Saturday, May 25, 2013
Sketching classes will be held at the Hagood Mill
The Pickens County Museum is pleased to announce registration is now open for three exciting new Summer Sketchbook Workshops to be held at the Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center (138 Hagood Mill Rd, Pickens, SC 29617). Instructor for these workshops, Jo Johnston, worked as commercial artist for 30 years. A graduate of Orangeburg-Calhoun Tech, Jo has also taught drawing, watercolor, and acrylic painting at Johnston County Community Technical College. Pick a date and join us for a fun, 6-hour sketchbook workshop at the Hagood Mill! Surrounded by the site’s beautiful natural and historic setting, you’ll find a variety of interesting subjects for your sketchbook pages. The workshop will feature several sketchbook exercises to …
Beach music legends' April concert got rained out, but they may be returning in August.
Music fans may have a second chance to see beach music legends The Tams this year. The Tams had been scheduled to headline the first night of the Azalea Festival in Pickens last month, but the concert was canceled due to forecasted heavy rains. But the Azalea Festival committee is exploring having The Tams return for a concert later this summer, one that might be held in Pickens' new amphitheater, City Administrator Katherine Brackett said. The concert would be held at the end of August. Pickens City Council members recently discussed the first slate of events to be held at the amphitheater. City officials had explored hosting Movie Nights at the amphitheater, but for now, the cost of putting them on makes it unlikely to happen this …
Friday, May 24, 2013
300-seat pavilion will be venue for concerts and other events
The Hagood Mill in Pickens houses one of the few remaining grist mills, monthly events that take visitors back in time- and one day it will be home to the area's newest concert and event venue. Planning is underway for a covered pavilion at the Hagood Mill site, according to Allen Coleman, Executive Director of the Pickens County Museum of Art & History. “They're still doing engineering,” Coleman said. “Architects have drawn up plans; they're finalizing that. I'm waiting to hear from the county engineer. We expect them to break ground on it in the not too-distant feature.” The pavilion will be able to seat 300, he said. “Of course, when you have the doors open so it's an open-air venue, you can get a lot more around it as well,” Coleman …
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Participating museums will offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
The Pickens County Museum of Art & History is announcing the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 1,800 museums across America to offer free admission and special exhibitions to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2013. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. Museum Director, Allen Coleman shared, “Pickens County is home to many great men and women that have served, or continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. As such we, and they, want to …
Lessons offered at a variety of Pickens County locations
The next session of the Evening Music Program will begin the week of Monday, June 3. This program is designed to teach students to play Appalachian music, with acoustic instruments. Lessons are open to all ages (third grade through adults). Instruments include guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. The six-week sessions will be held at the following locations: 1. Easley First Baptist Church in Easley (Tuesday nights) 2. Pickens Senior Center (Monday and Thursday nights) 3. Saint Paul United Methodist Church, downtown Greenville (Thursday nights) 4. Clemson (new location and day to be determined) The cost is $60 per six-week session and instrument rental is available for $25 per six-week session. The enrollment period is from May 20 through …
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Southern Wesleyan University to host Summer Jazz Experience next month
Southern Wesleyan University will host its 13th annual Summer Jazz Experience June 18-22. Incredible clinicians in a great setting make the camp a friendly, yet fulfilling and fast-paced three days of “jam” sessions and opportunities to learn improvisational and songwriting skills. According to Greg Day, professor of music at Southern Wesleyan and camp organizer, many of the clinicians have played and toured with top recording artists. He adds that an in-studio recording session, live "club" performances, and great concerts by the clinicians allow students to become closely involved in all aspects of the jazz combo. Also, the public is invited to a series of free concerts: June 19, 7 p.m. at Folger Fine Arts Auditorium; June 20, 6:30 p.m. …
Monday, May 20, 2013
Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife presenting a talk between Upstate authors
Book lovers, take note: The Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife is presenting a conversation between Upstate authors Dot Jackson, Ron Rash and George Singleton. The “Up Close and Personal” conversation will talk place 3pm Sunday, June 2 at the Hampton Memorial Library. Reservations are $25 each and seating is limited, so don't delay! Reservations must be made in advance, no tickets will be sold at the door. Checks or money orders may be made out to Birchwood Center for Arts and Folklife, PO Box 109, Sunset, SC 29685. For more information, call Linda at 878-9269 or 898-0840. A career journalist, Dot Jackson's stories ranged from murder trials to snake-handlers to environmentalism and earned her several Pulitzer Prize nominations Her …
Clemson nature series nominated for outstanding achievement in television programming.
The Southeast chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences nominated the Clemson nature series “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” for three Emmy Awards for outstanding achievement in television programming. The Emmy competition is the most prestigious in television and video production. The 30-minute weekly TV show began in 2007 and has been nominated for 10 Emmy awards. The series is produced by Clemson University Video Production Services and airs on SC-ETV as well as on Public Broadcasting System (PBS) affiliates across the United States. “Belize, Central America’s Last Best Chance” was nominated for outstanding magazine program. This episode explores the lowland tropical forest and its connections with man in both…
Museum Director hopes Rock Art Center at mill site will be opened by end of fall.
The Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens received some recognition from the state Saturday. A new State Historical Marker from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History was unveiled Saturday as part of the site's Armed Forces Day celebration. The marker tells of the historic gristmill and the site’s ancient petrogylphs. The petroglyphs, discovered in 2003, include 17 depictions of human figures along with abstract art. The discovery of the petroglyphs on the public Hagood Mill site sets it apart from most other petroglyph sites, which are on private property. Cultural Commissioner Wayne Kelley said the moment was a very special one for the Hagood Mill. Pickesn County is blessed with “world-class natural resources and history…
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Five things to do for Saturday, May 18
Good morning, Easley, today is Saturday, May 18 and there are 227 days left in the year. There's lots to do today in Easley and the surrounding area. The first Foothills Arts Festival kicks at 10am and will run until 4pm in Old Market Square. The event is being held by the Arts Council of Pickens County, an organization that formed last year with the goal of celebrating and supporting local arts and artists. The festival will feature visual, performing, literary, culinary, and folk artists from around the upstate. Throughout the day, free entertainment occupies the Amphitheatre stage. Pickens High School Advanced Drama students will perform a program designed for young children at 10am. Dancers from Easley Dance Conservatory will inspire…
