Spotlight on Carrie Phillips

Locally Grown, Making History Known: The Carrie Phillips Story by Haley Sprankle “A community’s history is the foundation for everything that happens there.” This simple, yet important concept of a city built on its history comes from Carrie Phillips, the Director of Marketing and Communications for Historic Columbia. “As Director of Marketing and Communications, I […]

Spotlight on Jim Dukes and Anne Miller

By Haley Sprankle Exploratory introspection. That’s how photo artist Jim Dukes and yoga instructor Anne Miller describe their collaborative work, Pieces of a Whole. “Jim participated in a professional development workshop at the Tapp’s building that I co-facilitated as a yoga instructor,” Miller says. “Jim took pictures after the workshop of the yoga space and […]

Spotlight on Anastasia Chernoff

Visual artist Anastasia Chernoff is more than a sculptor and gallery owner, she is a catalyst for artistic collaboration and exhibition, and her gallery, Anastasia & Friends, is a regular gathering place for artists and arts lovers, especially during First Thursdays on Main. We caught up with Anastasia as she prepped for the February First […]

Spotlight on April Blake

April Blake, who you may know from her food blog (theaprilblake.com) or from her writing in the Free Times or from South Carolina Girls’ Pint Out or from her media relations work or from various restaurants around town, was once an administrative assistant. As you might imagine, she found herself restless in this job and […]

Spotlight on Chad Henderson

4 Questions for Chad Henderson, director of In the Red and Brown Water, opening on Friday January 23rd at Trustus Theatre 1) First thing’s first: What is In the Red and Brown Water about? This show is about transition, becoming an adult, the battle between dreams and settling, and the lives and culture of Americans […]

Spotlight on Lee Snelgrove

Five Questions for Lee Snelgrove – Executive Director of One Columbia JASPER: Art seems to be popping up throughout the city and someone told us that you might have something to do with that. What can you tell us about that shiny new sculpture outside of AGAPE on Main Street? LEE: That new piece is […]

Spotlight on Bohumila Augustinova

By Annie Brooks If a literal spotlight were to fall on Bohumila Augustinova she would shine like one of her copper wire sculptural pieces. Her brilliant red hair and bold glasses command attention. Native Czech Republican, artist, buyer and manager for the Columbia Museum of Art Store, Bohumila is quite the individual. She has lived […]

Spotlight on Tony Tallent

Tony Tallent is currently contributing more than his fair share to the Columbia arts community. Tallent is the Director of Literacy and Learning at the Richland Public Library, but that title alone does not come close to covering his efforts. He has his hands on far more than literacy and learning. He handles a lot of the coordination between some of the main library services including collections, digital presence, programs and partnerships, and new initiatives.

Spotlight on Sumner Bender

Finding Your Light: Sumner Bender Tells All About Her Many Theatrical Experiences by Haley Sprankle 24 years ago, a little girl sat in Mary Jeffcoat’s acting class at Workshop Theatre, full of hope and aspirations. Flash forward to present day, and here sits a woman who works in the Visual and Performing Arts Department for […]

Spotlight on Stann Gwynn

Starting on Friday night, November 21st, Stann Gwynn reprises his role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Trustus Theatre’s The Christmas Carol. We caught up with Stann and asked him exactly Six Questions. Here are his answers.