Arts Planner: Holiday happenings, plus a few old favorites

Columbia artist creates ornaments for national Christmas display

Fiber artist Susan Lenz spent October in rural Lake County, Ore., furiously making Christmas ornaments. With the nearest Wi-fi hotspot 20 miles away, Lenz had nothing to distract her from creating, save for one long trip to a craft store for more thread.

Lenz was selected to create South Carolina’s ornaments for the “America Celebrates: Ornaments from Across the USA” display in Washington, D.C. She also was invited Dec. 3 to attend the 93rd annual National Christmas Tree Lighting in D.C., which is presented by the National Park Foundation and the National Park Service.

Artists from each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia were asked to design ornaments inspired by America’s national parks as tributes to the upcoming National Park Service Centennial in 2016.

Lenz made 12 double-sided ornaments using image transfers of South Carolina flora and fauna, including a box turtle, a Carolina wren and a spotted orb weaver spider.

“It was a blast to make Christmas ornaments of things like insects and spiders,” Lenz said. “You don’t get to do that everyday.”

There’s also one of history re-enactors and one of a wooden boardwalk at Congaree National Park, one of Lenz’s favorite nature spots.

The back of each ornament features the outline of the state along with the flag’s Palmetto tree and crescent moon.

The ornaments will be hung on smaller trees that surround the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House at President’s Park.

“With the state on the back, hopefully you’ll be able to look up at the tree(s) and see which ones are from South Carolina,” she said.

Time for tinsel and Keg Nog

“The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical” is going on at Trustus Theatre through Dec. 19., and that means Yuletide tackiness is in full force at North Florida’s Armadillo Acres. “Trailer Park Musical” is a holiday-themed sequel of the original play written by Betsy Kelso and David Nehls. There’s just as much cat-fightin’, sun-worshippin’ and chair-throwin’ – but with tinsel and Keg Nog thrown in (which is, in fact, as gross at is sounds).

520 Lady St., $35 regular admission, $33 senior and military, $25 students. (803) 254-9732, www.trustus.org

Free music at the Koger Center

The Palmetto Concert Band will kick off its 2015-16 season at 4 p.m. Sunday with music from various band composers including John Moody, John Philip Sousa and Percy Aldridge Grainger.

USC Symphonic Winds will play at 7:30 p.m. Monday. The program includes “Baron Cimetiere’s Mambo” by Donald Grantham, “Dance of the New World” by Dana Wilson and “Songs Without Words” by Charles Rochester Young.

1051 Greene St. (803) 777-5112, www.kogercenterforthearts.com/

Inside the mind of Southern writer Pat Conroy

An exhibit about famous South Carolina author Pat Conroy is on display at the University of South Carolina’s Hollings Library.

“Pat Conroy: A Retrospective” features 14 display cases filled with photographs, manuscripts, first-edition books, screenplays, scrapbooks, correspondence, posters, book art and illustrations.

Some cases are dedicated to Conroy’s experiences in South Carolina that influenced his work, such as his time as a cadet at The Citadel, his time teaching on Daufuskie Island and his time living in Beaufort.

The exhibit will be up until March 31 and is free and open the public. library.sc.edu/p/libraries/Hollings.

Camden ART Fall Show

Camden ART’s juried Fall Show features works done in watercolor, oil, acrylic, charcoal, pen and ink, and mixed media. Select works will be available for purchase just in time for the holidays in the Bassett Gallery at the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County.

The exhibition will be on display in the Bassett Gallery through Jan. 8. (FAC closed Dec. 21-Jan. 3). 810 Lyttleton St., Camden. (803) 425-7676, www.fineartscenter.org

Call for artists for Columbia Open Studios

Visual artists in Richland and Lexington counties are encouraged to register to participate in Columbia Open Studios, the free, self-led, driving tour of artists’ working studios. Artists open the doors to their working studios for two days to share their personal stories, techniques and tips. The event is set for April 2-3.

Deadline for the non-juried artist registration is Dec. 18, with an early bird discount on registration fees for artists who sign up by Dec. 1. Register at www.columbiaopenstudios.org.