Arts Planner: Healing art, Beethoven and David Bowie

Columbia artist begins art healing workshops

After five traumatic brain injuries and two suicide attempts, Jim Dukes found art helped him see that there were still slivers of beauty in the world.

The Columbia resident and former explosive ordinance disposal technician started taking photos and making graphic art three years ago. It became a healing outlet.

“It gets me out of my head and allows for a positive distraction in my life,” Dukes said. “It puts some of those traumatic things on pause.”

Now, Dukes is teaching others how to do the same.

As the director of the Healing Art Program at The Big Red Barn Retreat in Winnsboro, he will guide monthly workshops that give participants creative outlets for managing present and future stress and trauma.

The first workshop is Saturday at the 80-acre event facility. The group will get creative by writing, taking pictures, collecting nature and collaging.

“What we do with healing art is essentially connected people through art and shared experiences in a supportive surrounding,” Dukes said.

Dukes previously has worked as an artist-in-residence at Tapp’s Art Center and has led similar healing art programs at Sexual Trauma Services of the Midlands, he said.

The Saturday workshop is free, but is limited to veteran, active military and their spouses. Future workshops will expand to non-military groups, Rucker said.

11 .am.-2 p.m. Saturday at The Big Red Barn Retreat, 8024 Winnsboro Road, Winnsboro. Free, but registration required. Visit http://www.thebigredbarnretreat.org/ for more information.

OTHER ARTS EVENTS AROUND THE MIDLANDS

All-Beethoven Concert

The University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra will be joined by virtuoso violinist Vadim Gluzman for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 61. The all-Beethoven program also includes Overture to Prometheus and Symphony No. 7 in A Major, op. 92.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Koger Center, Greene and Park streets. $30 general admission; $25 senior citizens, USC faculty and staff; $8 students. (803) 251-2222, kogercenterforthearts.com.

A dance inspired by ruins

From Mayan fortification to Egyptian mummification, ancient ruins serve as a tangible reminder that others came before us. Columbia choreographer Terrance Henderson explores the theme of ruins in this HT@MTC Performance Incubator, which supports the creation of new work and sustainable careers for Midlands-based performing artists.

7:30 p.m. Saturday at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College, 7300 College St., Irmo. $22, harbisontheatre.org

David Bowie costume tribute

Come in your best David Bowie ensemble and enjoy a night of music and commemoration. Live music by Danny Jo Machado, about.theWindow and Pray For Triangle Zero .

7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Fountain Room of Tapp’s Arts Center, 1644 Main St. $6, www.tappsartscenter.com/

‘The Honky Tonk Angels’

What do you get when three women seek to leave behind their humdrum lives to become country music stars? The Honky Tonk Angels.

Through March 6 at Town Theatre, 1012 Sumter St. $25; $20 seniors, military, college; $15 youth 17 and younger. www.towntheatre.com

This story was originally published February 21, 2016 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Arts Planner: Healing art, Beethoven and David Bowie."