Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas
On view June 14 through September 8, 2019
Mimi Kato draws on the rich history and visual traditions of Japanese culture as well as the absurd everyday elements of contemporary life and merges them in imaginary landscapes. In her lengthy artistic process, Kato photographs herself as a range of costumed characters—from everyday Japanese citizens to fantastical creatures in the forest—and embeds these images into large photomontages. Her work is narratively complex and darkly humorous.
Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas is presented through the support of our generous sponsors. Supporting Sponsors: Susan Thorpe and John Baynes. Friend Sponsors: Kathleen and Kirkman Finlay. Patron Sponsor: Bill Schmidt.
Wow Pop Bliss: Jimmy Kuehnle's Inflatable Art
On view June 14 through September 8, 2019
Jimmy Kuehnle is a performance and sculpture-based artist who creates large-scale, high-tech inflatables that expand our notions of abstract art. For this exhibition, Kuehnle fills four exhibition galleries with touchable, interactive environments using inflatables that combine, sound, light, space, and texture to create unexpected experiences for visitors as they move under, through, and around these works. Kuehnle has also created a bright pink inflatable sculpture that projects dramatically out of our façade’s architectural grid overlooking Boyd Plaza, literally spilling out into the city as a calling card to the wonder inside.
Wow Pop Bliss: Jimmy Kuehnle's Inflatable Art is presented through the support of our generous sponsors. Supporting Sponsors: The Contemporaries of CMA. Contributing Sponsors: Haynsworth, Sinkler, Boyd; Quackenbush Architects + Planners; and Carolina Conservation. Friend Sponsors: Kathleen and Kirkman Finlay, Mr. and Mrs. Kester S. Freeman, Jr., and ReNewell,Inc. Fine Art Conservation. Patron Sponsors: Bill Schmidt, and Hotel Trundle. Additional support from Sheila and Tony DiCioccio.
Indie Grits Lower Richland StoryLab: Places of Freedom
On view July 2 through September 15, 2019
These works were born of the Lower Richland StoryLab: Places of Freedom, a year-long in-school media program that focuses on the issues faced by rural communities in and around Hopkins, South Carolina, in the 21st century. With the instruction of artist-in-residence and Lower Richland native Mahkia Greene, over 50 Lower Richland High School students created new works of media art that examine their community’s past, tell its stories, challenge misconceptions, explore challenges identified by residents, and present a vision for the future of Lower Richland County.
Lower Richland StoryLab is a collaboration between Lower Richland High School and Indie Grits Labs, an arts organization that serves Columbia and the Southeast through three central pillars: community-based arts projects, media education programs, and an annual film festival.
Latinidad: Latin American Art from the Collection
On view through September 1, 2019
Latinidad: Latin American Art from the Collection features 20 rarely seen gems from the collection made between the 1950s and early 1990s by artists born in Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, including Roberto Matta, René Portocarrero, Ruffino Tamayo, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. With styles and influences on view including Mexican folk art and Surrealism, the installation also showcases a complete 1953 portfolio by important print collective Centro de Arte Puertorriqueño (Center for Puerto Rican Art) and contemporary photography by Jorge Otero.
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
To purchase tickets or register for classes, visit columbiamuseum.org or call 803-799-2810.
Book a Tour and Save
Gather your friends and enjoy discounted admission as you get an inside look at our exhibitions or collection with a docent-led tour. Details at columbiamuseum.org/visit/tours.
Summer Field Trips
Our collection and exhibition-based tours offer an opportunity for children of all ages to engage with works of art and cultures from around the world firsthand. These tours incorporate group discussion and open-ended questions to encourage the development of 21st-century skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and visual literacy. Each tour focuses on a different topic and can be adapted for audiences with various needs, from toddlers to teens. For more information, visit columbiamuseum.org/learn/educators/field-trips or contact us at 803-343-2163.
CMA Summer Camps
Ages: 4 – 7 | 8 – 12 | 13 – 18
This summer, the CMA is offering a variety of unique camps to capture the interest of any young artist. Having your child participate in summer camps is a great way for them to think creatively, practice problem-solving skills, and have fun! With updated galleries and three new studios, the CMA has more summer camps than ever before for children ages 4 – 18.
Camp Pricing
Ages 4 – 7: $200/ $160 for Solo members and above
Ages 8 – 12: $225 / $180 for Solo members and above
Ages 13 – 18: $250 / $200 for Solo members and above
The CMA also offers needs-based scholarships. Call 803-343-2170 to learn more about donating to the scholarship fund.
Lunch Buddies: Many camps for ages 8 – 12 have the Lunch Buddies option, which means these campers can stay all day from morning camp through afternoon camp. Lunch Buddies bring their own brown bag lunch, must be registered for both morning and afternoon camps, and pay a $25 fee.
Is It Art?
July 8 – 12 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 4 – 7
Instructor: Dana Witkoski
Found objects, geometric shapes, solid-color canvases, inflatables — what makes it art? Campers explore the ideas that shape different artistic methods and movements and experience intriguing works of art firsthand.
Project Funway
July 8 – 12 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Katrina Hampton
From drafting to crafting, campers learn all about fashion design as they create and update their own wearable art inspired by art in the museum. The week culminates with a fashion show in the galleries.
Picture Perfect
July 8 – 12 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Sara McGregor
Learn to improve your photography skills, no matter what kind of camera you use. Get to know all about composition in the exhibition Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas and by taking your own shots in and around the museum. Participants must provide their own camera.
Sculpt Savvy
July 8 – 12 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Blakely Sheely
Exploring a variety of media and construction methods, campers create two sculptures: a kinetic mobile and a relief wall hanging inspired by sculptural works inside the CMA.
Storybook Smashup
July 15 – 19 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 4 – 7
Instructor: Sherrie Belton
How do our favorite characters go from sketchbook to storybook? In a smashup of art and literature, campers explore character design techniques that bring our favorite stories to life. Campers sketch and sculpt 3D characters to star in adventures in the galleries.
Ink, Paper, Scissors
July 15 – 19 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Jaime Chason
Campers explore an array of 2D artmaking materials, including monoprints and photo transfers, collage art, and ink marbling.
Mosaics
July 15 – 19 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 13 – 18
Instructor: Kevin Pettit
Campers learn the entire process of creating a mosaic, from the creative process of generating an image all the way through grouting and displaying a completed piece of art.
Fiber Arts
July 15 – 19 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 13 – 18
Instructor: Blakely Sheely
Using fiber as muse, campers create a chunky knit blanket and a woven wall hanging and explore string painting as we use the collection galleries and the exhibition Wow Pop Bliss: Jimmy Kuehnle’s Inflatable Art as inspiration.
Around the World in Five Days
July 22 – 26 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 4 – 7
Instructor: Glenna Barlow
Travel the world without leaving the museum! Art adventurers journey to Tang Dynasty China, Renaissance Italy, modern-day Latin America, and more, exploring each culture by getting up-close and personal with original works of art and making masterpieces of their own.
Project Funway
July 22 – 26 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Katrina Hampton
From drafting to crafting, campers learn all about fashion design as they create and update their own wearable art inspired by art in the museum. The week culminates with a fashion show in the galleries.
Photography
July 22 – 26 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 13 – 18
Instructor: Sara McGregor
Learn to improve your photography skills, no matter what kind of camera you use. Get to know all about composition in the exhibition Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas and by taking your own shots in and around the museum. Participants must provide their own camera.
Summer STEAM
July 22 – 26 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: John Codega
Campers complete a series of individual and group challenges that foster creativity, problem-solving, and cooperation as well as design thinking skills in their very own Design Olympics.
Expressive Clay
July 22 – 26 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Blakely Sheely
Using the drape mold method and underglazes, campers learn how to sculpt facial features to create their own masks.
Fins, Feathers, Fur
July 29 – August 2 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 4 – 7
Instructor: Wilson Bame
Our galleries are just crawling with creatures — discover animals in works of art from clay to canvas. Campers read and learn about all kinds of animals as we create our own in clay, paint, and collage.
Readymade Redesign
July 29 – August 2 | 9:00 a.m. – Noon | Ages 8 – 12
Instructor: Dana Witkoski
Campers find inspiration by incorporating repurposed and found materials into their art, exploring both 2D and 3D techniques from collage to assemblage and beyond.
Printmaking
July 29 – August 2 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Ages 13 – 18
Instructor: Katie Chandler
Using the collection galleries as inspiration, campers learn about a variety of printmaking techniques and experiment with relief, monotypes, collographs, and suminagashi.
Gallery Tour: Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas and Wow Pop Bliss: Jimmy Kuehnle’s Inflatable Art
Saturdays | 1:00 p.m.
Experience dynamic and playful works of art from two contemporary artists. In Ordinary Sagas, Mimi Kato photographs herself as a vast range of characters with theatrical poses — from everyday Japanese citizens in suburbs to fantastical creatures in the woods — and embeds these images in large, colorful archival pigment prints to explore a range of contemporary issues. In Wow Pop Bliss, Jimmy Kuehnle fills four galleries with touchable, interactive environments using inflatables that combine sound, light, space, and amplifiers to create unexpected experiences for visitors as they move under, through, and around these artworks. Free with membership or admission.
Gallery Tour: CMA Collection Highlights
Each tour sheds light on the collection from a different angle. Free with membership or admission.
Gallery Tour: Cornerstones of the Collection
Sundays, July 7 and 28 | 1:00 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, July 14 | 1:00 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, and more.
Gallery Tour: Behind the Collection
Sunday, July 21 | 1:00 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 thought process that leads a museum to acquire a piece, and the care required to keep a work of art in excellent condition for thousands of years.
Play on the Plaza
Saturdays | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Come out and play on Boyd Plaza with the CMA! Join us every Saturday to build and create with our big blue blocks, perfect for guests of all ages and abilities. Try a design challenge or use your imagination to tap into your engineering ingenuity. This project is supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund and by a Connected Communities grant at Central Carolina Community Foundation. Free.
Play on the Plaza: Red, White & Blue
Saturday, July 6 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
For Independence Day weekend, we celebrate first responders with vehicle demos from the Columbia Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services. Plus, kids create their own make-and-take Soda City rocket kits made of soda bottles and other materials provided by the CMA. Complete the kit at home with safe household materials like vinegar and baking soda.
Play on the Plaza with i am art.
Saturday, July 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Help us welcome i am art's Dance in Collaboration campers as they perform their dance creations, one of which came as a result of hands-on creation, collaboration, and leading through the art of movement. Join in on the fun and discuss how they completed their creative journey.
Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Light as Air
Wednesday, July 3 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we experience the immersive, inflatable art of Jimmy Kuehnle’s Wow Pop Bliss exhibition. As we move through the galleries, we’ll explore light, color, and shape together before creating our own airy works of art. Key topic: space.
This program is specially designed for 2- to 3-year-old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through movement and play. It includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome! Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited.
Focal Points: Artful Americans
Saturday, July 6 | 2:00 p.m.
As our nation celebrates its birthday, what better way to pay tribute than with a tour highlighting American art through the centuries? Docent Bauer Westeren looks closely at our nation’s artistic contributions, from Washington portraits to Warhol prints. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of staff and tour guides. Free with membership or admission.
ArtCapella
Sunday, July 7 | 2:30 p.m.
The Capella Pueri Children's Choir performs sacred works in Latin from the Baroque, Romantic, and modern eras in the CMA collection galleries. Directed by Kirstina Rasmussen Collins and Catherine Howland, the choir consists of select students from the St. Peter's School and the Basilica of St. Peter in Columbia. The first performance begins at 2:30, the second at 3:10. Free with membership or admission.
Family Fun Night
Friday, July 12 | 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Show starts at 6:00 p.m.
Head down to Boyd Plaza for an evening of outdoor family fun. Columbia Children’s Theatre presents The Commedia Pinocchio, an original adaptation of the beloved tale performed in the traditional style of commedia dell’arte, with lots of physical comedy, audience interaction, jokes, and surprises. Come early or stay late to enjoy design challenges, games, and art activities. Food available for purchase from Cha Cha’s Food Truck. Free. This project is supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund and by a Connected Communities grant at Central Carolina Community Foundation.
Stop-In Studios
Saturday, July 13 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Come enjoy Stop-In Studios, a creative drop-in for all ages held on the second Saturday of every month. Check out the new studios, get inspired in the galleries, and get hands-on with your own art project based on works in Wow Pop Bliss: Jimmy Kuehnle's Inflatable Art. Free with membership or admission.
Celebrating A True Likeness: The Black South of Richard Samuel Roberts 1920-1936 – New Edition
Saturday, July 13 | 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Thomas L. Johnson and Phillip C. Dunn received a 1987 Lillian Smith Book Award for their work on A True Likeness: The Black South of Richard Samuel Roberts 1920-1936, showcasing the extraordinary photography of Columbia’s own Richard Samuel Roberts. In celebration of the book’s new edition, join us and USC Press for a panel discussion of Roberts and the importance of his work in South Carolina’s history. Panelists include Dunn, Johnson, and Historic Columbia’s Research and Archives Manager Katharine Allen. Facilitated by CMA Director of Education and Engagement Jackie Adams. Followed by a book signing. Books for sale at the CMA Shop on day of event. Free with membership or admission.
Art Class: Figure Drawing
Every Wednesday, July 17 – August 21 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
This six-week class for beginners focuses on drawing fundamentals and offers students a chance to work from nude models to develop their abilities. Subjects covered include gesture, contour, value, and comprehension of mass. Instructor Michael Dwyer earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Syracuse University and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina. His work as exhibition designer and preparator at the CMA gives Dwyer unique access to the museum’s collection to use as a teaching tool. All materials provided. Ages 18 and up. $250 / $200 for members.
Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Light as Air
Wednesday, July 17 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
This month we experience the immersive, inflatable art of Jimmy Kuehnle’s Wow Pop Bliss exhibition. As we move through the galleries, we’ll see firsthand how air can take up space before creating our own airy works of art. Key topic: space.
This program is specially designed for 4- to 5-year-old participants and their adult companions as a way to explore art through play and inquiry. It builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Siblings welcome! Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited.
Focal Points: Movement in Art
Saturday, July 20 | 2:00 p.m.
Does art move you? Join Docent Anna Griswold for a look at movement in art, whether it’s a central focus of a work or conspicuously absent. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of staff and tour guides. Free with membership or admission.
Focal Points: Seeing Red
Tuesday, July 23 | 2:00 p.m.
Summer is heating up! Beat the heat with a tour that’s red hot. Docent Kate Heald looks at the wide range of red hues in the galleries and the impact the color has on works of art. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of staff and tour guides. Free with membership or admission.
Art Class: Printmaking Basics
Tuesdays, July 23 and 30 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
In this two-part class, learn about a variety of printmaking techniques and how to design images that are ideal for printing. Create a small print edition using the linocut technique and leave with the knowledge necessary to continue your printmaking journey. Taught by local printmaker Nate Puza of The Half and Half. All materials and supplies included. Ages 15 and up. $70 / $56 for members.
Japan on Screen: Shall We Dance?
Thursday, July 25 | 8:00 p.m.
Meet us on Boyd Plaza for the launch of a Japanese film series curated by Dr. Yoshitaka Sakakibara, who taught Japanese film and culture for more than 20 years at USC. In celebration of Mimi Kato: Ordinary Sagas, these screenings touch on themes Kato brings to her artistic practice, including navigating gender roles and corporate culture.
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Shall We Dance? (1996) is a comedy about a successful but unhappy Japanese accountant that finds passion in his life when he begins to secretly take ballroom dance lessons. Bring your own lawn chairs or come early to snag one of our new pieces of inflatable furniture! Free. Rated PG. 2 hours 16 minutes. Complimentary popcorn. Cash bar with beer and wine. This project is supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund and by a Connected Communities grant at Central Carolina Community Foundation.
A Midsummer Night's Camp Party
Friday, July 26 | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
We’re celebrating summer with a camp party for adults! Enjoy live music, guided gallery “hikes,” souvenir stations, a sleepaway camp-themed Soda City Story Slam, snacks, and a cash bar by the Whig. Ages 18 and up. $5 / Free with registration in a June or July adult art class (Character Design, Hand Building Pottery Basics, Figure Drawing, or Printmaking). This project is supported by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund and by a Connected Communities grant at Central Carolina Community Foundation.
Focal Points: Bling!
Saturday, July 27 | 2:00 p.m.
Priceless crown jewels, a humble wedding band, a cowrie shell necklace, one pearl earring — jewelry comes in many forms with different meanings. Docent John Tomashek explores how jewels symbolize wealth, power, and fidelity in art. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of staff and tour guides. Free with membership or admission.
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 recently underwent a transformation. Funded by a successful capital campaign, the two-year renovation project garnered new collection galleries with a progressive thematic layout, new studios for artmaking, cutting-edge program and event spaces, an entrance on Main Street, and a revamped CMA shop. Overall, more than 15,000 square feet of functional space were added to the building’s existing footprint. To learn more, visit www.columbiamuseum.org.
