Sunday, September 30, 2007

Spark Studios Show

Posted by Nick Smith on Sun, Sep 30, 2007 at 12:52 PM

Danny McSweeney, owner of Spark Studios and Gallery on Hagood, is devoting his space to his old mate Waseem Touma for Ipseity through Oct. 5. The two sculptors met at Kansas City Art Institute and McSweeney’s been looking for an excuse to show his work ever since. Touma’s art is so ambitious and twisted that I’m willing to turn a blind eye to this abject favoritism.

 

Touma could be seen as the Stephen King of contemporary ceramic sculpture – he’s a nice guy, he’s prolific and his deconstruction of the mysteries of nature’s guts and bones was re-energized by a nasty car accident a few years ago. But the analogy stops there. There’s no horror in his work. He uses a preponderance of porcelain to create delicate bony structures that rise from the floor or hang from the ceiling. He also paints, draws and makes small stoneware sculptures. “Aquatic Plant” and “Internal Similarities” wouldn’t look amiss in the ocean depths, attracting sea life with their delicate, flowing shapes.

 

“Expansion” is the largest piece. With a trunk and limbs, it looks like a suspended elephant’s skeleton complete with ribcage. In other sculptures, Touma adds blood red tool dip to the white porcelain slip, increasing the organic feel of the whole show. Like King, Touma has bounced back from his terrible accident in a memorable way.

Topics: Visual Arts

Friday, September 28, 2007

More PURE

Posted by Nick Smith on Fri, Sep 28, 2007 at 8:42 AM

PURE Theatre is well known for its hard-hitting, uncompromising contemporary dramas. But come November it will be taking a step back in time for The Tragedian, the first play that the company's producing under a "PURE Historical" banner.

Originally, the theatre group planned to keep their modern-day and historical productions completely seperate. Then they realized that since the same people were involved in both kinds of shows, that split didn't make much sense. So PURE co-founder and Playwright in Residence Rodney Lee Rogers will present the one man Tragedian in the new year.

By then, the company will be out on its ear. Its current home at the Cigar Factory on East Bay will be closed. While it might not sound smart to start a new offshoot of a venueless group, PURE's always taken risks. So far, that's worked out pretty well.

Topics: Theater

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

IMAX No More

Posted by Nick Smith on Tue, Sep 18, 2007 at 7:21 AM

Last Friday I got an email from the local IMAX, telling me about all the cool that would be showing at the theatre through October. Transformers at the IMAX? I'd go see that. Dinosaurs 3D coming soon: an exciting film as IMAX documentaries go, with hungry dinosaurs coming right at atcha. So I was looking forward to catching these, and others, at the Aquarium Wharf theatre.

Three days after the email, IMAX shut its doors - apparently for good. There's a short message on the official website: 

With deep regret, Rivers Enterprises Real Estate, Inc. announces the closing of the Charleston IMAX Theatre Monday, September 17, 2007. After seven and a half years providing Lowcountry residents and visitors to Charleston an educational and entertaining experience, the theatre is no longer financially viable.

The loyal support of our customers, our staff, and the city has been greatly appreciated over the years. Rivers Enterprises is undertaking a complete review of its roles as part of Aquarium Wharf and looks forwards to proving enhanced services for that area in the future.

That means no more 70mm-wide helicopter shots, no more cheezy voice telling us that if we find the sensation of motion unsettling, "simply close your eyes," and worst of all, no more screenings of NASCAR 3D. Seeing that film was an indelible part of my Charleston experience when I moved here; let's just say that the audience was vocal in their appreciation of their favorite drivers. I was also touched when a thin-haired dweeb proposed to his wife at the theatre, his beaming face blown up to IMAX size (she said yes and the whole auditorium burst into applause).

The closure is a purely financial decision; IMAX Corp's aren't as strong as they'd like. But it leaves a big, sad hole in the tourist lure area of Aquarium Wharf.  And thanks for giving us some notice, guys.

Topics: Film, Recreation

Monday, September 17, 2007

Bestselling Charleston Author Passes

Posted by Nick Smith on Mon, Sep 17, 2007 at 8:20 AM

Farewell to Robert Jordan, who died yesterday from the rare blood disease, amyloidosis. The local writer - real name James Rigney - made the big leagues with his Wheel of Time fantasy series. He was only 58 years old.

Jordan was an integral part of Charleston's literary scene, instantly recognizable with his beard, hat and glasses. But he also valued his privacy, especially since the diagnosis of his progressive blood disorder in late 2005.

 The bestselling author sparked the imaginations of readers worldwide with books like The Eye of the World, The Dragon Reborn and original stories featuring Conan the Barbarian. An indication of his amazing popularity: fans offered their bone marrow to help him fight his disease. His ideas will live on through those fans in cyberspace, where countless sites propagate the mythos he created.

Topics: Local Authors, Books

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Makeup Classes

Posted by Nick Smith on Sat, Sep 15, 2007 at 10:59 AM

Halle Berry has Ivana Chubbuck. Tom & Nicole have Susan Batson. But while LA drama coaches are as common as drama queens, around here you have to look harder for a good acting teacher. Now help is at hand from Sheri Grace Wenger.

Her Midtown Productions organization will hold an Open House on Sep. 16 from 5-8 p.m. to herald the arrival of the Charleston Acting Studio. It's a non-profit series of 7-week courses for children, teens and adults. There's also a makeup program that covers stage makeup, hair, prosthetics and gory stuff just in time for Halloween. The Acting Studio is at The Shops on Folly & Camp and the studio number is 795-2223.

Wenger has been producing theatre in Charleston for many years. Her most recent Midtown Production was The Boys Next Door at the Village Playhouse. 

Topics: Theater
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