Sip it, splash it, celebrate it. Have a globetrotting cultural week in Charleston.
Maura's Three for the Week in Charleston, 6/10 - 6/16
Editor’s Note: The sidewalk sale at Carolina Antique Maps and Prints is at 91 Church St. (as opposed to address error in previous email). Sorry, folks!
From German wines to London artists, Charleston this week is demonstrating its long-storied international flair. At Starlight Motor Inn, European wine is flowing and the pool is beckoning. At Redux Contemporary Art Center, learn how a church is working toward a permanent art installation. Find out how Charleston’s famed flower ladies of yesteryear furthered global practices or get your own lay of the land with an antique map.
Beyond the happenings listed below, you can also beat a parade path on King Street for a vibrant celebration of Caribbean culture. Later this week, I’ll roll out an overview of Spoleto Festival USA, Charleston’s own international arts festival. Yes, Charleston, we are the world, one globally informed gathering at a time.
Parse the process of a coming work in a Charleston church
Redux Contemporary Art Center, 1056 King St., downtown Charleston, Wed., June 12, 6 - 8 p.m.
Charleston’s Calvary Episcopal Church and Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts present a talk with London-based artist Graeme Mortimor Evelyn, whose varied body of work comments on cultural social identity, politics and language. The artist will talk about his role in the Calvary Icons Project, which aims to bring the community together to document the history and people of the church. The project will then discern and inform the creation and installation of permanent icons, which will serve as an enduring memorial to this bridge-building process.
For more information on Calvary Episcopal Church, visit calvarych.org.
Dip into international wines at Starlight’s Splash Party
Starlight Motor Inn, 3245 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, Wed., June 12, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
Suit up for a Splash Party hosted by Skurnik Wine and Spirits. This poolside gathering features a pop-up wine bar by Graft Wine Shop with selections from 10-plus wineries from Germany, Austria and Spain; tapas by Estadio; and entertainment by DJ Tyrie Young. Wines by the glass are available for purchase à la carte.
For tickets, click here.
Clink a teacup in honor of Charleston’s famed flower ladies
The Charleston Place, 205 Meeting Street, Sat., June 15
Pay tribute to the Market Matriarchs, the renowned flower ladies who were among the first and most important entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Charleston. With trade savvy and skills brought over from Africa, these enterprising Black women sold their wares mainly in the City Market, creating a commerce center and legacy that persists today. Join local activist Dr. Kim Cliett Long and Dr. Jonathan Green, acclaimed artist and ambassador for the arts for the City of Charleston, to enjoy a Gullah-inspired tea menu. You’ll learn more about many aspects of Charleston's Black heritage and early history. Admission comes with a signed Jonathan Green poster.
For information, click here.
Bonus: Swoop up an Audubon at a downtown sidewalk sale
Carolina Antique Maps and Prints, 91 Church St., downtown Charleston, Sat., June 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The annual sidewalk sale of Carolina Antique Maps and Prints promises a bounty of antique and reproduction prints, perfect for adding to gallery walls or for beginning collections, too. You’ll find works by Catesby and Audubon, botanicals, maps, old frames and a few framed pieces. The sale is cash only (with no cash apps).
For information, visit the store’s Facebook page.
In case you missed it: Read a recent review of Spoleto music
Last week, vocalist, writer and entrepreneur Leah Maria Suarez continued her wide-ranging musical travels through Spoleto Festival USA, which encompassed everything from the music of the Lowcountry to Indigenous futurism. Read Leah’s review here.