Arts Planner: ArtFields, salsa and antiques
Columbia artists well-represented at ArtFields
ArtFields, the South’s largest art competition and festival, announced the accepted artists for this year’s event in downtown Lake City. Of the nearly 400 artists selected from across the Southeast, 248 are from South Carolina, with 47 representing Columbia.
Some recognizable names from Columbia include artists Eileen Blyth, Michaela Pilar Brown, Michael Dwyer and Laura Spong.
These emerging and established artists will compete for the $50,000 top prize. There are also awards for Jurried Panel Prize ($25,000), People’s Choice two-dimensional ($12,500), People’s Choice three-dimensional ($12,500) and 10 Merit Awards ($1,000 each).
Awards are based on visitor input and a panel of judges and educators.
“I was extremely impressed with the high quality of the submitted works,” review panelist and University of South Carolina art history professor Bradford Collins said in a news release. “The artwork is a wonderful mix of the pleasing and the provocative.”
ArtFields started in 2013 and draws about 20,000 each year. The 2016 event will take place April 22-30 and include more than 400 pieces.
The full list of accepted artists can be viewed here: www.artfieldssc.org/artists/list-of-artfields-2016-accepted-artists/
Other arts events around town
MUSEUM ROADSHOW
Learn the value and stories behind your treasures. Whether it’s an heirloom, antique or artifact, local experts in a variety of fields will be on site at the State Museum offering informal verbal appraisals. New this year, the South Carolina Archeology Public Outreach Division will have archeologists at the museum to identify artifacts such as prehistoric shells, pottery, bones and stones.
9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23 at S.C. State Museum, 301 Gervais St. Advance ticket purchase recommended. $25-$45. Fees based on the number of items, four items max. scmuseum.org/events/signature-events/
‘NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT’
Town Theatre’s first production of the year takes on the 1920s musical featuring songs by George and Ira Gershwin. “Nice Work if You Can Get It” follows wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter and female bootlegger Billie Bendix, who hides cases of alcohol in Jimmy’s basement on the eve of his wedding in Prohibition-era Long Island.
Showing now through Jan. 31 at 1012 Sumter St. Adults, $25; active military/college, $20; children, $15. www.towntheatre.com or (803) 799-2510.
THE HALLWAY: COMMUNITY ART
Charleston area painter Matt Kim is the latest artist to be featured on the hallway walls at 701 Whaley. There will be a kickoff reception 5-7 p.m. Sunday at 701 Whaley St. A broad spectrum of Kim’s paintings will be on display until the end of February.
FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION MONDAY
The Columbia Museum of Art will be open and free to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. there will be 30-minute Spark Tours of the exhibition “The Art of Joseph Norman” along with other works in the collection by African-American artists. Joseph Norman is a Chicago native whose lithographs mesmerize the viewer with an exploration of dark human emotion and raw commentary on black life in America.
1515 Main St. (803) 799-2810, www.columbiamuseum.org/
STRINGS AND SALSA
The Charleston-based Latin-pop music and dance ensemble blends live salsa dancing with traditional Cuban music and orchestral string arrangements. They also give Billboard chart-toppers a Latin twist.
7:30 p.m. Friday at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, 7300 College St., Irmo. $20. (803) 407-5011, www.harbisontheatre.org/
GALAS GALORE
Wednesday is Frost, the winter black tie gala benefiting EdVenture Children’s Museum. The night includes falling snowflakes, chilling cocktails and exquisite cuisine.
Tickets are $125 and proceeds go toward providing museum outreach for under-resourced children and families.
7-10 p.m. at 211 Gervais St. (803) 400-1152, www.edventurefrost.com
ON STAGE
Saturday, professional ballet stars from all over the world perform at Columbia Classical Ballet’s annual “LifeChance: International Ballet Gala of the Stars” performance.
7:30 p.m. at Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St $5-$32. (803) 777-7500, www.kogercenterforthearts.com
This story was originally published January 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM.