Columbia Museum of Art October 2024 exhibitions and events calendar

EXHIBITIONS

• French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950
  • 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 organized by Lisa Small, Senior Curator of European Art, and Richard Aste, former Curator of European Art, Brooklyn Museum. It is presented through the support of our generous sponsors and grantors. Silver Sponsors: Mrs. Joyce Martin Hill; First Citizens Bank. Bronze Sponsors: Dr. Gail M. Morrison; Barbara B. Boyd. Contributing Sponsors: Joseph Bruce; Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough; Dr. Suzanne R. Thorpe and Dr. John W. Baynes. Friend Sponsors: Ginny Newell; John and Mary Kessler; Walda C. Wildman; Metro Wines Asheville; Linda and Michael Edwards. 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.

• Touch Tours
  • Touch Tours provide an opportunity for visitors who are blind or have low vision to experience the diverse 3D 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.
  • Touch 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].

• Morning Blend: A Jazz, Soul, and Coffee Series
  • Wednesdays, October 2, 9, 16, and 23 | 7:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  • The popular Morning Blend returns! Stop by Boyd Plaza and add variety to your morning routine with this program series from our friends at Curiosity Coffee Bar. Relax with jazz from Nicholas Vlandis and a lineup of rotating musicians along with soul, funk, and R&B DJ sets from Preach Jacobs highlighting a different theme each week. Enjoy Curiosity’s coffee, tea, and vegan breakfast options and a Drake’s Duck-In popup with options including their famous chicken biscuits. Free to attend. Food and drink for purchase. Generous support provided by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation.

• Gladys’ Gang Toddler Edition: Leave Your Mark
  • Wednesday, October 2 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
  • Leaves provide food for plants, shade for us, and beautiful views in autumn. Join us as we learn more about the shapes, colors, and sizes of these plants in art and beyond. Key topic: plants. This program is specially designed for 2- to 3-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through movement and play. Gladys’ Gang includes story time, gallery exploration, and a creative studio activity related to the art exploration theme. Free. Siblings welcome. Registration required for all participants as space is limited.

• Public Tour: Carolina in the Collection
  • Thursday, October 3 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Discover the rich artistic tapestry of South Carolina. See works by artists in our state and treasures that once adorned local homes. Learn about the Charleston Renaissance, Catawba pottery, and artists right here in Columbia while you explore works by Osamu Kobayashi, Richard Samuel Roberts, Edmund Yaghjian, and more. Free with membership or admission.

• French Moderns Preview Party
  • Friday, October 4 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | VIP access at 5:30 p.m.
  • Party-vous français? Celebrate some of the most beloved French artists in an evening where the conversation sparkles as much as the champagne, and be the first to experience this beautiful exhibition highlighting a century of creativity in Paris.
  • Savor plein air and the open air of a lovely October evening with an enchanting garden party where nature bursts forth from the canvases and surrounds you beneath the stars. It’s a time to immerse yourself in the art that redefined an era.
  • Wear your favorite très chic cocktail attire to fête this remarkable exhibition before it opens to the public. Dance to the timeless music of Flat-Out Strangers and enjoy catering by City Grit. We hope that you’ll keep the party going well into the evening by enjoying the restaurants and nightlife of the city.
  • French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850–1950 showcases over 50 works featuring key avant-garde movements including Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism by iconic artists such as Cézanne, Degas, Matisse, and Monet.
  • $100 / $75 for members (includes two drink tickets and a selection of appetizers). VIP: $150 / $125 for members (includes priority access at 5:30 p.m. and an open bar). Tickets open to the public on Friday, September 6. Your ticket purchase not only grants you exclusive early access to this stunning exhibition but also supports the mission of the Columbia Museum of Art. Every contribution helps us continue to bring exceptional exhibitions to life and foster a vibrant arts community.
  • Support for the Preview Party provided by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

• Meditation Mondays
  • Mondays, October 7, 14, 21, and 28 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Begin your week with a restorative yoga and meditation session on Boyd Plaza. Guests are guided through 20 minutes of beginner-friendly yoga followed by a meditation session by Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell. The evening concludes with a journaling activity that encourages mindfulness and connection. Mats and journals provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own mats and yoga props. Ages 13 and up. No unaccompanied minors. Free. Registration required as space is limited.
  • Crovatt-Bagwell completed her Rolf Gates Affiliate 200hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in 2017. Her favorite place to meditate is sitting on a river rock with her dog and a watercolor set at her side. Session takes place outside; in the event of heavy rain, the program will be canceled. A grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation supported this project.

• Evening Yoga on Boyd Plaza
  • Wednesdays, October 9, 16, 23, and 30 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Join Juliet Hewitt, E-RYT 500 and yoga program manager for Corazon Holistic Health on Main Street, for a yoga class designed for beginners as well as seasoned practitioners who want to refine their practice. This class focuses on teaching the shapes and general alignment of basic yoga poses along with variations of sun salutations. Breathwork and meditation round out this fun after-work practice. Ages 13 and up. No unaccompanied minors. Mats and blocks provided, but guests are welcome to bring their own. Free. Registration required as space is limited. 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.

• Lunchtime Folk Music Series
  • Fridays, October 11, 18, and 25, and November 1 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Head to Boyd Plaza for a 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. 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.
    • October 11 — The Water Kickers / The Runout with food from Heaven’s Cuisine
    • October 18 — Admiral Radio / Branhan Lowther with food from Venezuelan Good Food
    • October 25 — The Post-Timey String Band / The Sound of Joy Band with food from Tacos Oink Oink
    • November 1 — Saul Seibert / Zach Seibert with food from The Wurst Wagen

• Public Tour: French Moderns
  • Sunday, October 13 | 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.

• Plein Air on Boyd Plaza
  • Tuesday, October 15 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Pencil in some time in your day to create art in the fresh air. These drop-in drawing and painting sessions on Boyd Plaza are led by About Face, an artmaking group that focuses on portraits and the human figure. All skill levels are welcomed. Free. Ages 13 and up. No unaccompanied minors. Some supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own easels and other materials. 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.

• Gladys’ Gang Preschool Edition: Leave Your Mark
  • Wednesday, October 16 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
  • Leaves provide food for plants, shade for us, and beautiful views in autumn. Join us as we learn more about the shapes, colors, and sizes of these plants in art and beyond. Key topic: plants. This program is specially designed for 4- to 5-year-old participants and their adult companions to explore art through play and inquiry. Gladys’ Gang builds skills for kindergarten readiness through story time, gallery conversations, and a creative studio project related to the art exploration theme. Free. Siblings welcome. Registration required for all participants as space is limited.

• Focal Points Tour: Pigments and Palette
  • Thursday, October 17 | 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Docent Maureen Randall devotes a tour to the pivotal role that color theory — how and why we perceive color as we do — has played in art, culture, and industry over time. Come explore the history, science, and application of pigments within the CMA Collection. Not all blues are created equal. 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.

• Tai Chi on Boyd Plaza
  • Friday, October 18 | 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: Intuitive Painting 101
  • Saturday October 19 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Explore the meditative process of painting. Students experiment with paint in a creative environment while taking inspiration from French Moderns and the CMA Collection. Taught by local art educator 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 included. $90 / $72 for members.

• Stroller Tour: French Moderns
  • Saturday, October 19 | 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.

• Baker & Baker presents Modern Movements: Echoes of a Revolution
  • Tuesday, October 22 | Galleries and bar open at 5:00 p.m. | Concert 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Celebrate French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 with a live vocal and chamber music performance inspired by the exhibition. Modern Movements showcases a range of French composers spanning the same period — Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré, Nadia Boulanger, Francis Poulenc, and others — many of whom were closely associated with artists in the exhibition and part of the same currents circulating in French art and culture at the time. This special presentation features tenor Dominic Armstrong, cellist Claire Bryant, pianist Phillip Bush, mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway, pianist Lynn Kompass, and flutist Jennifer Parker-Harley. $28 / $18 for members.

• Read With Art: Silent Book Club at the CMA
  • Thursday, October 24 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Silent Reading Hour 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
  • Join Jemia Williams, avid reader and Columbia’s Silent Book Club official host, for an evening celebrating literature and art in the lovely fall air on Boyd Plaza. Whether you’re seeking solitude for quiet reflection or eager to connect with fellow bookworms, this event offers a welcoming space to come together and share your love for the written word. There is no assigned reading — simply bring along your current book and enjoy reading in the museum with art. Take the first half hour to settle in with light refreshments and then spend the next hour in silent reading. During the last half hour, attendees are welcome to continue reading, explore the galleries, socialize, or take a look at some CMA staff picks to find a new read connected to the visual arts. Free. Registration required as space is limited. Gallery admission included. Generous support provided by a grant from the Knight Foundation Fund at Central Carolina Community Foundation.

• French Moderns Curator Lecture
  • Sunday, October 27 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
  • Join us for a celebration of French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850 – 1950 as Lisa Small, senior curator of European art at the Brooklyn Museum and French Moderns co-curator, discusses the transformations in subject, style, and patronage that defined the key modern art movements emerging in and around 19th- and early 20th-century Paris. Free with membership or admission.
  • Lisa Small was appointed senior curator of European art in 2017 after joining the Brooklyn Museum in 2011 as curator of exhibitions. At the museum, she has curated or co-curated the exhibitions It’s Pablomatic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby (2023); Jacques-Louis David Meets Kehinde Wiley (2020); Rembrandt to Picasso: Five Centuries of European Works on Paper (2019); The Brooklyn Della Robbia (2018–present); Rodin: The Body in Bronze (2017); Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe (2014); and the touring exhibition French Moderns: Monet to Matisse, 1850–1950 (2017–21, 2023–26).
  • She served as a coordinating curator for Brooklyn’s presentations of Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving (2019), Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern (2017), The Rise of Sneaker Culture (2015), The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk (2013), and Jean-Michel Othoniel: My Way (2012). Small has also overseen numerous installations of the museum’s European art collection, including most recently Monet to Morisot: The Real and Imagined in European Art (2022–23). In previous curatorial positions at the American Federation of Arts and the Dahesh Museum, she organized exhibitions including Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection; Gods and Heroes: Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts; Napoleon on the Nile: Soldiers, Artists, and the Rediscovery of Egypt; and Fantasy & Faith: The Art of Gustave Doré.

• Public Tour: Cornerstones of the Collection
  • Sunday, October 27 | 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
  • From corner to corner, see key works in the CMA Collection from around the globe and from ancient to modern. This tour includes gems by artists like Renée Cox, Andy Warhol, and Sandro Botticelli, along with the first piece ever purchased by the CMA. Free with membership or admission.