Columbia Museum of Art November 2024 Exhibitions and Events Calendar

EXHIBITIONS

French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950
On view October 5, 2024 – January 5, 2025
In France, the years between the Revolution of 1848 and the end of World War II were characterized by sweeping social, intellectual, and political change. The Western art world, centered in Paris, also witnessed remarkable transformations as artists experimented with bold, expressive styles that revitalized traditional genres. French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 showcases more than 50 works from the distinguished Brooklyn Museum collection, encompassing the key avant-garde movements that emerged in and around Paris during this period. Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Symbolism, Fauvism, Cubism, and Surrealism are represented in remarkable examples by the era’s leading artists, including Paul Cézanne, Marc Chagall, Camille Corot, Edgar Degas, Henri Matisse, Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and more.

French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Silver Sponsors: Mrs. Joyce Martin Hill; First Citizens Bank. Bronze Sponsors: Barbara B. Boyd; Patricia L. Beckler; Dr. Gail M. Morrison; Myrtle T. Robinson. Benefactors: Joseph Bruce; Suzanne and Robert Clawson; Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough; Dr. Suzanne R. Thorpe and Dr. John W. Baynes. Friends: Dr. and Mrs. Roger A. Blau; Linda and Michael Edwards; Dr. Carolyn Kressler-Greenberg and Dr. Stanley Greenberg; John and Mary Kessler; Eric McKenzie; Metro Wines Asheville; Ginny Newell; Margo Newton; Sarah and Albert Reed; Walda C. Wildman. Media Sponsors: Grace Outdoor and WXRY 99.3 FM. Grantors: City of Columbia; Experience Columbia SC; Richland County Government; South Carolina Arts Commission; Discover South Carolina.

Constantine Manos: A Greek Portfolio
On view through January 12, 2025
Born in Columbia to Greek immigrant parents in 1934, Constantine Manos traveled to Greece in the early 1960s, where he photographed the everyday lives of villagers over a period of three years. The resulting body of work, first published in 1972 as A Greek Portfolio, solidified the photographer’s reputation and quickly earned international recognition. In 1978, he donated 50 of those prints to the Columbia Museum of Art, a selection of which is on view in this exhibition. Manos’ account captures the beauty, simplicity, and hardships of rural Greek life with the sensitivity of one with familial ties to that country. In intimate images exploring love, loss, faith, and family, the artist prompts reflection on the nature of human relationships and the connections between land and labor.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
To purchase tickets or register for classes, visit columbiamuseum.org or call 803-799-2810.

Book a Tour and Save
Gather some friends and enjoy discounted admission as you get an inside look at our exhibitions or collection with a docent-led tour. Details at columbiamuseum.org/tours.

Multisensory Tours
Multisensory Tours provide an opportunity for visitors who are blind or have low vision to experience the diverse work in the CMA Collection. Explore the galleries with a skilled museum educator trained to provide detailed verbal description of the work on view, while experiencing a selection of objects through touch and other senses.

Multisensory Tours are available to visitors who are blind or partially sighted in groups of 5 to 10. These 90-minute tours take place when the galleries are closed to the general public and require four weeks’ advance notice to schedule. To book a tour call 803-343-2163 or email [email protected].

Lunchtime Folk Music Series
Friday, November 1 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Head to Boyd Plaza for the finale of this free lunchtime folk music series from Columbia musician Sean Thomson. With two acts from the Midlands performing each week, listeners can expect a variety of sounds and styles in multiple short back-to-back sets. The finale features sets from Saul Seibert, known for his roles in Boo Hag, Zion, and King Saul and the Heretics, and Zach Seibert, known for his work with E.Z. Shakes, Due East, and Monti Rabbit.

Drop by any time during the concert to enjoy the music. Grab lunch from a visiting food truck or bring your own from home — or one of our Main Street neighbors! Free. In the event of heavy rain, program will be canceled. A grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation supported this project.

Palmetto Luna Arts’ Day of the Dead Celebration
Saturday, November 2 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Join Palmetto Luna Arts on Boyd Plaza to celebrate Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). This free annual event includes a Day of the Dead altar, arts and crafts, live music, folkloric dances, a live painting session, and other cultural activities.

Day of the Dead is a Mexican tradition to honor those who have departed before us. Within Mexican culture’s complex fusion of customs including Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish traditions, death is merely one part in the wider cycle of existence. The Day of the Dead celebration is the result of the ancient ritual venerations and offerings to the goddess Mictecacihuatl (“Lady of the Dead”) for deceased children and adults as well as the Spaniards’ desire to accommodate these festivities within the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Organized by Palmetto Luna Arts in collaboration with the CMA and the SC Commission for Minority Affairs. Sponsored by The City of Columbia, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Art Class: Papermaking 101
Saturday, November 2 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Learn to create your own handmade paper from plant pulps including abaca, hemp, cotton, and esparto. Apply artistic techniques such as pulp painting, embedding objects, shaping paper, and making flower seed paper that can be planted. Try multiple approaches as you make several decorated sheets. Taught by artist and CMA docent Velvet Underwood. All supplies and equipment provided. Ages 15 and up. $100 / $80 for members.

Velvet Underwood developed a love for making handmade paper and book arts several years ago when she was a fiber arts student at Central Michigan University. Since then, she has taken several university classes and workshops to advance her knowledge of both. Underwood is a resident of Chapin, where she lives with her husband and two rescue dogs. When she isn’t busy making art, she volunteers her time at the Newberry Arts Center and as a docent at the CMA.

Art Class: Modern Impressions
Tuesdays, November 5, 12, and 19 | 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
In this three-part class, students take inspiration from featured exhibition French Moderns to create Impressionistic paintings with a modern spin using acrylics and oils. No prior painting experience required, though some familiarity is helpful. Taught by Laurel Steckel Archie, a professional painter and art instructor who studied in Chicago, Italy, and Paris before earning her Master of Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina and teaching at their School of Visual Art and Design. Ages 15 and up. All materials and equipment provided. $200 / $160 for members.

Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Face It
Wednesday, November 6 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Faces can help show how we’re feeling — our eyes, noses, and mouths all help us express moods, emotions, and ideas. Join us as we explore the many expressions in French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 and make some faces of our own! Gladys’ Gang is specially designed for 2- to 3-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through movement and play. This program includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the art exploration theme. Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited. Siblings welcome!

Free First Thursday at the CMA
Thursday, November 7 | 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Enjoy free admission and extended hours. Take a guided tour of French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 at 6:00 p.m. Last gallery entry at 7:30 p.m. Free. Plaza events by First Thursday on Main. Free admission courtesy of Dominion Energy.

Public Tour: French Moderns
Thursday, November 7 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Travel back to when Paris was the unrivaled center of the Western art world. French Moderns spans the pivotal years of 1850 to 1950, which saw tremendous change and innovation in both art and technology. Enjoy a guided tour of this exhibition that explores various avant-garde movements and the artists who were instrumental to them, including Marc Chagall, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, and many more. Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA.

Arts & Draughts
Friday, November 8 | 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Celebrate the fall season and French Moderns with your favorite museum party! Watch art come to life as self-taught master builder and puppeteer Tarish Pipkins a.k.a. Jeghetto brings his abstract moving sculptures out for an onstage performance of Jeghetto’s Workshop (and watch out for his creations as they roam around the museum). Groove to live music from Darby Wilcox, Greenville-based singer-songwriter, and Orange Doors, playing psychedelic grunge from Charleston. Dance the night away as Folk Tech takes over the museum with DJ sets and a silent disco. Go on an AR scavenger hunt through the museum courtesy of students from USC’s SVAD IxD course. Take in new and unique perspectives of French Moderns with tableau vivants directed by Velvet Underwood. Check out live screenprinting from Bluetile Print Studio as they make the official Arts & Draughts t-shirt designed by Eva Foussat. Try your hand at some D.I.Y. art activities. Enjoy food for purchase from La Dolce Vita Pizza, Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen, and Farmers Market Xchange. Cash bar with beer and wine from Weco Bottle and Biergarten featuring selections from Columbia Craft Brewing Company. $15 / $8 for members. Join or renew membership that night or volunteer for a short shift and get in free. Silver Sponsors: Cyberwoven; Nancy and Richard Layman. Patron Sponsors: Barbara Boyd; Harold and Clarke Friedman; Weco Bottle and Biergarten; WXRY 99.3 FM.

Art Class: Drawing 101
Saturday, November 9 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Pencil in some time to work on foundational drawing techniques in this one-day workshop. Experiment with pencil, charcoal, and conté crayon and take in-depth explorations of proportions and contrasts in value and texture. Taught by Mary Hendrix, who holds a bachelor’s degree in art from East Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of South Carolina. Ages 15 and up. All materials and equipment provided. $90 / $72 for members.

Public Tour: French Moderns
Sundays, November 10 and 24 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Travel back to when Paris was the unrivaled center of the Western art world. French Moderns spans the pivotal years of 1850 to 1950, which saw tremendous change and innovation in both art and technology. Enjoy a guided tour of this exhibition that explores various avant-garde movements and the artists who were instrumental to them, including Marc Chagall, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, and many more. Free with membership or admission.

Art in Focus with Dr. Frank Martin
Thursday, November 14 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Art in Focus is a series of spotlight talks in which art historians explore themes found in individual artworks, offering an opportunity to discover new insights with a true fine arts specialist. On November 14, Dr. Frank Martin leads a talk on two works in featured exhibition French Moderns, both by Edgar Degas — Dancer at Rest, Hands Behind Her Back, Right Leg Forward (modeled 1882–1895; cast 1919–1932) and Portrait of a Man (c. 1866). Learn more about these pieces and the artist who created them. Free with membership or admission.

Dr. Frank C. Martin II serves as visiting associate professor of art history and art theory at South Carolina State University and is the retired director of The I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium, located on the campus of the university. A graduate of Yale University and the City University of New York, Hunter College, with additional study in contemporary art and art theory at the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University, Martin holds a Ph.D. in philosophy with a specialization in axiology and the history of aesthetics from the University of South Carolina. A former lecturer and associate manager of the Office of Education Services for the Uris Education Center of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Martin has served as an academic advisor for the PBS documentary Shared History and has worked as a contributing critic in the fine arts for Charleston’s The Post and Courier. Martin is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art) based in Paris.

Tai Chi on Boyd Plaza
Friday, November 15 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Pause and reflect on Boyd Plaza in a drop-in tai chi session led by Bob and Cathy Brookshire, who have been practicing the ancient Chinese discipline for more than 20 years with the Taoist Tai Chi Society. Taoist Tai Chi arts grew from the Taoist tradition, which teaches that health comes when body, mind, and spirit are one. Working on all aspects of the person, this moving meditation reduces stress and helps find energy, balance and joy. Participants should wear comfortable clothes and sneakers or similar footwear. Free with registration. Ages 13 and up. No unaccompanied minors. In the event of heavy rain, the session will be canceled. A grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation supported this project.

Art Class: Drawing 102
Saturday, November 16 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Take your drawing to the next level in this one-day class. Students build on the elements of art and principles of design and explore how to apply these cornerstones of art to enhance and improve their drawings while using a variety of mediums. Taught by Mary Hendrix, who holds a bachelor’s degree in art from East Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of South Carolina. Ages 15 and up. Supplies and equipment provided. $90 / $72 for members.

Stroller Tour: French Moderns
Saturday, November 16 | 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Take a tour of our featured exhibition with infants in tow! Bring your little ones along for the ride on a stroller-friendly tour for caregivers with babies up to age two. Fussy, crying, or wiggly babies welcome! Baby wearing is encouraged. Free with membership or admission. Registration required as space is limited.

Travel back to when Paris was the unrivaled center of the Western art world. French Moderns spans the pivotal years of 1850 to 1950, which saw tremendous change and innovation in both art and technology. Enjoy a guided tour of this exhibition that explores various avant-garde movements and the artists who were instrumental to them, including Marc Chagall, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Henri Matisse, Edgar Degas, and many more.

Multisensory Tour: French Moderns
Saturday, November 16 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Multisensory tours provide an opportunity for visitors who are blind or have low vision to experience works of art on view at the museum. Explore featured exhibition French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 with a skilled museum educator trained to provide detailed verbal description of the work on display, while experiencing a selection of objects through touch and other senses. Participants may bring one guest for assistance. Guide dogs are welcome. Trained staff and docents will be on hand to provide additional assistance. Free. Registration is required as space is limited.

Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Face It
Wednesday, November 20 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Faces can help show how we’re feeling — our eyes, noses, and mouths all help us express moods, emotions, and ideas. Join us as we explore the many expressions in French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 and make some faces of our own! Gladys’ Gang is specially designed for 4- to 5-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through play and inquiry. This program builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Free. Registration required for all participants as space is limited. Siblings welcome!

Creator Stories: Film and Art in Conversation
Wednesday, November 20 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Screening 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
CMA affinity group the Contemporaries and The Nick present Creator Stories, a new film series that dives into the world of visionary artists and makers. Gather at The Nick for the premiere, featuring three vignettes that capture the creative processes of Columbia-based artist Victoria Rickards, Los Angeles-based hatmaker Christopher Jay Heller, and Greek artist Afrodite Dimoviti. Following the screening, director Mark Monroe joins Rickards for a conversation exploring the inspirations and processes behind artistic work. Selections of Rickards’ work will be on display at The Nick, including the piece featured in the film. $5.

Focal Points Tour: Setting the Table
Thursday, November 21 | 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Gear up for Thanksgiving with a tour through the CMA Collection with docents Carol Hunter and Ann Holtschlag. Prepare to feast your eyes on sumptuous tables and serving ware. Focal Points is a series of gallery talks featuring topics and themes near and dear to the hearts of docents and staff. Free with membership or admission.

French Language Tour with Dr. Frank Martin
Sunday, November 24 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Join the CMA’s resident Francophile, Dr. Frank Martin, for a French-language tour of French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950. Accompany Martin through each gallery as he highlights the exhibition’s themes: landscape, the nude, still life, and portraits and models. Please note that this tour will be conducted in French without any translation. If you prefer a tour in English, there are many to choose from! Check out the CMA’s public tours, offered on a regular basis. Free with membership or admission.

Dr. Frank C. Martin, II serves as visiting associate professor of art history and art theory at South Carolina State University and is the retired director of The I.P. Stanback Museum & Planetarium, located on the campus of the university. A graduate of Yale University and the City University of New York, Hunter College, with additional study in contemporary art and art theory at the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University, Martin holds a Ph.D. in philosophy with a specialization in axiology and the history of aesthetics from the University of South Carolina. A former lecturer and associate manager of the Office of Education Services for the Uris Education Center of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Martin has served as an academic advisor for the PBS documentary Shared History and has worked as a contributing critic in the fine arts for Charleston’s The Post and Courier. Martin is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (Association Internationale des Critiques d’Art) based in Paris.