2007 MOJA Festival offers myriad visual arts exhibits

Beginning today, the MOJA Arts Festival is celebrating its 24th year of putting on a diverse festival, bringing together more than 50,000 people from various cultures and backgrounds.

The word MOJA actually means "one" in Swahili and bringing together all walks of life is actually one of Moja's major goals.

Created by the city of Charleston's Office of Cultural Affairs, this 11-day event honors African-American and Caribbean cultural contributions by showcasing a diverse sampling of music, theater, dance, visual arts and crafts, ethnic food and children's activities.

"MOJA is one of the most important cultural projects on our arts calendar each year. It engages residents and visitors of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and economic circumstances to its wide variety of offerings. It provides for all who are touched by its program, moments of repose, contemplation and introspection — a chance to transcend the busy pace of everyday life," says Mayor Joe Riley.

Most people are familiar with Moja's musical entertainment, especially the popular Reggae Block Dance at the Customshouse (Friday night from 7 to 11) and the jazz, R&B and gospel concerts (see Preview's cover story, page 22F). However, there is an entire visual arts series not to be missed.

The City Gallery at Waterfront Park presents "The Thread Project: One World, One Cloth" as its MOJA art exhibit this year. This is an international project that celebrates diversity, encourages tolerance and promotes compassionate community. For the past six years, thousands of people around the world have worked together to communally weave a world cloth that is quite possibly the most diverse cloth ever stitched together.

In May 2006, three of the project's indigenous panels hung at the United Nations, and all 49 panels hung for four months across from Ground Zero in New York City at St. Paul's Chapel for the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. These are now on display here in Charleston during the festival and until Oct. 20.

Another major art series is MOJA's Invitational Juried Art Exhibitions,. This is also taking place at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau St., downtown.

Doyle Cloyd, the 2007 poster artist, finds inspiration in his family roots. One of his most notable works, "The Sunflower Sista," was inspired by an 80-year old photograph of his grandmother, Martina McCain, standing in a field of sunflowers as a child.

"In his art, Doyle captures reflections of urban life and afro-centricity with a distinguished style and a broad range of images. By exploring his creativity, he has developed a unique style of abstractions with tremendous depth and presence. The 'Art of Doyle' is essentially a culmination of style, grace and soul," says Laura Amerson of the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Meet Cloyd and view his works at the MOJA Festival's official opening reception tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St. There will be Caribbean cuisine by Joe's Catering. The event is free.

Artist Karole Turner Campbell's body of work, titled "The Souls of Black Folk/Facets," is on display on the second floor of the Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St. Also known by her initials, "KTC," she is a lifelong visual and performing artist. She attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City, received her B.S. in Arts Education from North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, N.C., and then worked as an arts educator and specialist with the New York City Department of Education. Her tenure with the school system ended in November 2003, when she retired as the founding principal of Frederick Douglass Academy II. Along with her passion for teaching and learning, she maintained a parallel career in the performing arts as a dancer, choreographer, playwright and director. She was a member of the Lincoln Center Theatre's Directors Lab. Her visual arts training and participation was reawakened in 1988 when she took a sabbatical from teaching and enrolled in the City College in N.Y., where she received a Master of Fine Arts in 1990. She and her husband Carl Campbell live in North Charleston, and she is now working as a full-time artist.

Also on view will be Lemuel Reina's exhibit, "The Beautiful Series," at the Charleston Visitor's Center, 375 Meeting St. Reina grew up in Queens and attended the Graphics Communication Arts school in Manhattan. He has recently moved to Charleston and is pursuing a painting career, although he is still very interested in graffiti and dancing.

Yvonne Pickering Carter has created the unique "Pinecone Series." A professor from the University of the District of Columbia, Carter's work has been in numerous group and solo exhibitions. She has also been featured in many museums and galleries, such as the Baltimore Museum of Art, Smithsonian Anacostia Museum, Corcoran Gallery, The Gibbes Museum of Art, Fendrick Gallery, Bronx Museum, Franklin and Marshall College, National Museum of Women in the Arts and The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Presently, she is the owner and curator of Gallery Cornelia, 90 Cannon St., where her art will show during MOJA.

Artist Pink Earth, also known as Jeanette Ross, creates in acrylic, watercolor and clay. Ross began painting and making pottery as a child and became more serious about it as a teen. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1984 with a degree in studio art and then worked for several years in the field of graphic design. Throughout the festival, her works can also be seen at Gallery Cornelia.

Don't miss "The Color of Money" by John Jones at the Charleston County Public Library 1 p.m. Saturday. Jones is the artist and author of "The Color of Money," and has re-created the artwork on Confederate currency that depicted the daily lives of slaves from the era. His works will be on display in the library's lobby through Oct. 9.

Critically acclaimed artist Jonathan Green will be part of MOJA's Charleston County Library "Big Read" series. Green grew up in the Lowcountry speaking Gullah and immersed in the Gullah culture.

Green uses bold and vibrant art to depict the human stories of the Gullah community and of his childhood. He will discuss his heritage, his journey into art and his continuing efforts to ensure the culture remains alive and respected.

A discussion featuring Green will take place at the Trident Technical College Center Complex for Economic Development in North Charleston, 2001 Mabeline Road, Building 910, Friday at 7 p.m. The lecture is free to the public.

Many of MOJA's events are either free or very modestly priced. For a complete list of events, visit www.mojafestival.com.

'Kids with Cameras'

Check out the Charleston Kids with Cameras exhibit of 20 photos and five posters all done by kids ages 6-18. The Palmetto Project's two programs — "Charleston Kids with Cameras" and the Yo Art Project — have maintained a close relationship with the kids at the Meeting Street Manor and Cooper River Court Community since 2004, and most recently the Charleston Development Academy. The kids produced amazing black-and-white photos documenting their own community and various parts of Charleston. Their works were exhibited at Piccolo Spoleto, the College of Charleston and were featured in Charleston Magazine's August 2007 issue. The exhibit will be on display as part of MOJArt, the Charleston Housing Authority, 550 Meeting St. until Oct. 30.

Visit www.charlestonkidswithcameras.org or www.yoartproject.org.

'Journey'

Cindy Catore's photo essay "One Woman's Journey on a Healing Path" will be on exhibit at the Center for Women, 129 Cannon St., during October. This collection of photographs portrays the devastating effects of a brutal rape and the artist's eventual release from her mental anguish. The artist contends, "Although this project deals with rape, it is not solely about rape. It encompasses a universal path of healing, offering hope and courage. Its final images speak of freedom and finding one's self."

The public is invited to view the exhibit Monday through Friday.

Stith's Postcards

The John M. Dunnan Gallery will host an opening reception 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday in honor of McLean Stith's new exhibit, "Postcards."

Stith started painting during her years in medical school, using it as a way to relate more deeply to herself and the world around her, explains gallery manager Josh James of the John M. Dunnan Gallery. "In the first few years of painting, she grappled with the idea of pursuing formal training," says James.

"A mind-blowing visit to the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore and the realization that it is possible for one person to have more than enough schooling clinched her decision to be artistically self-taught.

"Her subject matter varies widely with some recurrent themes: the landscape paintings, which call out an expansiveness of mind; the floral still-lifes, which relate to the quest for wholeness and compassion; and the self-portraits (rarely shown), which are ways of exploring the mysteries of the psyche and the shadow elements within the self," says James.

For more information, contact the gallery at 720-7425 or visit www.johndunnan.com.

Jan Sasser

There will be an opening reception for Jan Sasser's newest collection 5-8 p.m. Friday at the Spencer Gallery II, 57 Broad St.

Sasser's paintings range from photorealistic to slightly softer representations that breathe with natural color and a strong sense of place, inviting the viewer in.

"Much as I love the city of Charleston, I am focused on nature and its creatures, from the vanishing landscapes of the Lowcountry and greater U.S., to the treasured public greenspaces of city gardens and parks," says Sasser. Bothered by modern trends that alienate people from the natural world, Sasser says, "I want my paintings to remind viewers of the beauty and value of the world around them and encourage them to enjoy and protect it."

For more information, call the gallery at 723-4482 or visit www.spencerartgallery.com.

'Eye Level Art'

Check out the works of some of Charleston's finest contemporary artists 5-9 p.m. Friday at the Eye Level Art Gallery, 50 Queen St.

Featured artists include Caryn Smith, Christopher Murphy, Kevin Harrison, Darlene Fuhst, Sharon Fowler, Ishmael, Tyler Blanton, Vincent Bobo, Bill Davies, Carolyn Francis, Danny McLaughlin and more.

For more information, contact the gallery at 278-2374 or visit www.eyelevelart.com.

The Smiths

Smith-Killian Fine Art is showcasing "The Smiths: Works in Oil," an exhibition of new paintings by Lowcountry artist Betty Anglin Smith and her twin daughters, Jennifer Smith Rogers and Shannon Smith.

For more information, contact the gallery, 9 Queen St., at 853-0708 or visit www.smithkillian.com.