This August, the Gibbes Museum of Art celebrates the peak of summer with a sizzling lineup of events that dive into Charleston's dynamic cultural scene. Guests are invited to beat the Charleston heat with a literary discussion infused with Latin flair, inspired by the special exhibition Passages; enjoy an evening with a renowned celebrity photographer; tap their toes to a jazz performance by one of the city’s most talented rising stars; and more.
See below for details on the happenings at the museum this month:
Events and Programming
Literary Gibbes: Dreaming in Cuban, Saturday, Aug. 3, 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
A discussion of the novel Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina García, inspired by artist Reynier Llanes’ current exhibit Passages. This book club can be joined either in-person or virtually.
To register, click here.
Price: Free | Advanced registration strongly encouraged
A Conversation with Nigel Parry, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Guests are invited to join Society 1858 for an entertaining evening of conversation with award-winning celebrity photographer Nigel Parry. Known for his iconic portraits of famous figures, Parry's work has appeared in top publications and exhibitions worldwide. Hosted by Society 1858 board member Shane David Hall, the event will explore Parry's career and his passion for the South Carolina Lowcountry. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, click here.
Price: Members: $30 | Non-members: $45
Art of Jazz: Nolan Tecklenburg, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 6 – 7 p.m.
A continuation of the Art of Jazz concert series in collaboration with Charleston Jazz, this program will feature jazz pianist Nolan Tecklenburg. Born and raised in Charleston, Tecklenburg grew up with a passion for jazz music, particularly that of New Orleans, leading him to study at Loyola University. During his time at Loyola, Tecklenburg found his sound through learning and playing with the best local musicians. He has performed at iconic New Orleans venues like Tiptina’s and eventually played at Jazz Fest. He has since returned to Charleston and is now a staple piano player throughout the area. To purchase tickets, click here.
Price: Members: $35| Non-members: $45 | Student/Faculty: $15
Dear Human: Poetry Reading with Lisa Kerr, Saturday, Aug. 31, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Following her Visiting Artist Limited residency, writer and health humanities educator Lisa Kerr, PhD, MFA, will discuss her most recent project Dear Human and perform a poetry reading with other invited guests who participated in the project. To learn more about the event and purchase tickets, click here.
Price: All Guests: $5
Ongoing Exhibitions
Reynier Llanes: Passages, Now – Sept. 15
Passages presents the vibrant narrative paintings of Reynier Llanes, an established Cuban American artist now based in the United States. Llanes combines and contrasts scenes from nature and daily life with a mystical and imaginative elegance. Drawing from his own memories and experience as an artist, an émigré and an immigrant, as well as his studies of literature, history and science, Llanes invites viewers into unique dreamworlds. His explorations of personal and societal passages, both physical and spiritual, sensitively communicate common threads in humanity. Currently living in Miami, Llanes spent six years working in Charleston. This exhibition pulls from the artist's recent series of large-scale oil paintings, as well as his unique coffee watercolor paintings—a style he has dubbed "Espressionism."
Price: Free with admission
Artist Spotlight: Merton D. Simpson and William M. Halsey, Now – Aug. 18
Focusing intently on small groups of works, the artist spotlight series features engaging profiles of artists held in the Gibbes permanent collection. The rotating series launched in April with abstract expressionist painters, Merton D. Simpson and William M. Halsey. Both artists, born and raised in South Carolina, had long and successful careers in the arts—Simpson in New York and Halsey in Charleston.
Price: Free with admission
Visiting Artist Limited
Lisa Kerr, PhD, MFA, Aug. 19 – Aug. 31
During her residency and inspired by Reynier Llanes: Passages, writer and health humanities educator Lisa Kerr, PhD, MFA, will invite writers from MUSC and the community to pen a series of epistolary poems to human subjects in the Gibbes art collection. Each poem will begin with “Dear Human” and be written on postcards that will be displayed for the community to read. The project is based on the idea that when we connect meaningfully with other humans, we improve our health.
Price: Free with admission
New Exhibition
Artist Spotlight: David Driskell and Edward Middleton Manigault, Aug. 23 – Dec. 1
The rotating artist spotlight series continues in August with two new spotlight explorations. One focuses on renowned American artist and art historian David Driskell, whose painting and printmaking practice was influenced by nature, abstraction and African imagery. The other spotlight features early modernist Edward Middleton Manigault, whose fanciful paintings were well-respected during his short lifetime and included in major modernist exhibitions, such as the 1913 Armory Show.
Price: Free with admission
