Category Archives: Event News

Abbey Elmore Band to Play Free Concert in Spartanburg, SC

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Abbey Elmore BandThe Abbey Elmore Band, a popular pop/rock band of Spartanburg, will be the musical guest at Chapman Cultural Center Sunday, June 5, for the venue’s weekly Sundays Unplugged event. This free live concert will start at 2 p.m. and end at 4 p.m.

Fronted by Abbey Elmore, the band strives to deliver a memorable experience, from live shows to listening on your iPhone. The band and its original music are a cross between modern day pop and old school rock ‘n’ roll, producing a very unique alternative sound. Its members are Elmore, Tyler Tullis, Nick Wells, and Donnie Elmore. To sample the band’s music, please visit online: ReverbNation.com/TheAbbeyElmoreBand.

Every Sunday afternoon, 1-5 p.m., Chapman Cultural Center hosts Sundays Unplugged, an event where patrons can enjoy local arts and culture in a no-stress and no-cost environment. In addition to the free concert, Spartanburg Art Museum, Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg Gallery, and The John F. Green Spartanburg Science Center are all open.

McDaniels to Play Free Concert in Spartanburg, SC, May 15

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Spartanburg singer/songwriter Corey McDaniels will play a free concert at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC, Sunday, May 15, 2016,  2-4 p.m. as part of the venue’s Sundays Unplugged program.

McDaniels has played in several regional bands, such as Asheville’s Young American Landscape. In addition, he has several musical projects in the works. He utilizes ambient textures, groove, and loops to create music that is equally influenced by progressive rock groups like Pink Floyd as it is by minimalist composers such as Steve Reich. McDaniels self-released the first Wounded Hollow EP in 2014 titled Seed, and he currently performs new material from an upcoming release on electric bass and guitar. Previews of his work can be found at WoundedHollow.Bandcamp.com.

Sundays Unplugged, 1-5 p.m., is a longstanding outreach program by Chapman Cultural Center that encourages patrons to enjoy local arts and culture in a no-stress no-cost environment. In addition to the weekly free concert by a local musician, Spartanburg Art Museum, Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg Gallery, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, and the Students Galleries are open and free. Also, local artists sometimes set up booths in the plaza and sell their work directly to the public.

For more information, please visit online ChapmanCulturalCenter.org. or call 864.542.ARTS.

Whitney Lane Concert Benefiting The Carolinas Leadership Academy

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Holiday Sea Island Gullah Celebration

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Holiday Sea Island Gullah Celebration

Date: December 4, 2015
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST
Production by Anita Singleton-Prather and The Gullah Kinfolk in historic Beaufort, South Carolina, at the University of South Carolina Beaufort campus Center for the Arts. The evening includes a taste of Gullah soul food buffet, artist showcase and marketplace, full stage musical with Aunt Pearlie Sue and Gullah Kinfolk: Christmas Wish Freedom Coming.

Gullah Christmas art by Diane Britton Dunham

Gullah Christmas art by Diane Britton Dunham

Meet Diane Britton Dunham and many more featured artists exhibiting before the show. Sample local Gullah foods and mingle with local chefs.

Freedom Coming is a significant performance that shares the Sea Island Gullah tradition with audiences in a new way, performed by Anita Singleton-Prather and her singing ensemble The Gullah Kinfolk from Beaufort, South Carolina.aunt pearlie sue

It is Christmas 1860, the last Christmas before the Civil War begins. The scene is a Sea Island slave cabin where enslaved Africans are anticipating Christmas day and talking about freedom. Gullah songs and storytelling include everything from spirituals, work songs and play songs to rhythmic, foot stomping ring shout songs that are unique to the Gullah praise house traditions.DSC_9314

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Book tickets at this link or call the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce 843-986-1102 to reserve your tickets for the Gullah performance, feast and art show or to arrange a weekend tour including history, culture and entertainment. Tickets are $35 at the door, $30 advance and $10 for children. Special group rates are available.

Charleston’s Best Women Summit

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Caribbean Fine Art Fair Barbados Celebrates Its 5th Year March 2015

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Divi Southwinds Resort will host the 5th Edition of Caribbean Fine Art (CaFA) Fair – Barbados March 11-15, 2015.

CaFA Fair opens on Wednesday, March 11, 6-9 pm with a Gala Reception featuring a live musical performance by Terry “Mexican” Arthur, and presentation of the CaFA Fair Special Award of Merit to veteran Barbadian collector and arts advocate Kathy Yearwood. This year the Fair will present over 45 exhibitors of paintings, sculpture, photography, drawings, original limited edition prints and new media exploring the cultural traditions of the Caribbean and the African Diaspora.

This 5th anniversary edition of CaFA Fair Barbados will feature two special exhibitions: “Diaspora Dialogue II” an exhibition of works by artists Khuumba Ama, S. Ross Browne, Sadikisha Collier, JW Ford, Anthony Romain, Danny Simmons, and Shenna Vaughn from the USA; Ernani Silva – Brazil; and TAFA – Ghana. This exhibition will explore the African influence on contemporary Diaspora artistic expression and investigates the position of Caribbean art in the broader Diaspora conversation.

“Our Caribbean Home” will feature works by three accomplished artists born in northern lands, who have become enthralled with the Caribbean way of life. The USA’s Hedy Klineman, UK born Dave M. Todd, and Canadian Maureen Tracey all now make their homes in Barbados.

Thursday evening, March 12, Barbadian and other Caribbean designers will be featured in a Caribbean Fashion Showcase. Barbadian Author Cher Antoinette will sign copies of her new book Architects of Destiny during the afternoon, while USA artist, poet and art entrepreneur Danny Simmons will host an evening of spoken word performances by Barbadian artistes and special guest UK’s Victor Richards on Friday, March 13.

Caribbean Art Symposium, scheduled for Saturday, March 14, will present a panel discussion with the Harlem Needle Arts group made up of artists with their origins in Barbados, Dominica and Trinidad & Tobago; a painting session with American artist S. Ross Browne; and an interactive presentation by founder and director of Prizm Miami, Mikhaile Solomon.

CaFA Fair will close on Sunday, March 15 with a Caribbean film presentation and discussion with Grenadian born Director of “Absence of Love”, Billy Gerard Frank; Barbados Video & Film Association; Alex Daniel and NY based Barbadian Tyson Hall.

CaFA Fair will showcase works of art by over 45 internationally and regionally acclaimed artists including Ras Ishi Butcher, Jamal Ince, Carlton Murrell, Rosemary Parkinson, and Ras Akyem I Ramsay – Barbados; Earl Etienne and Shimoda – Dominica; Coronado Print Studio Group – Dominican Republic; Joseph Brown and Frankie Francis – Grenada; Carl F. Anderson – Guyana; Patricia Brintle, Francks Deceus and Patrick Icart-Pierre -Haiti; Bernard Hoyes – Jamaica; Diogenes Ballester, Puerto Rico; Laura Gadson and Robert Reid – Trinidad & Tobago; Afreekan Southwell and Ademola Olugebefola – USVI. Several talented emerging artists will be on show including Cher Antoinette – Barbados; Ziggy Bruney – Dominica; Jesma Noel and Michael Paryag – Grenada; Beatrice Mellinger – Martinique; and Robert Joyette – St. Vincent.

Event partners include Bajan Sun Online; Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.; Barbados National Cultural Foundation; COT; Divi Southwinds; Intimate Hotels of Barbados; Laparkan Shipping and MQI/BMW.

CaFA Fair was created with the primary mission of increasing awareness and appreciation of Caribbean culture through the presentation of works of art and the distribution of information. For updates please visit event website http://www.cafafair.com or call 646-267-8831. S. Ross Browne - USA - The Calm Robert V. Reid - Trinidad & Tobago - Valerie - watercolor Ras Ishi Butcher - Barbados - Blazing Eye I-mixed media on canvas Pepe Coronado - Dominican Republic - USA-DR A Love Hate Relationship II Jesma Noel - Grenada - Boat & Sail-acrylic on canvas Carlos JM Rodriguez - Dominican Republic - Caribbean American-monoprint Bernard Hoyes - Jamaica - Respect Chorus Beatrice Mellinger - Martinique - Yahubaba-The Fallen Gods Series Afreekan Southwell - Antigua-USVI - Tung Yoni-mahogany wood

Brookgreen Gardens Hosts Gullah Celebrity Chef

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On Saturday, February 28, at 2 p.m. Sallie Ann Robinson, author and Gullah celebrity chef, will present “Cooking and Living the Daufuskie Gullah Way” a cooking demonstration of crab rice and pecan crunch cookies. Part of “The Reign of Rice Lecture Series” about the Spirituality of Rice Heritage, this winter program will be in the Lowcountry Center Auditorium and is free with garden admission. Reservations are required by calling 235-6016. Robinson will be available for book signings after the program.unnamed

Born on Daufuskie Island, off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, Sallie Ann Robinson was among the students taught by Pat Conroy when the famous author was a teacher. Robinson has grown in her own right into the author of two celebrated cookbooks and an accomplished chef. Her culinary expertise has helped to preserve the food dishes for which her native island is famous and her work as a speaker nationwide, and as a tour guide on boat trips out of Savannah, Georgia, going to Daufuskie, have made her an authentic and much sought-after representative of Gullah culture.

Brookgreen Gardens is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and display American sculpture and regional plants, animals, and history. It is located on U.S. 17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

Jazz Vibraphonist Daniel Z Plays Free in Spartanburg, SC

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Regional singer-songwriters perform weekly at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC, as part of its Sundays Unplugged program. Open 1-5 p.m. every Sunday, the center provides casual and cultural entertainment for all ages, most notably with its free concert series featuring a different band or musician of varying genres each week, 2-4 p.m. Art and history museums are open with free admission to complement the music.DanielZ1

Featured Sunday, Feb. 22, is jazz percussionist Daniel Z. Known in the Upstate for his fluidity and improvisation on the vibraphone, a xylophone-like instrument also known as the vibes or vibraharp, this native New Yorker has also performed throughout the United States, as well as in parts of Europe. He became a local musical phenomenon after moving to South Carolina several years ago. Though primarily a solo vibraphonist, Daniel Z is joined at times by fellow singer-songwriters to create the Daniel Z Trio or Quartet, featuring bass, guitar, voice, piano, flute, and/or trumpet. He is known for switching up the arrangement, or even genre, varying anywhere from modern jazz to bossa nova to swinging jazz.

Sundays Unplugged will also give patrons the opportunity to audition for The Spartanburg Little Theatre’s upcoming production of The Music Man. Visitors with acting and vocal experience interested in joining the SLT cast may audition 3-6 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre. Roles are available for varying ages and ethnicities. Auditioners must arrive at least 15 minutes early, prepared with sheet music to perform a musical theatre-style song. Accompaniment will be provided.

All Sunday activity is complemented by free admission to Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg Regional History Museum, and the Student Galleries. Spartanburg Science Center is open with a small entrance fee.

For more information on Sundays Unplugged activities at Chapman Cultural Center, visit ChapmanCulturalCenter.org or call (864) 542-ARTS.SLT_TheMusicMan

Meet Tammy McCottry-Brown at Allen University Statewide Adoption Conference

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Gullah Celebration on St. Helena Island

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In keeping with history and tradition the Corner Community on St. Helena Island, SC is gearing up to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. The businesses at the Corner are planning an array of activities to recognize Memorial Day, a holiday the people of St. Helena Island have always celebrated as part of their American heritage.

Sea Island Breezes by Diane Britton Dunham

“Sea Island Breezes” by Diane Britton Dunham

The Red Piano Too Art Gallery is hosting a special art exhibit on May 24, 2014, featuring the work of well-known lowcountry artist Diane Britton Dunham. The theme of this show is “The Gullah Creole Caribbean Connection.” Gullah Creole is the term coined by Dunham because it best describes her artwork blending elements of her colorful Louisiana Creole roots with the rich historical Gullah culture of the Sea Islands. She will discuss the Gullah Creole Caribbean art connection and related history during the exhibit.

Noted Beaufort musician and Dunham’s husband, Phil Griffin, will provide music for the Gullah side of the event from 12 Noon until 2 pm, playing classic Southern Blues and traditional Gullah music.

A collection of Gullah themed needlework hangings by Bridget Murray will also be exhibited. These pieces emphasize the detail Murray incorporates in her work.

The Red Piano Too Art Gallery presents the East of the River Steel band from Washington D.C. This band is made up of young people ages 6 to 19, in a program which enhances lives, builds confidence and fosters resiliency as it also develops a love and appreciation of the arts. The band will present a special concert from 2 pm to 3 pm. This is a must see performance according to long time Caribbean resident, Elayne Scott, who said “These young people literally transported me to the Caribbean when I heard their mastery of the steel pans. The pans are not easy to play, yet this band performs as well as any pan band from the islands of the Caribbean. What a treat to hear the beautiful rhythms.”

An additional exhibit of Lauren DeLoach‘s lowcountry paintings celebrating regional natural beauty will be presented at Bella Vita and Octopuses which are across the street and next door to the Red Piano Too Art Gallery.

All activities are free and open to the public throughout the Corner. For additional information contact the Red Piano Too Art Gallery, 870 Sea Island Parkway, St. Helena Island S.C. 29920, phone (843) 838-2241.