Arts calendar

Laura Story, a Spartanburg native and a 2003 graduate of Columbia International University, won a Grammy Award last Sunday for her song “Blessings.” The song won for best contemporary Christian music song. The inspiration for “Blessings” came when her husband, Martin Elvington, developed a brain tumor in 2006. In an interview, Story said the song is an examination of the word blessing — and how it relates to God. Story enjoyed two blessing at the Grammys: she won an award and Elvington was there with her.

“Fine Lines, Found Textures and First Impressions,” a solo exhibition by Jonathan Brilliant, will open at Columbia College’s Goodall Gallery on Wednesday. The show will include an installation as Brilliant, a visual artist interested in scale, has been known to take over an entire space. The exhibition will focus on three elements: a series of rust prints, a site piece and a series of prints created with Columbia College printmaking students. Brilliant’s “Field of Good Fortune,” a site-specific installation featuring 12-foot-long fortune cookie fortunes of mounted sign material, was installed on Main Street in May. Brilliant’s reception will be held on March 15. The gallery is inside the Spears Center for the Arts at 1301 Columbia College Drive. For more, visit www.columbiasc.edu or call (803) 786-3899

Last week, the South Carolina Arts Commission announced the recipients of 2012 Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Awards for the Arts. The award is the highest presented in the arts in the state. The recipients: Dr. Lillian Quackenbush, lifetime achievement; Robert Ariail, individual artist; Sam Wang, individual; R. Scot Hockman, arts in education; The Self Foundation, business/foundation; and The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, with special recognition for Mark Sloan, organization. The awards will be presented at a state house on May 3. The South Carolina Arts Gala will be held on May 2. For more about the Verner Awards or the gala, call (803) 734-8696 or visit www.southcarolinaarts.com.

Morihiko on the Hudson will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbia Museum of Art. Morihiko Nakahara, the music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic, will join Will South, the museum’s chief curator, to discuss pieces in “Nature and the Grand American Vision: Masterpieces of the Hudson River School Painters." Then members of the orchestra will play music relating to the pieces. The museum is at Main and Hampton streets. $25 and $35; www.columbiamuseum.org

Nickelodeon Theatre will host an Oscar Party Feb. 26. The theme of this year’s event is “The Artist Meets Bridesmaids,” a reference to “Bridesmaides” and “The Artist,” two popular 2011 films. Anne Postic, known as The Shop Tart, and Patti O’Furniture will host the party and award prizes for best dressed. The night’s color scheme: black, white and pink. Beer, wine and signature drinks will be served, and Drip Coffee will provide heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Doors open at 6 p.m. The Nick is at 937 Main St. $35 and $40, and only 75 seats are available; (803) 254-8234