: Did you go to school for it or are you self-taught?

HATCHELL: I am a self-taught artist. My journey from weaving seed beads led me to eventually owning my own bead and jewelry supply retail store where I continued my journey to explore every facet of jewelry design.

JASPER: What led you to the medium you work with now?

HATCHELL:I picked up some seed beads at a local craft store when I was in high school. At that time, the quality of seed beads was low. I taught myself to weave the beads together, intuitively doing a traditional Native American weaving technique called peyote stitch.  Seed bead weaving was natural, initiative and in tune with my spirit. While I enjoyed other aspects of jewelry design, eventually I came full circle, back to where I began, bead weaving.

JASPER: Tell me about the themes or ideas you usually chase in your work.

HATCHELL: Sometimes the patterns I use, find me, other times I choose things that emotionally engage my spirit. The raven, the snake, and the moon, for example, repeat in various forms and patterns in my work because they call to my spirit. I consider them spirit messengers.

JASPER: Tell me about the journey you embark on when you create, both emotional and literal/mechanical.

HATCHELL: I am continually at play. Beadwork is spirit medicine for me. When your spirit is called, you listen. Bead weaving is a very slow methodical, and meditative process. Hours and hours are spent on each piece, and since I make earrings, when I am done with one, I start over and do it again.

 JASPER: What kind of pieces have you decided to show for Tiny Gallery?

HATCHELL: This showing is a collection of some of my favorite works from the last year. Some simple designs, some more complex designs. I had the highest intention to create a new body of work for this tiny gallery show but the universe had bigger plans for me.  My spirit was suddenly called to make a great transformation. A transition to a new way of living, one that is in tune with my higher purpose.

JASPER: What’s your favorite memory and/or experience as an artist so far? 

HATCHELL: I have a tremendous amount of gratitude surrounding my work. I am grateful for the knowledge I so intuitively possess; I consider that a sacred gift. I am also incredibly grateful that I am afforded the opportunity to do work that is authentic to who I am. I am also grateful that people have responded so positively to my work. My patrons seem to recognize, honor, and respect the skill, tradition and wisdom traditional bead weaving represents.

 JASPER: What’s in the future for you? And where can we see your art after this show?

HATCHELL: Now that spirit has led me down a new path, settling high in Appalachian Mountains of NC, I am excited to see what unfolds for me here. Next up is to learn the traditional art of Appalachian heirloom weaving and learn the stories of the Appalachian women who wove these tiny mountain communities together. I also plan to continue bead weaving and just exploring the botany, and beauty of this place. Everything will happen exactly how it is meant to. If patrons are interested in future offerings, or custom beadwork, that information can be found on my website www.carolinehatchell.com.

Stacy Morgan Brings Beauty to the Everyday with Sgraffito Pottery

Stacy Morgan, a South Carolina native, has explored art from graphic design to oil painting to pottery. Learn more about her process and her current Tiny Gallery show below.

Morgan grew up in Charleston, and the city’s Lowcountry elements have continued to appear in her work over time. Art itself has been a key form of expression for Morgan, one she herself has returned to again and again. 

Morgan studied graphic design at the University of Georgia before actively working as a graphic designer overseas in Germany. Though this connection to art was valuable, after moving back to America – specifically moving to Lexington, SC – Morgan decided to dive deeper into her relationship with art.

In Columbia, she studied oil with Dale Maestro at the Columbia Museum of Art. This relationship led to her selling her digitizing business and opening Lexington’s Paint & Pour at the Old Mill. Then, as the story goes for so many of us, COVID hit. Having to temporarily close her business, Morgan began painting pet portraits and experimenting on pottery in her personal studio.

Post-COVID, Morgan left Paint & Por behind to open her current personal business: Pottery for Daze. Since opening this, she has been selling her pottery at a plethora of venues. She used to sell at Soda City but now focuses on festivals and markets so that she can dedicate more time to building sufficient inventory.  

Most of Morgan’s work is “embellished with images of Southeastern flora and fauna,” identifying markers of places that have been so dear to her for so long. She uses underglazes to paint on most of her pieces, where “the black and white botanical silhouette pieces reflect [her] graphics background, while the full color illustrated pieces celebrate [her] love of painting organic and natural elements.”

It is a detailed, multi-step process that Morgan follows. After throwing the form on the wheel, she waits two days for the pieces to firm up slightly under plastic sheeting. Once they are “leather hard,” she paints silhouettes with several coats of black underglaze before carving clean edges and details into the underglaze and clay—a technique called sgrafitto.

“Some of the stoneware clay being used fires a creamy white, while others produce earthy speckles, enhancing an organic look to the pieces,” Morgan details, “With clays named Iceman, Dark Star, and White Bear, it is intriguing to see how each reacts to a cone five firing. After the pieces are bisque fired, I lightly sand them down and glaze them with a clear glaze before their final firing.”

For Tiny Gallery, Morgan selected pieces thrown on the wheel with cream colored stoneware clay, enhanced with “graphic black silhouettes of botanical elements.” She asserted that she “wanted the gallery to feature silhouettes of nature to allow the user to experience these shapes and forms without their natural coloring.”   

As with all her work, each piece featured in Tiny Gallery is functional for daily use, “making everyday life a bit more beautiful.”

View Morgan’s pottery show 24/7 during the month of October via Jasper’s online gallery space, and see what she does next by following her on Instagram @pottery_for_daze

Event Featuring Works by Five Artists at Rob Shaw Gallery

On Friday, October 6, from 6 to 9 p.m., Rob Shaw Framing and Gallery will host a reception for a month-long show featuring works by artists Rebecca Horne, Rob Shaw, George Stone, Tianova, and Cody Unkart. The gallery is at 324 State Street in West Columbia.

The show represents an array of styles, from highly representational to eclectic and abstract. At the opening reception, the artists will be on hand to discuss their artwork, which will be available in the gallery for viewing and for sale throughout October.

Ruby River by Rebecca Horne

Since 2018, Horne has focused on mixed media and fluid acrylics, rendering highly textured and multi-dimensional works. In addition to receiving numerous awards in juried shows, Horne was recognized in 2020 by Destig Magazine as one of the top 20 artists of the year. Her work has appeared in a juried Piccolo Spoleto exhibit and in the Vernum Ultimum Gallery international show as well as in other prestigious shows and galleries.

Shaw’s newest works feature large, bright, colorful paintings that represent a bold new direction defined by loose strokes and fresh colors. His art continues to be inspired by iconic South Carolina landscapes and city scenes: “My work has always been impressionistic and, thus, abstract to an extent. Lately I have been pushing the boundaries of the subject matter even further,” says Shaw.

A Stroll Among the Oaks by George Stone

Stone is a representational oil painter focusing primarily on landscapes and still life subjects. Presenting a clear concept, accurate drawing, expressive values and colors, and a well-designed composition, Stone evokes moods in his landscapes by capturing the quality of light present at different times of day, different seasons, and different locations.

The Sun by Tianova

Tianova’s preferred media are oil, acrylics, and watercolor. Using negative spaces to transport the viewer through emotions ranging from nostalgia to present-moment awareness, her work captures the intimacy of solitude and silence and the tension between realism and dreamscape.

Gervais Bridge at Noon by Cody Unkart

Unkart’s paintings depict intimate spaces that he visits daily, including views near his home in the New Brookland Mill Village, the Congaree River, and the Vista. Inspired by colors, shapes, and forms that change with the seasons, he enjoys painting from observation, slowing down and being present to the fleeting beauty and liveliness of ordinary surroundings.

Rob Shaw Framing and Gallery is a full-service frame shop and fine art gallery. Since opening his gallery in April of 2019, Shaw has showcased the work of many South Carolina artists. For the remainder of 2023, the gallery will host First Friday at Rob Shaw Gallery receptions every month.