June Arts Calendar

Special events

Through June 8: Spoleto Festival USA is filling Charleston's theaters, churches and outdoor spaces for 17 days with more than 120 performances by well-known artists and emerging performers in a variety of disciplines ranging from opera to theater, music theater and dance and chamber, symphonic, choral and jazz music. $10-$130 plus applicable fees. 722-2764 or visit www.spoletousa.org.

Through June 8: The Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Focusing primarily on artists of the Southeast, Piccolo complements the international scope of its parent festival while transforming Charleston into a celebration of performing, literary and visual arts with 700 events in 17 days. Piccolo Spoleto's traditional program offerings include visual arts exhibits, classical music, jazz, dance, theater, poetry readings, children's activities, choral music, ethnic cultural presentations, crafts and films. 724-7305 or www.piccolospoleto.com.

June 6: The French Quarter Art Walk hosts about 40 galleries in the French Quarter. Many serve wine and food and may feature guest artists, exhibits and live music. Maps of the galleries are available at any French Quarter art gallery, Charleston Visitor Center and www.frenchquarterarts.com. 5-8 p.m.

June 13, 27: The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission presents Moonlight Mixers. Dance the night away under the stars at the Folly Beach Fishing Pier. Local DJ Rob Duren will spin oldies and beach music. Beverages available for purchase on-site. Food and snacks are available. 7-11 p.m. $10/$8 CCR discount in advance or $10 at the gate. 795-4FUN or www.ccprc.com.

June 27-29: The Island Heritage Festival presents 10 programs in a three-day celebration honoring the history and culture of African-Americans and the Gullah people as well as the historic treasures of their Sea Island home, James Island. www.islandheritagefestival.com.

Music

June 5-19: The College of Charleston's Communications Museum hosts the Palmetto Acoustic Series, featuring Neil Cribbs and The Near Misses. Each show features singers and songwriters performing an hour of their original music. The final series will feature Crowfield and Joe Iadanza. 58 George St., Communications Museum, College of Charleston. 8-10 p.m. 953-5810.

June 15: The Circular Church Congregational presents Circular Blues UnPlugged with Drink Small, an acoustic blues concert. 150 Meeting St. 7 p.m. $10. 577-6400 or www.circularchurch.org.

June 21: James Island County Park hosts old-school reggae with a new-school attitude with its Reggae Nights Summer Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. $6 adults, free for children under 12. www.ccprc.com/index.asp?NID=135.

Lectures, readings

Ongoing: The Dreamalot Books Book Lover's Group is a social meeting of book addicts who want to discuss their latest reads with other addicts. No specific book required. Show up with any book you'd like to discuss and bring a snack food item. 123B S. Goose Creek Blvd. Every third Friday. 7-9 p.m. 572-4188.

Ongoing: The Center for Photography's Second Mondays Lecture Series is held the second Monday of each month. Alterman Studios, 654-D King St. 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. To see who is presenting and for more information, call 577-0647 or visit www.center4photography.com.

Ongoing Saturdays: The National Park Service presents a video series on America's "Founding Brothers." Each Saturday, a different volume in the four-part series is being shown. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by historian Joseph Ellis, this series brings to life the vital issues and personalities from the most important decade in the country's history. Charles Pinckney National Historic Site, 1254 Long Point Road. June 7, 14, 21, 28. 2 p.m. 881-5516 or visit www.nps.gov/chpi.

Tours

June 7: Join the I'On Culture Walk for a 3.82-mile guided walk through the civic and cultural sites of Mount Pleasant's "New Village" in celebration of National Trails Day and Piccolo Spoleto and Spoleto Arts Festivals. Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes. Meet at Bodacious Bagels, 766 S. Shelmore Blvd. 9 a.m-11:30 a.m. Free. www.ioncommunity.com.

June 14: Drayton Hall presents Exploring the Landscape of Slavery Tour. Tying in with the Gibbes Museum's "Landscape of Slavery" exhibit, this in-depth guided tour will explore existing landscape features, archaeological sites, maps and documents to reveal the actual landscape of slavery as it existed centuries ago. Light refreshments will be provided. Drayton Hall, S.C. Highway 61. $25/adults, free to Friends of Drayton Hall. 769-2638 or www.draytonhall.org.

Ongoing: The Gibbes Museum of Art and The Original Charleston Walks tour company present Gibbes Museum of Art Discovery Walking Tours. View artistic treasures at the Gibbes and then walk in the footsteps of the artists who created them. This 90-minute tour highlights the many historic sites of Charleston that have inspired artists for centuries. Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. (advance reservations and a minimum of five people required). 135 Meeting St. $20 includes museum admission and the walking tour. 800-729-3420 or www.charlestonwalks.com.

Classes

June 7: The Gibbes Museum of Art presents a Figure Drawing Marathon. Choose the studio and work from the figure (nude and costumed) in gradual movement, 10-minute, 30-minute and one-hour poses in this all-day marathon. This class is for adult artists of all levels (students 16 and older may participate). 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20/museum members, $25/nonmembers and $15/students. To register, call 722-2705 or e-mail artacademy@gibbesmuseum.org.

June 7-21: Redux Contemporary Art Center is offering Intermediate Photography Classes. Students of this class will make black-and-white 8x10 prints and participate in critiques of their work. The instructor is Nancy Santos. All materials included. Redux Contemporary Art Center, 136 St. Philip St. $140 nonmembers/$115 members. Saturdays only 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 745-1087, www.reduxstudios.org or info@reduxstudios.org.

June 7-28: The Gibbes Museum of Art offers Sketch It! classes in contour drawing, rendering and experimentation with pen and ink. For ages 7-12 and 13-17. Shelmore Village, Mount Pleasant. 10 a.m.-noon Saturdays. $100/museum members, $125/nonmembers. 722-2706, www.gibbesmuseum.org or artacademy@gibbesmuseum.org.

June 10-12: Redux Contemporary Art Center is offering a Mixed-Media Sampler. This class explores the elements of design and art vocabulary. It also will include working with graphite, charcoal, India Ink and collage. All materials are included. Redux Contemporary Art Center, 136 St. Philip St. $150 nonmembers/$120 members. 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 745-1087, www.reduxstudios.org or info@reduxstudios.org.

June 13, 17: The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission presents Universe in Motion. Explore the heavens from inside the new portable digital planetarium. Chair seating places visitors in a pleasant atmosphere to experience the vast and fascinating universe. A registered and paid chaperon is required for participants 15 and under. North Charleston Wannamaker County Park. 2 p.m. $9/$7 CCR discount. 795-4FUN or www.ccprc.com.

June 16-20: The Gibbes Museum of Art presents its Teen Arts Drawing Intensive Workshop, a weeklong course. The program, for high school students, will be taught by artists and will include pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, working from figure and experimental methods of drawing. Shelmore Village, Mount Pleasant. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $125/museum members, $150/nonmembers. 722-2706, www.gibbesmuseum.org or artacademy@gibbesmuseum.org.

June 17-26: Redux Contemporary Art Center is offering Beginning Drawing for Adults. 136 St. Philip St. $150 nonmembers/$120 members. Tuesday/Thursday 6-9 p.m. 745-1087, www.reduxstudios.org or info@reduxstudios.org.

Visual arts

Through June 7: Redux Contemporary Art Center is hosting the exhibition "The Constructed Image" featuring five contemporary artists that face the nature of truth by capturing techniques of photography. Redux Contemporary Art Center, 136 St. Philip St. Wedneday-Saturday. Noon-5 p.m. 722-0697 or info@reduxstudios.org.

Through June 9: Cone 10 Studios and Clay Gallery presents The Invitational Cup Show. The Cone 10 Studio artists have invited 14 clay artists from around the country to explore with them the art of the cup. Cone 10 Studios and Clay Gallery, 285 Meeting St. 853-3345 or betseycarter@gmail.com.

Through June 20: The College of Charleston's Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is holding the exhibit "Emotional Architecture: Azimuth of Fissure." Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St. Gallery hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 953-5680 or www.halsey.cofc.edu,

Through June 30: The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department presents a window exhibit at the Meeting Place featuring works by local artists Nancy Carlson and Gil Pooser. Their works, featuring portraits, landscapes and streetscapes, will be displayed as window exhibits, and proposals for window exhibits are being accepted and considered on a continuing basis. The Meeting Place, 1077 E. Montague Ave. 958-6484, culturalarts@northcharleston.org or www.northcharleston.org.

Through Sept. 1: The Charleston Museum presents "History in Every Step: Shoes From the Charleston Museum Collection." This exhibit presents an array of historic footwear and walking sticks from the museum's permanent collection. 360 Meeting St. $10/adult; $5/child 3-5; under 3 free; members free. 722-2996, info@charleston museum.org, or www.charlestonmuseum.org.

June 1-30: The oil paintings of Sheila Perry will be displayed at the North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit throughout June. Her artwork, inspired by the coastline near her home on the Isle of Palms, explores the relationships among light, color and form. 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. www.northcharleston.org.

June 12-Feb. 28: The Charleston Museum presents "From Slave to Sharecropper: African-Americans in the Lowcountry After the Civil War," an original exhibition to commemorate the bicentennial of the abolition of the international slave trade in the U.S. and British Empire. 360 Meeting St. $10/adult, $5/child 3-12, under 3 free and free for members. 722-2996, www.charlestonmuseum.org or info@charlestonmuseum.org.

Ongoing: The Charleston Museum presents "Bustles, Bicycles and Ballgowns: Beginnings of Change in the Late 19th Century." The exhibit offers garments, accessories and equipment from the late 19th century. Exhibit ends Jan. 4. 360 Meeting St. $10/adults, $5/child. 722-2996, info@charlestonmuseum.org or www.charlestonmuseum.org.

Ongoing: Spring Sidewalk Show hosted by the Charleston Artist Guild. Weekends through June 8. 151 Meeting, St. Set up at 9 a.m. 722-2454.

Gibbes Museum of Art

At 135 Meeting St., the Gibbes features numerous exhibits throughout the year. Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. $9 for adults, $7 for senior citizens, military and students, and $5 for children ages 6-18. Free for members and children under 6. 722-2706 or www.gibbesmuseum.org.

June 6 AND 20: Lunchtime Tour and Lecture Series in which local scholars, cultural critics and conservationists explore the "Landscape of Slavery" exhibition from varying perspectives. Dr. Simon Lewis of the College of Charleston will speak June 6, while Dr. Bernard Powers, also of the college, will speak June 20. 1 p.m. Free with museum admission.

June 13: "Gone With the Wind" film screening and benefit in conjunction with "Landscape of Slavery." Live music and refreshments. Proceeds will benefit education and outreach programs at the Gibbes. Terrace Theatre, Maybank Highway. 6 p.m. $25/museum members, $35 nonmembers.

June 14: Plantations, a free community day inspired by the "Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art exhibition." Includes storytelling, hands-on workshops, performances and activities led by educators from Drayton Hall. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with activities running 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free.

Through Aug. 3: The Gibbes Museum of Art presents "Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art," a traveling exhibition of more than 100 paintings, mixed media, photographs, works on paper and installment works displaying the genre of American plantation landscape art.

Ongoing: "The Charleston Story" features paintings, sculpture and miniature portraits that highlight people, places and periods from Charleston's birth as a British settlement, through the American Revolution and the Civil War, to today's Charleston, a culturally diverse community.

Arts in Charleston is a monthly calendar of cultural events in the Charleston area compiled by the Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and published as a public service by The Post and Courier. Deadline for submissions is noon the 15th of each month. For more information about the calendar and including upcoming events in future issues, call the Office of Cultural Affairs at 720-3819, e-mail event listing to ocaintern@ci.charleston.sc.us, fax to 720-3967 or write:

Arts in Charleston Calendar

Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs

180 Meeting St., Suite 200

Charleston, SC 29401