A campfire convo, rabbit-hole art and jazz women
Maura's Three for the Week, March 18-24, 2024
It’s high time for a fresh perspective. How about a quirky take on the world compliments of a female artist—or a sultry blues number celebrating women in jazz? You could also delve into nuanced view of the lives of the enslaved, by way of an author who has slept in numerous slave dwellings, or opt for a curated look at design via The Charleston Show. It’s a robust week in this city, to be sure.
Go down the rabbit hole at The Miller Gallery
The Miller Gallery, 785 Meeting St, Unit A, in downtown Charleston, with opening reception on March 21, 5 to 7 p.m.
Toast the talent at The Miller Gallery’s opening reception of Down The Rabbit Hole, an exhibition of three female artists—Angela Chrusciaki Blehm, Julia Deckman and Suzy Lindow—who present whimsical artwork spanning mediums. From topsy-turvy teacups to blooming florals, viewers will be transported into an art-filled wonderland. Visitors can also view Down The Rabbit Hole on March 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All works will be available to purchase online starting March 19 at themillergallery.com.
Refine your aesthetic at The Charleston Show
Charleston Festival Hall, 56 Beaufain St. in downtown Charleston, March 22 to 24; Preview Party for Drayton Hall on March 21, 6 to 9 p.m.
Now in its third year, The Charleston Show gathers 30 exhibitors from the United States, England and Europe to showcase the best period to midcentury furniture, traditional and contemporary art and ceramics, jewelry, folk art, oriental rugs, silver, prints and maps, garden and architectural antiques. The March 21 Preview Party, which benefits the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, features a special exhibit, Flights of Fancy: An Exploration of Uncommon Birds.
For more information, visit thecharlestonshow.com.
Join a Campfire Conversation at Fort Moultrie
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, 1214 Middle St. on Sullivan’s Island, March 22, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and March 23, 11:30 a.m.
Authors Joseph McGill Jr. and Herb Frazier of Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery will hold two special events to discuss the Slave Dwelling Project, which aims to preserve surviving African American slave dwellings and seeks to change the narrative around the history of slavery in the United States.
On March 22, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., join a campfire conversation near the Toni Morrison Bench by the Road memorial to discuss the Slave Dwelling Project’s mission. On March 23, at 11:30 a.m., a panel discussion at the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center will focus on their book, which will be available for purchase. A book signing will take place following the panel discussion.
The events are free, but advance tickets are required. Follow this link to secure tickets for one or both events: https://friendscnp.org/news-events/#events.
***Triple Bonus: Three on Thursday to Amplify Women’s Voices***
Famed filmmaker Julie Dash at IAAM
International African American Museum, 14 Wharfside St. in downtown Charleston, March 21, 6 to 8 p.m.
Dive into the world of groundbreaking filmmaker Julie Dash, who broke racial and gender barriers with Daughters of the Dust, becoming the first African American woman to achieve a wide theatrical release of her feature film. Moderated by Malika N. Pryor, Chief Learning & Engagement Officer at the IAAM, the evening includes exclusive screenings of Julie Dash’s mesmerizing work, Seeking: Mapping Our Gullah Geechee Story.
Leah Suarez: A Celebration of Women in Jazz
Class of 1969 Auditorium in Capers Hall, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St. in downtown Charleston, March 21, 6:30 p.m.
Leah María Suárez, one of Charleston's premier vocalists, will lead her jazz ensemble in a Celebration of Women in Jazz from blues to bossa nova with a program featuring female pioneers such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and more.
General admission tickets are $20 and include a reception following the concert. Citadel students, faculty, and staff as well as veterans may register for free tickets in advance. For tickets, visit citadel.edu/finearts/leah-suarez/.
Charleston Poet Laureate Asiah Mae leads The Poetry Salon
The Restoration, 75 Wentworth St. in downtown Charleston, March 21, 7 p.m.
Adult writers of all genres are invited to join creative forces in a meeting of the minds, hosted by Charleston’s Poet Laureate, Asiah Mae. In true salon tradition, attendees will engage in lively exchange on different topics surrounding writing — and maybe even generate a piece or two while getting to know the writers behind the words.