Nancy Johnson

Latest Author Features

Hooves, Paws and Claws Benefit for Aiken Equine Rescue Event

Hooves, Paws and Claws Benefit for Aiken Equine Rescue Event to Feature BBQ Cookoff, live auction, and music If asked to name the most admired nonprofits in our community, many people would put Aiken Equine Rescue (AER) on or near the top of their list. Don’t miss a great opportunity to support them in their endeavors at their first Hooves, Paws and Claws event to be held March 8 from 1 to 8 pm. Partnering in the event is Mollie’s Militia, which rescues dogs and cats from shelters that need a little special care before moving on to their forever homes. Held on the picturesque Aiken Equine Rescue property at

For the Love of Art | ‘SHE’ Comes To Aiken

And just who is ‘SHE’? Stacy O’Sullivan, co-owner of the gallery in the alley known as Art & Soul of Aiken, explains, “The whole idea came out of one of our artists, Amy Ness.” Each month the co-op gallery designates a full wall for a spotlight of one of the artist’s work. In anticipation of her month as featured artist, Amy created an exhibit in a series of paintings called ‘SHE’. “They were amazing!” Stacy conveys.“The paintings spoke to me personally about the ancestral bonds that women have — their strengths, creativity and versatility. As a series, they touched on all these powerful tendrils that say ‘strong women.’” Stacy was

Crowd Thrilling Grand Prix Eventing Returns to the Aiken Horse Park

Olympic-bound riders and horses expected to compete “The whole purpose behind a showcase eventing competition is the spectators,” enthuses Kate Boggan, Aiken Horse Park’s director of marketing and communications. “We want to get non- horse people to come out and see what it’s all about,” she says of the event slated for February 28 and 29. Grand Prix Eventing is a condensed version of eventing, a demanding competition that is often described as a triathlon on horseback. In the two-day showcase format, each horse and rider combination performs a dressage test of graceful movements to demonstrate training and precision. Later that day, the same horse and rider pairs compete in

Finding Her Art & Soul in Glass | Bella’s Featured Artist Stacy O’Sullivan

From a young age, Stacy O’Sullivan had all the right tools to become an artist. “I grew up in Laguna Beach in southern California. It’s an art town and was really in full bloom when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s,” she recalls with a smile. Her father was a water-colorist and she felt fortunate to live in “a little bedroom community full of artists” and have a dad who encouraged their creativity by making sure Stacy and her siblings “always had access to clay, paint, and pens and ink — whatever we wanted to try.” Her interest in glass art came about in an unusual way

Growing Up Black in an Earlier Aiken | Longtime residents recall black proprietorships

Bill McGhee, 83, smiles as he reminisces about his childhood days in Aiken. “In the 1940s the alley was a playground for us. Bobby Brooks, whose family owned Jackson Brooks Funeral Home [now located on Fairfield Street with a second location in New Ellenton], and I were best friends and we loved to play marbles there.” He describes the shooters, the large metal marbles they called steelies, and all the different colors they collected. “The alley was ideal for playing marbles because it was dirt,” he says, adding, “Later on, when I moved to Philadelphia, I missed playing marbles. You can’t play marbles on pavement because they just keep going.”

Creativity: A Healthy Habit | Studio over Laurens — a Place to Create

A ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, December 6, commemorated the official opening of Studio over Laurens at 142 Laurens Street SW. As a space for photographers, videographers, and so much more, it has a true cooperative spirit. Ladonna Armstrong relays how the whole idea was hatched. “I was talking with Tony Gouge and Chris McKeel, who collaborate with me on Bella, and they said it would be great to have studio space downtown that various photographers could share,” she says. “There are some amazing spaces in the Croft Building; however, that wasn’t exactly what Tony and Chris were looking for.” Ladonna recalls, “I originally saw this space in December of

Horsin’ Around in Aiken | A Spectator’s Primer to Equestrian Sports

So you live in or near Aiken, one of the “horsiest” towns in America, but you don’t ride and may not have any desire to do so. Don’t let that stop you from enjoying the great entertainment available year-round at many local facilities. Equestrian sports feature top athletes, both horses and their human partners, the relationship between the two being crucial to success. To enjoy equestrian competition, it is helpful to know a bit about the various types, often referred to as disciplines. For example, when two riders first meet, their initial question would most likely be, “What is your discipline?” An expected response would be, “I ride dressage,” or

Wellness + Creativity | Joy in the Journey

“I had no idea my husband could draw anything beyond a stick figure. Michael was a nuclear chemist, and art was the furthest thing from his mind. Everything he did was always intellectual; it was never creative,” says Nancy Dukes. Nancy was beyond amazed when she saw the stunning picture he had painted hanging in the Aiken Center for the Arts (ACA). It was a total surprise to her and clearly depicted the Isle of Palms, where they had owned a home in the past. Michael is a member of Club Thrive, a social senior activity center run by Karen Poteat, LPN and gerontology and dementia specialist. Like Michael, many

Artful Wellness | Bella’s Featured Artist Luiza Somodi

Artist Luiza Somodi is living proof that through determination, perseverance, and hard work, one can accomplish a dream — even if it takes decades to do so. She still vividly recalls fleeing, with her family, on foot, the Nazi invasion in her native Russia. After years, first in Asia, where she contracted malaria, and then in various West German camps, they finally found their way to New York City, literally penniless. From an early age, Luiza showed great interest and talent as an artist. As soon as she was financially able to do so, she studied fine arts at the Famous Artists School of Westport, Connecticut. After graduating and several

A Legendary Story | Bella’s Featured Artist Betsy Wilson-Mahoney

If you haven’t see Betsy Wilson-Mahoney’s art, you haven’t been to Aiken. Her diverse works are everywhere in her hometown — large original paintings of iconic Aiken scenes like the live oaks on South Boundary, the Farmer’s Market, and early morning at the Training Track grace CC & B Bank, George Funeral Home, and many local churches. Her work is even seen outside, as evidenced by one of her most recent projects, an array of murals adorning the small alley. Starting a Career in ‘The Alley’ With the exception of her college years in Columbia, Betsy has lived in Aiken her entire life. Using her education in fiber arts, she