Arts Planner: A Roman festival, a ballet and an art sale

Feel the rhythm at McKissick Museum Gala Art Sale

For two decades, McKissick Museum has organized an annual gala art sale to support artists and to raise funds for museum programs. The event on Friday features more than 50 works from South Carolina artists and artists with ties to the Palmetto State, including Winton and Rosa Eugene, Jemes Davis, Claire Farrell, Edward Shmunes and Michael Story.

The theme for this year’s event is Southern Rhythms and features artwork that reflects the music that enriches the Southern experience.

“We decided to mirror our other exhibit, ‘Heard at Every Turn: Traditional Music in South Carolina’ and tie the two together,” McKissick’s visitor service manager Ja-Nae Epps said.

That doesn’t mean every piece is about music or musicians, but rather what music in the South means to each artist.

There will be an artist statement attached to each piece explaining the musical connection, and all artwork will be for sale. Prices range from low hundreds to thousands, Epps said, but many are under $500.

“Rhythm can be found anywhere,” McKissick’s Curator of Exhibitions Edward Puchner said. “Southern Rhythms signals the beats, rhythmic patterns, or tempos of our everyday activity that together make up and enrich the world we all share,”

7-10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 at McKissick Museum, 945 Bull St.; $50 for museum members and $60 for non-members. Tickets will be available at the door, but advance purchase is recommended. (803) 777-2876, artsandsciences.sc.edu/mckissickmuseum/

The Nutcracker returns

It isn’t Christmas without Clara and Fritz and their beloved wooden toy that comes to life. See Columbia Classical Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 4-6. Tickets are $5-$32. Educational Outreach days are 10 a.m. Dec. 3-4. These performances are $5 with the goal of providing children with the opportunity to experience classical ballet.

All shows are at the Koger Center, 1051 Greene St. (803) 777-7500, www.kogercenterforthearts.com/

I can hear the bells

The Raleigh Ringers, a handbell ensemble from North Carolina, will bring its unique interpretations of sacred, secular and popular music arranged just for handbells to the Newberry Opera House and challenge all pre-conceived notions of bells.

8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1201 McKibben St., Newberry; $30. (803) 276-6264, http://www.newberryoperahouse.com

Lexington County Choral Society concert

The Lexington County Choral Society will perform a holiday concert, “The Beautiful Sounds of Christmas!”

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4 and Saturday, Dec. 5 in the Sanctuary of Saxe-Gotha Presbyterian Church, 5503 Sunset Blvd., Lexington. (803) 359-8794, lexcochoralsoc.org.

‘Veni, vidi, vici’

The State Museum is hosting a Saturnalia festival Saturday celebrating Roman culture through food, crafts and reenactments in conjunction with its new exhibit, “Julius Caesar; Roman Military Might and Machines.”

Saturnalia was the ancient Roman festival for Saturn, who in Roman mythology was an agricultural deity said to have reigned over the world in the Golden Age.

Legio VI Ferrata Fidelas Constans, South Carolina’s Roman legion, will be on hand all day with artillery and drill demonstrations. Kids can go to gladiator school and learn how to be a Roman soldier. Castra Rota Gourmet Foods of Brunson, S.C., will have authentic Roman breads, cheeses and other period foods available for purchase. There will also be a Saturnalia parade and period machines reconstructed by Legio VI members.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at 301 Gervais St. Saturnalia activities are included with general admission or with museum membership. There is an additional fee to see “Julius Caesar; Roman Military Might and Machines.” (803) 898-4921, scmuseum.org

This story was originally published November 28, 2015 at 4:00 AM.