Drink for the dolphins, roll with the sushi-savvy and find the funny with 'Fat Ham'
Maura's Three for the Week in Charleston 9/2 - 9/8
A beloved college professor used to extol the cultural riches of New York City with an adage. These days, it can easily be repurposed for our own dynamic, increasingly worldly city to proclaim that if you are bored with Charleston, you are bored with life. The length and breadth of this edition of Three for the Week attests to that. The visual and performing arts scene continues to evolve, folding in artists from farflung locales. The food scene is taking some adventurous, globe-trotting turns. The exchange of ideas is sharpening, too. So ingest with the best this week — and in the bustling months to come.
Get an eyeful at a pair of new Park Circle Galley exhibitions
Park Circle Gallery, 4820 Jenkins Avenue, North Charleston; Sept. 4 - 28 with a free public reception on Fri., Sept. 6, 5 - 7 p.m.
Park Circle Gallery’s fall visual offerings are underway with a pair of concurrent exhibitions. In Visionary Fabrications, Charleston-based artist Kirsten Hoving presents a collection of photo-based multimedia inventions, with images printed on silk layered over other paper photographs and collage constructions. And, through From Corporate to Creative, former-corporate-executive-turned-street-artist JD Clark displays his works of Americana art through the eyes of a person working the stables, fishing the docks, hitting the streets, hiking the trails and experiencing the drama of American life — in works created with oil paint, pastels, charcoal pencils and mixed media that are combined with Polaroid photographs taken by Mahmood Fazal.
For more information, click here.
Have a laugh and a think at Pure Theatre’s ‘Fat Ham’
Cannon Street Arts Center, 134 Cannon St., downtown Charleston, Sept. 5 - 21 at various times
Pure Theatre opens its 22nd season, which they’ve dubbed “A Season of Delight.” The opening show is all about Culture South with the South Carolina premiere of Fat Ham. The Pulitzer Prize-winning, uproarious play by North Carolina native James Ijames, who is also a Time Magazine “Person of the Week,” tells the story of Juicy, a Hamlet-spouting queer Southern college kid at a family barbecue. (Oh, and keep an eye out for my coming review in Charleston City Paper).
For tickets and information, visit puretheatre.org.
Support the dolphins with drinks and dancing at Firefly Distillery
Firefly Distillery, 4201 Spruill Ave, North Charleston, Fri., Sept. 6, 4 - 8 p.m.
Dolphins are a pivotal part of Lowcountry living, yet these friendly sea mammals are often overlooked in ocean conservation efforts. Now, the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network presents a night of music, dancing and fun at Firefly Distillery to help raise funds to protect this Charleston marine staple. Sip on a “Dolphin Delight,” a cocktail made special for the night, with one dollar from every drink sold going to the Network. Don’t forget to grab some merch and dance the night away for a good cause.
For tickets and more information, click here.
Bonus: Sharpen your sushi skills at Rusty Bull Brewing Co.
Rusty Bull Brewing Co., 337 King St., downtown Charleston, Sept. 4, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Rusty Bull is giving Charlestonians a chance to learn and impress their friends with the age-old art of sushi rolling. Participants of “Sushi Rollin’ 101” will learn all the basics, from required equipment, preparation and even how to make proper sushi rice. Included is one drink ticket and all the sushi you can ever dream of eating. Ingredients including crab, raw salmon, avocado, shrimp, cucumber and even bacon will be available for your own unique creations.
For more information, click here.
One for the Future: The Gaillard’s Fall for Democracy Progam
Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St., downtown Charleston, Sept. 12 - Nov. 22, various dates and times
This fall, the Charleston Gaillard Center rolls out Fall for Democracy, a program filled with performances, panels and community-centered events delving into the essential values shaping America. In the lead-up to and following the 2024 Presidential Election, this initiative aims to celebrate the original ideals of democracy, examine the guiding principles of our nation and amplify every voice.
In addition to performances and panels, the Gaillard will welcome the League of Women Voters—a nonpartisan advocacy organization—from August through November. Members of the League will be available at each performance to help audience members register to vote and learn about the election process, promoting voter engagement ahead of Election Day.
First up are two events. On Thurs., Sept. 12 at 6 p.m., Creative Citizenship: Arts in Democracy is a free panel discussion featuring a diverse cross section of speakers examining the role the arts and artists play within the framework of democracy. Panelists include International African American Museum Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Malika Martin-Pryor, Indigenous artist Timothy White Eagle, NAACP Image Award-winning poet Caroline Randall Williams, Fight Night performer and director Angelo Tijssens, and Gaillard Center CEO Lissa Frenkel. RSVP here.
That’s followed by the U.S. premiere of Fight Night from Belgian theater and performnce group Ontroerend Goed, with performances, on Thurs., Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. and Fri., Sept. 13 at 7:30 p.m. In it audiences will participate in an impartial examination of democratic principles through a series of live votes. For more tickets and more information, click here.
Hi Maura, Have you reviewed “Fat Ham” yet? I have my tickets and I’m recommending the play to friends but want to share your review. Thank you for your recommendations.