The community is invited to join Lander University and the Arts Center of Greenwood for the first installment of the 2023-24 Community Lecture Series featuring Lander Professor of Art Doug McAbee. This lively lecture on “The Art of Play” will be held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m. at the Arts Center of Greenwood, and the event is free and open to the public.

Fred Rogers once said, “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning.” Engaging with a healthy sense of play allows the brain to let go of exterior expectations and run free. This lecture will explore the ways in which elements of “play” and “fun” aid in creative thought, strategic planning and concept development. Professor Doug McAbee will discuss how he embraces playfulness and harnesses its creative power in the production of drawings, sculptures and immersive installations.

Doug McAbee is a professor of art at Lander University and an active artist. He earned a B.A. in Art and an M.F.A. at Winthrop University. Professor McAbee learned to weld when he was only seven years old and his creative research focuses on indoor and outdoor steel sculptures and contemporary drawing. He exhibits his artwork frequently throughout the country. He was also raised by wolves.

Please visit www.lander.edu/events for updates and to confirm event times and venues. For questions, please contact Interim Assistant Provost Dr. Mark Rollins at 864-388-8563 or [email protected].