MAJOR EXHIBITIONS
Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell
On view August 17 – October 28, 2018
Katie Pell embraces the beauty in imperfection and the humor in insecurities, welcoming the downtrodden and enveloping them affectionately in oversized art. She engages an eclectic supporting cast to tell her story, including fallen rock angel Peter Frampton, Jesus of Nazareth, sensitive woodland creatures, and awkward teenagers. With a mix of hippie-era idealism, dark wit, and personal grit, Katie Pell reminds us that we are all performing our lives. We occasionally deserve a little luck and a standing ovation.
Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Presenting Sponsor: Marcia Stine. Friend Sponsors: Isvara Wilson, Ginny Newell and Bob Wilkins. Patron Sponsors: Jane and David Kulbersh. Support for the CMA exhibition program is provided by Lipscomb Sponsors: Marcia and Allen Montgomery.
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Exposed
On view August 17 – October 28, 2018
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Exposed is a haunting portfolio of images that offer a primordial, nonlinear sense of time. The artist created these seascapes between 1980 and 1991, yet chose to use a large-format camera, long exposure, and 19th-century techniques. Transformed into a suite of 50 lithographs, these images capture vastly different bodies of water around the world in different conditions and at different times of day. Visually minimal, they represent wholeness, infinity, and the sublime beauty of quietude.
ALSO ON VIEW
SC: Bridging the Past and Present
On view August 17 – October 28, 2018
This CMA-curated S.C. student photography exhibition illustrates the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow. Every day in the Palmetto State, we revitalize and modernize vestiges of the past. This can be seen through buildings and landscapes, cultural events such as markets and festivals, and stories shared by all ages.
In fall 2018, the exhibition will travel to Washington, D.C., where it will be installed in Senator Lindsey Graham’s Capitol Hill offices for the eighth consecutive year. This exhibition will be on view for approximately one year and will be seen by over 7,000 people.
RENOVATIONS UPDATE
Midsummer CMA Closing
Monday, July 23 – Thursday, August 16, 2018
Due to renovations, the CMA will be closed to the public from Monday, July 23, through Thursday, August 16. Museum staff will be working throughout this time and will be available on weekdays via phone or email. The CMA will reopen for visitors on Friday, August 17, with our newly installed collection galleries and two featured exhibitions, Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell and Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Exposed. See you then!
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
To purchase tickets or register for classes, visit columbiamuseum.org or call 803-799-2810.
Book a Tour Free with Admission
Gather your friends and make a reservation to enjoy a docent-led or self-guided tour of the galleries at half the price during the renovations. Details at columbiamuseum.org/learn/group-tours.
School Tours
Student programs support classroom instruction and meet state standards by providing opportunities to engage with works of art and culture from around the world. Using visual thinking strategies, our docent-led tours encourage the use of 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and visual literacy while touching on the three key areas of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate: world class knowledge, and life and career characteristics. Hands-on art-making sessions focus on the creative process, introduction to different art materials and techniques, and encouragement of self-expression while connecting to ideas discussed during the tour. For more information, contact us at 803-343-2163 or visit us at columbiamuseum.org/school-tours.
Art Explorer Backpacks and Gallery Hunts
Art Explorer Backpacks are designed to encourage families to have fun in the galleries with interactive activities. Each backpack includes a sketchbook with colored pencils, a pair of binoculars, a picture book, games, and hands-on activities that relate to the theme of the backpack chosen. Themes include: color, line, and the current exhibition(s). Check one out for free at the visitor services desk.
Gallery hunts mean fun for the whole family. Grab one and see what shapes, patterns, and colors you can spot. Available to borrow from the Gladys cart in the CMA lobby.
Gallery Tour: Featured Exhibitions
Saturdays throughout the exhibition | 1:00 p.m.
Explore the beauty of imperfection with rock ‘n’ roll icons and woodland adventures in Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell and dive into the quiet and meditative ocean scenes in Hiroshi Sugimoto Time Exposed. Free with membership or admission.
Gallery Tour: CMA Collection Highlights
The collection is back! In celebration of this major renovations milestone we are returning with revamped gallery tours of the collection. Each tour sheds a light on the collection from a different angle. Free with membership or admission.
Gallery Tour: Cornerstones of the Collection
Saturday, August 18 | 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 19 | 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, August 26 | 2:00 p.m.
From corner to corner, see key works in the collection from east to west and from ancient to modern. This tour includes gems by artists like Botticelli, Monet, and Warhol, along with the first piece ever purchased by the CMA.
Gallery Tour: Carolina in the Collection
Sunday, August 19 | 2:00 p.m.
Discover the rich artistic tapestry of South Carolina. See works by artists in our state and treasures that once adorned local homes. Learn about the Charleston Renaissance, Catawba pottery, and artists right here in Columbia while you explore works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Samuel Roberts, Osamu Kobayashi, Georgia O'Keeffe, and more.
Gallery Tour: Behind the Collection
Sunday, August 19 | 4:00 p.m.
Get a glimpse into the story behind the art: the science to create the materials, the lives that shaped the artists' views, the thinking that leads a museum to acquire a piece, and the care that's required to keep a work of art in excellent condition for thousands of years.
About Face Drawing Sessions
Tuesdays, August 14 and 28
Portrait Drawing | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Figure Drawing | 7:15 – 9:15 p.m.
Meet at 701 Whaley
Looking for a supportive and friendly environment to hone your artistic skills? About Face Drawing Sessions are for you! There's no instructor, but there is a group of inspired artists, representing a wide range of abilities, who love to draw from the live model. Drawing sessions are held at historic 701 Whaley throughout museum renovations. Must be 18 or older to participate. $10 / $8 for members / $5 for students. Includes both sessions.
Opening of Featured Exhibitions and the Collection
Friday, August 17 | Doors open at 5:30 p.m. | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Join us to celebrate this milestone in our transformation with a preview of Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell, Hiroshi Sugimoto: Time Exposed, and the reopening of the collection. At 6:00 p.m., artist Katie Pell discusses her work embracing the beauty in imperfection and the humor in insecurities. Limited seating available, first come, first served. At 7:30 p.m., Chief Curator Will South shares the thinking behind the new thematic installation of the collection and explores some of the conversations that it can spark. Cash bar. $15/ free for members.
Evening for Educators
Wednesday, August 22 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Educators from across the state are invited to join the CMA for an evening of art, wine, and nibbles as they enjoy a look at our many recently opened galleries. Curator Catherine Walworth will be on hand to discuss the new design gallery. Educators are invited to learn about new tour scripts and try out lesson plan materials focusing on the new design standards in particular. Both the just-opened exhibition Something’s Happening: The Big Art of Katie Pell and the freshly reorganized collection galleries upstairs will be open. Attendees will receive documentation for professional development renewal credit. Sponsored by Colonial Life.
About the CMA
The Columbia Museum of Art is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to lifelong learning and community enrichment for all. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, S.C., the CMA ranks among the leading art institutions in the country and is distinguished by its innovative exhibitions and creative educational programs. At the heart of the CMA and its programs is its collection, which encompasses 7,000 works and spans 5,000 years of art history. Established in 1950, the CMA now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors annually and is a catalyst for community creativity and education, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds. It is the recipient of a National Medal from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education, a National Park Foundation Award, and two Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Awards for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina. In order to serve even more audiences, the CMA is undergoing a transformation funded by a successful capital campaign. Though some sections of the building will be affected during some phases of the work, the CMA remains open throughout renovations. The project is expected to be complete in late 2018. To learn more, visit www.columbiamuseum.org.
