Arts Planner: Blue Sky mural, Fashion Week, laser lights
Blue Sky mural finds new life on downtown YMCA building
There is a new, yet familiar, work of art in downtown Columbia.
The YMCA’s most recent location at Hampton and Bull streets is now sporting a replica of a Blue Sky mural.
The original mural was on a vacant one-story office building that was demolished to build the YMCA. “Other Side of the Tunnel,” an agricultural mural of a tractor in field of hay bales, was painted in 2000.
Blue Sky is well known for his “Tunnelvision” mural on the old AgFirst Farm Credit Bank building and the “Busted Plug” fire hydrant sculpture along Taylor Street, among other public artworks around the city and the state. “Other Side of the Tunnel” was painted in honor of AgFirst’s 75th anniversary.
A representative for Heritage Land & Development, LLC, which owns the YMCA building, said the mural re-creation was an agreement made by the company and the city of Columbia to keep art on the side of the building.
The YMCA also was pleased to see the mural go up (again).
“The YMCA of Columbia is very excited that Blue Sky’s mural has been replicated on the new downtown YMCA building,” CEO Bruce Williams said. “The Y is all about serving our community and we are proud that we are able to show our support for the local arts in this way.”
Related: ‘Tunnelvision’ mural will be saved as building is converted to apartments
OTHER ARTS EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Columbia Fashion Week
Calling all fashionistas! Don’t miss the start of the 5th Columbia Fashion week Tuesday. There are going to be some bold, chic prints strutting down the runway, if our interviews with several of the designers are any indication. The three nights of runway will showcase retailers, plus local and student designers. Go and see what you should be wearing come fall.
Tuesday through Saturday at various downtown locations. Ticket prices vary. www.columbiafashionweek.com
5 designers dish on inspirations for Columbia Fashion Week
Jazz series begins at 701 Whaley
Columbia is getting a new jazz venue. The Market, the covered porch area at 701 Whaley, is piloting a new jazz series which just might develop into a year-round hot spot for jazz music.
The first performance will be The Mike Frost Band, featuring Mike Frost on guitar, Lauren Mecci on vocals and saxophone, Shannon Pinckney on keyboard and John Henry on drums.
6-8 p.m. Tuesday at The Market at 701 Whaley St. $10, cash only.
The power of paper
if ART Gallery’s summer exhibition, “Paper Products,” presents works on paper by 45 artists. The show includes paintings and drawings on paper; collages; limited edition etchings, lithographs, silkscreens, woodcuts, linocuts and other prints; and sculptures made of cardboard.
The show runs through June 25. The gallery is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. 1223 Lincoln St. ifartgallery.blogspot.com/
Soda City Story Slam
Local storytellers share brief autobiographical stories live, a la popular podcast “The Moth.”
The theme of the night is “memory,” in celebration of the Columbia Museum of Art’s “Daufuskie Memories” exhibition. Prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges: filmmaker Roni Nicole Henderson, Seth Gadsden of the Nickelodeon Theatre, and Betsy Newman from SCETV. The evening is hosted by Shannon Ivey, a professional actor, activist, and lover of a good tale.
7 p.m. Thursday at Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St. $10; $8 for members. www.columbiamuseum.org/
Friday Night Laser Lights
Sometimes you just need to sit back and listen to some good music – with beer and lasers.
The S.C. State Museum has new monthly laser shows in its planetarium starting Friday. The event will feature the music of The Beatles at 8 p.m., Phish at 9 p.m. and Pink Floyd at 10 p.m. There will local food trucks at each event as well as a custom-made planetarium bar to purchase beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.
8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday at the SC State Museum, 301 Gervais St. $8; $6 for members. scmuseum.org