Horse Around Aiken Treasure Hunt
No cost – stop by to get your map

In 2004, Aiken Center for the Arts asked local artists to create 32 horses for a project entitled Horseplay. These horses were auctioned off and the money raised supported the completion of our second floor classrooms as
well as 20 years of scholarships.

Join us as we continue to celebrate horseplay through the nine original horses, created by local artists and situated in historic sites throughout downtown Aiken. Your amazing treasure hunt begins and ends at Aiken
Center for the Arts at 122 Laurens St. SW.

 

Exhibition Opening – Feb. 13, 2025, 6:00-8:00pm
Exhibition runs Feb. 13, 2025 – March 20, 2025
Main Gallery | “Spirit of America” presented by SC members of the Portrait Society of America
Aiken Artist Guild Gallery | Anne Archert and Susan Pickett
Brooks Gallery {upstairs} | Mead Hall Epsicopal School

Step into the “Spirit of America” This exhibit embodies the diverse essence of the nation. From sweeping landscapes that capture the natural beauty of our country to vibrant figurative work. This collection celebrates the myriad facets of American identity. Visitors will find themselves immersed in a visual narrative that honors the finest of fine art in our country.

 

¡Presente! Celebrating International Women’s Day through Art, Legacies, and Stories
March 6, 6:00-7:00pm No cost

Dr. Ángel M. Rañales will present the work of Verónica Castillo, based
in San Antonio, and her work at the National Museum of the American
Latino in DC, which consists of a 3D exhibition named The Tree of Life.
Dr. Rañales is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Languages,
Literatures, and Cultures at USC Aiken. He teaches courses about art
and literature of the Spanish-speaking world and specializes in medieval
and early-modern Iberian cultures.

Premiere Screening and Reception
“To Have a Name Worth Owning: Aiken’s James Mathewes Legaré”
Produced and Directed by George Wingard
March 11, 6:00-7:30pm No cost

The evening will begin with remarks by Dr. Tom Mack, followed by the premeire
viewing of “To Have a Name Worth Owning: Aiken’s James Mathewes Legaré”
produced and directed by George Wingard.
Wingard is the Program Coordinator at Savannah River Archaeological Research
Program and South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology University
of South Carolina. Audience will be invited to ask questions after the showing and
celebrate this new documentary with a glass of wine.

Exhibition Opening – March 27, 6:00-8:00pm, no cost
Exhibition runs March 27 – May 1
Main Gallery | Upcountry Fiber Artists present “The
Tomato of Time”

“The Tomato of Time” is a textile exhibit by Upcountry Fiber Artists. As a group-challenge to practice the Pomodoro
Technique (working steadily in 25-minute increments, with 5 minute rest periods in between – developed by Francesco
Cirillo in the late 1980’s. Cirillo used a “pomodoro” timer. Pomodoro means tomato in Italian), each artist designed and
created a 12×12 art quilt inspired by the phrase “Tomato of Time”. We found we tended to approach concepts of time
in unique ways, reflecting our diverse styles of art. This was the starting point for artistic reflections on the meaning
of time. From interpretations of the tomato-shaped timer itself, we delved into examinations of the past, the present,
and the future. This resulted in everything from nostalgic looks backward to representations of how clocks rule our
lives, from the promise embedded in a tiny seed to the natural world’s transformations across seasons over time.