Dracula, The Ballet, Takes Flight
Dracula kicks off the Aiken Civic Ballet’s 2019-2020 season with a dark, thrilling ballet perfect for Halloween. The ballet, inspired by Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel, tells a dark love story. Jonathan Harker travels to Transylvania on business—he’s supposed to meet with a nobleman named Count Dracula to help him buy three houses in London. Count Dracula is an undead, centuries-old vampire and a Transylvanian nobleman, who inhabits a decaying castle in the Carpathian Mountains near the Borgo Pass. He is handsome and charismatic, with aristocratic charm. Harker is having a great trip until he realizes that the Count isn’t quite human, and shares the castle with three undead […]
Creating a Calling | Bella’s Featured Artist: Robert Campbell
‘…you know the type…’ Not long ago, a new family moved to the area. They seemed like nice folks. I heard they came from Florida, somewhere near the water. Then, their son came to town. You know the type: long hair and loud music… keeps going on-and-on about how he will own a Trans-Am someday. He had run-away when he was sixteen following an argument with his mother about; you guessed it, a guitar. I heard he wrecked his car, and that’s why he moved here. After his car wreck, he did what anyone does: he called his mom. And she told him, ‘come home, ’even though he had never […]
Color Your Way to Better Brain Health
“…for the practice of the hand doth speedily instruct the mind, and strongly confirms the memory beyond anything else.” Henry Peachman, author, Complete Gentleman, 1634 As early as the 17th century they believed that the art form of coloring benefitted the brain. The first “coloring books”, 1612’s Poly-Olbion by Michael Drayton, were volumes of poems that included engraved maps of countries in England and Whales. It is said that rich aristocrats hand-colored the maps and accompanying “fantastical creatures” with watercolors. In 1760, Robert Sayer’s The Florist became the first book of illustrations that were meant to be colored – by the adult owner. They used the books as a form […]
Living Like Dandelions
If childhood had a flower all its own, I think it would be the dandelion. From the first time we’re plopped down onto a blanket on the lawn one happy spring day, dandelions appear at just the right height and brightness for a young, curious gaze. They nod and dance for us, invite us to touch and play, looking like a thousand round golden faces wearing lions’ manes and green scarves. My first memory of dandelions was as a grand yet intimate surprise. I could barely scramble around the backyard on my own, and there they were: plentiful, beautiful, bright, and mine for the gathering with no one to tell […]
Creating Joy | Handmade at 90
Aiken resident Grace Schiavone just turned 90 years old in August! That is an incredible milestone, but 90 is just a number as Grace has the drive and energy of a much younger woman. She has a very active lifestyle, but creativity and arts have touched her life. She enjoys several hobbies which keep her stimulated, focused and give her a purpose. She makes many handmade items, and she spends hours each day in her home workshop. She feels good about what she is doing and it is a great joy for her to create and share her talents with others. Recently Grace has created “Gracelets” by Grace. Gracelets are […]
My Priceless Gullah Heritage
It thrilled me to learn that Sunn m’Cheaux, an instructor of the African Language at Harvard University, is teaching the origin of his native tongue, Gullah. Since I was reared on Johns Island, South Carolina with the Gullah-speaking community, bringing this dying language back to life is truly a gift. I had the privilege of working with wonderful “Gullah speaking” folks who helped my father on our low country tomato farm. This poetic language is awesome, but it is the beautiful hearts of my “family” that pull me back like a high tide on a full moon. According to Sunn m’Cheaux, in an interview with the Harvard Gazette, “The Gullah […]
The Aiken Artist Guild Offers A New Venue For Their Members
Founded 52 years ago in 1967, the Aiken Artist Guild has a proud history of workshops, critiques, exhibitions and joyful sharing of ideas and encouragement. At the present time, the Guild has a total membership of 165. Members can display their artwork at community centers, restaurants, medical centers, and galleries. The Guild has its own dedicated gallery inside of the iconic Aiken Center For the Arts, which of course is located at 122 Laurens St SW in downtown Aiken. The annual event of Horses and Courses takes place during Masters Week. Guild members can display their work on the downtown sidewalks of Aiken, and can even elect to demonstrate their […]
Artist Spotlight | The Aiken Center for the Arts Presents: “Convergence: Three Women, Three Voices”
From September 19 through October 25, the Aiken Center for the Arts invites everyone to experience the new exhibitions in our art galleries. “Small Expressions”, an annual exhibition from the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., celebrates works from national and international artists, by exhibition only, in the Brooks Gallery through October 10. Aiken artist Ellene Southerland’s mixed-media work will be featured in the Aiken Artist Guild gallery. Collectively, Penny Beesley, Betty Brand Perry and Lucy Weigle will bring together three different approaches to abstract painting in a collaborative exhibition, “Convergence: Three Women, Three Voices.” This joint exhibition will give us all a chance to contemplate and experience new perspectives in […]
Ties to the Community | Rose Hill + Robert Campbell
In 1898, Colonel & Mrs. Sheffield Phelps commissioned the construction of their city block winter home (four houses and eight buildings) atop the high point of Downtown Aiken. The Dutch Colonial Shingle Style architecture of The Main House is a unique find in the Southeast. After the early death of Colonel Phelps, Mrs. Phelps made Rose Hill the permanent residence for herself and her children. Mrs. Phelps became an avid gardener and in 1930, she organized and hosted the first meeting of the Garden Club of South Carolina at Rose Hill. The structures and gardens sat untouched for several years until a wealthy gentleman from Dallas, Mr. Jones, came forward […]
