Michael Krajewski- Raw
In the world of auto-didacts, it isn’t difficult to find visual artists. While pedagogy is essential to dancers and musicians, no matter what their natural talents and inclinations, some visual artists are naturals in the true sense of the word. They pick up a paintbrush or a piece of chalk, or sink their hands into a ball of clay, and almost mystically, something profound or beautiful appears. Michael Krajewski is one of these artists. Though... Read More
Cover Story/Jasper Watches Lyon Hill
By August Krickel Visual artist. Graphic illustrator. Award-winning indie film maker. Puppeteer. Children’s entertainer. Avant-garde event organizer. Suburban husband and dad. Dark (and vaguely disturbing) visionary. Lyon Hill wears any number of hats, and is one of a growing number of local artists who are able not only to follow and develop their own creative vision, but to make a living doing so here in the Midlands, and attract... Read More
Josh Roberts and Pulling the Hinges Off Rock and Roll
“[The term] ‘Southern rock’ is a bit redundant; it’s like saying ‘rock rock.’” – Duane Allman Halfway through our winding conversation, singer/songwriter/guitarist Josh Roberts unconsciously paraphrases the legendary slide guitarist Duane Allman in concluding that “all rock is Southern.” We are sitting in a (temporarily) sweltering thrift shop in Lexington that’s owned and run by his wife and bandmate, Leslie Branham. It’s... Read More
Jim and Kay Thigpen and the Trustus Legacy
By August Krickel Jim and Kay Thigpen didn’t set out to be Columbia icons, or even pioneers in the local arts community. They just wanted to see and be involved in some good shows It’s hard to imagine the local cultural landscape without their creation, Trustus Theatre, Columbia’s professional theatre company that specializes, and excels, in alternative and non-traditional plays. It’s harder still to accept that Jim and Kay are... Read More
Essay: Temple Ligon on Jasper Johns’s Flags
South Carolina’s Jasper Johns of Allendale, arguably the 20th century’s most important American artist, turns 82 on May 15th. Born in Augusta, GA, Johns lived with his grandparents at their home in Allendale until his mother brought him into her home in Columbia for his fourth grade, where he attended at A. C. Moore Elementary School. It was about this time that Johns visited his father in Savannah, where the two walked past the bronze statue... Read More
How to Make a Tutu
Jasper Gazes – Sidebar By Alexis Doktor A tutu can weigh 10 pounds or more, depending on how much embellishment it has. Different characters call for more detail than others. For example, the tutu for a peasant can weigh as little as five pounds. As soon as you put on rhinestones, it starts getting heavy. A lot of the trim also is heavyweight. The more tulle, the more layers, the more fabric. When it’s on your body though, it feels like it belongs... Read More
Fool for Art: David Yaghjian Finds Inspiration in Humble ‘Everyman’ Alter-Ego
By Kristine Hartvigsen Six years ago, David Yaghjian took the adage “dance like no one’s watching” to heart, and he’s been cavorting – devil may care – in his underwear ever since. At 57, Yaghjian created a counterculture alter-ego of sorts that today is becoming increasingly popular in the artist’s “Everyman” series of paintings and sculptures. The impetus came in 2005 when McKissick Museum solicited works for its annual fundraiser... Read More
A Review of Head off & Split by Ray McManus
Nikki Finney’s latest book of poetry, Head Off & Split, is the winner of the 2011 National Book Award. To anyone who is familiar with Finney’s work, this should not come as a surprise. In addition to Head Off & Split (of which I’ll talk about later), Finney’s books of poetry include The World is Round (2003), Heartwood (1997), Rice (1995), and On Wings Made of Gauze (1985) – all strong collections, with an undeniable voice... Read More
The Eclectic Path of Danielle Howle
By Kyle Petersen There’s a song that Danielle Howle has taken to playing live over the last few years – a song by another musician from Columbia, Chris Connor, who died a while back, called “Being Poor.” It’s a tough, blues-based number with the refrain lamenting “what a bitch it is to be poor.” In June of 2011, members of the Jasper staff watched Howle play the song to less than two dozen people in the now-defunct listening room The... Read More
Camden Native Claire Bryant Finds her Dream in New York City
By Jeffrey Day Claire Bryant had a problem. Like many classically trained musicians, she wondered where her art form fit in 21st-century American life. “You’re trained and trained and trained to master your instrument. You play a concert and walk off the stage. What is a classical musician in this society? What is the value? How does our music tradition relate to the rest of the world? It’s a kind of a mystery we were facing together.” The... Read More
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