The Johnson Collection is pleased to announce Dr. Tuliza Fleming, Curator of American Art at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), Smithsonian Institution, as the 2019 Voices in American Art distinguished speaker. The sixth annual edition of the educational series is scheduled for 7:00pm on Thursday, February 28, and will be held at Chapman Cultural Center in downtown Spartanburg. As always, the public is invited to attend the free lecture; no reservations are required.
Dr. Fleming received her MA and PhD in American art history from the University of Maryland, College Park (1997 and 2007) and her BA from Spelman College (1994). During her tenure at the NMAAHC, she worked to build the museum’s foundational American art collection, and supervised the creation of a collection-based multi-media interactive presentation. She also co-curated the traveling exhibition Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment, curated Clementine Hunter: Life on Melrose Plantation, and served as the lead curator for the museum’s inaugural exhibition Visual Art and the American Experience. Formerly, Dr. Fleming served in the position of Associate Curator and head of the Department of American Art at the Dayton Art Institute in Dayton, Ohio.

Since 1996, Dr. Fleming has curated over twenty exhibitions and worked and/or consulted for a variety of museums and cultural institutions. Her publications include, “Visual Art and the American Experience: Creating an Art Gallery in a History and Culture Museum,” Art and Public History: Approaches, Opportunities, and Challenges (Rowan and Littlefield, 2017); “Cover Stories: The Fusion of Art and Literature During the Harlem Renaissance,” Dream a World Anew: The African American Experience and the Shaping of America (Smithsonian Books, 2016); “The Convergence of Aesthetics, Politics and Culture: Jeff Donaldson’s Wives of Shango,” AfriCOBRA: Philosophy (The University of Chicago, 2013); “It’s Showtime! The Birth of the Apollo Theater,” Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment (Smithsonian Books, 2010); “The ‘Museum Baby’ Grows Up: Being a Curator of Color in a Monochromatic Art Museum World,” Museum News (July/August 2005); and, Breaking Racial Barriers: African American Portraits in the Harmon Foundation Collection (Pomegranate Press, 1997).

Established in 2014, Voices in American Art brings distinguished arts leaders from important national institutions to Spartanburg for annual presentations. In addition to an evening keynote lecture that is open to the public at no charge, visiting speakers meet with college students for informal master classes on career paths.

Join the Speaking Down Barriers team for the monthly book club Reading for Transformation: engage with readings that will guide us towards a holistic understanding of the transformation that must take place within ourselves and the world around us. We are working towards the dismantling of the barriers that continue to perpetuate violence, hate, and division. These various insights will broaden our perspective and lead us towards meaningful confrontation. You are welcome to grow with us.
For your convenience, the book club will meet at the Hub City Bookshop on 4th Mondays at two separate times: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM, 7:00 PM-8:00 PM. The Hub City Bookshop is located at 186 W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29306. Books can be purchased at discounted rates through Hub City Bookshop. Become a member of Hub City Bookshop and receive even more discounts!

2019 Reading List:

January: Children of the Days: A Human Calendar of History by Eduardo Galeano

February: My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma & the Mending of Our Bodies by Resmaa Menakem

March: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

April: Human Hours by Catherine Barnett

May: White Tears by Hari Kunzru

June: Rainbow In The Word: LGBTQ Christians’ Biblical Memoirs

July: No Book

August: Solace: Writing, Refuge, and LGBTQ Women of Color edited by S. Andrea Allen & Lauren Cherelle

September: Heavy by Kiese Laymon

October: Devotions by Mary Oliver

November: When I Grow Up I Want To Be a List of Further Possibilities by Chin Chin

A rib-tickling opera for all ages by John Davies featuring melodies by W.A Mozart.

The Black Jacket Symphony returns to the WPAC to perform Queen’s “A Night at the Opera”, featuring Marc Martel. “We always go to great lengths to find ‘the guy’ who can make these albums come to life” says Black Jacket Symphony founder J. Willoughby. “We’ve had our eye on this one for a while, and when we say we’ve found ‘the guy’ to do Freddie Mercury, we’ve found THE GUY!”. The Black Jacket Symphony offers a unique concert experience by recreating classic albums in a live performance setting with a first class lighting and video production. A selected album is performed in its entirety by a group of hand-picked musicians specifically selected for each album. With no sonic detail being overlooked, the musicians do whatever it takes to musically reproduce the album. Following the album and a brief intermission, the Black Jacket Symphony returns to the stage to perform a collection of greatest hits by the evening's artist.Sponsored In Part By: The City of Seneca

When    four    children    inadvertently    stumble    through    an    old wardrobe    into    the    fantastical    land    of    Narnia,    they    begin    a journey   of   excitement   and   fear   and   triumph,   fulfilling   ancient prophecies    and    upsetting    the    long-standing    balance    in    that magical   land   as   they   enter   into   the   on-going   struggle   between the   White   Witch   and   the   mysterious,   magical,   and   great   lion Aslan.   Temptation,   chases,   duels,   and   escapes   abound   in   this classic   battle   between   Good   and   Evil.   This   is   a   story   of   love, faith,   courage,   and   giving.   A   true   celebration   of   life.   A   story   for us all. Performances: March 15, 16, 17,  22, 23, 24,  2019 Friday & Saturday @ 7:30 PM; Sunday @ 3 PM  CAYT Shows are for actors aged 10 to 18 (5 th  to 12 th  grades) Tickets go on sale Monday, February 18, 2019

One of the most masterful voices in Country Music today, GENE WATSON still sings in the same key as 30 years ago and continues to prove why he is rightly referred to as “The Singer’s Singer”. His powerful voice and multi-octave range allows him to sing some of the most challenging songs with an ease that comes from pure, natural talent as well as from his many years performing onstage. “Every time I step out on that stage and see that audience, it’s a new beginning. Even though I’ve sung these songs millions of times, I look at each one like it’s brand new to me. Every night, I try to deliver that song the best that I can. “Being called a ‘Singer’s Singer’ humbles me.

Annual event- taste samples of beers from across the globe while visiting our amazing downtown merchants! Tickets are $25 and include a commemorative beer glass. Must be 21+, ID required.

Known by many South Carolinians as the “Party Band of the South”, the Swingin' Medallions have been based out of the Greenwood South Carolina area, since the early 1960's. The music most often associated with the band is beach music, frat rock, R&B, or shaggin' music. After a few years of touring colleges in the south, John McElrath took the group to Arthur Smith's Studio in Charlotte North Carolina, to record "Double Shot (of My Baby's Love)". The song became a million seller in 1966, they followed up with. "She Drives Me Out Of My Mind" & "Hey, Hey, Baby" which were top 40 hits as well. "Double Shot" remains the signature song of the Swingin' Medallions. Although the the members changed over the years, the band has always included around eight members with at least a four piece horn section. The high energy party style stage performance of the first Medallions has been passed down to the band that performs today.

Come experience the FREE STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Festival that transforms the streets of downtown Greenville into a world filled with extreme science shows, high speed drone races, 3D printers, virtual reality, robots and more!

It’s FREE and open to the public!

FREE rides on Greenlink buses all day!

Additional Information:
imagineupstate.org or
email info@imagineupstate.org

March First Friday Lunch
Don't miss a great speaker, lunch and networking!

Presenting Sponsor: Prisma Health Greer Memorial Hospital

Annual Sponsor: Countybank

Host Sponsor: City of Greer

Monthly Sponsor: Full Potential Development

When: Friday, March 1

Where: Greer City Hall

111 E. Poinsett Street

Time:  11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Cost: $10 for members, $15 for guests

Featuring Greg Boone, Look Up Lodge

Good food, great company and cold refreshments are all part of the Chamber's Oyster Roast, Shrimp Boil and Pig Pickin'. Don't miss the opportunity to mingle with fellow business leaders in an informal fun and casual setting. A portion of all proceeds from the event will benefit the Leadership Greer 39 class project "Path of a Champion"

Take advantage of free document shredding at three locations in the Upstate.
Better Business Bureau® of the Upstate & AARP® South Carolina are partnering together to host Secure Your ID "Shred Day," a national, semi-annual identity theft document shredding event designed to educate and deter consumers and small businesses from becoming victims of identity theft. The event features on-site shredding, electronic recycling, plus tips to protect identity. All proceeds from the event benefit Better Business Bureau Education Foundation.

AARP® and Better Business Bureau® Education Foundation (BBBEF) will be providing educational handouts to prevent consumers and businesses from becoming victims of identity theft.

Individuals and businesses can take advantage of FREE on-site document shredding, electronic recycling, and take home practical tips to prevent identity theft online and off.

Goodwill on-site accepting old desktop computers, laptops, monitors and printers. Before reselling, hard drives are wiped clean to the standards of the US Department of Defense.

Maximum number of boxes and plastic bags per consumer, business and vehicle is 3. Cardboard boxes will be emptied and returned to consumers. Due to safety concerns and to ensure that we are able to serve as many vehicles as possible, we are unable to accept people on foot this year or allow people to get out of their vehicle to watch their paper shredded. The complimentary shred event is first come, first serve or until the shred trucks fill up, so coming early is advised.

For more information about Shred Day, contact the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate at (864) 242-5052.

Better Business Bureau® of the Upstate & AARP® South Carolina are partnering together to host Secure Your ID "Shred Day," a national, semi-annual identity theft document shredding event designed to educate and deter consumers and small businesses from becoming victims of identity theft. The event features on-site shredding, electronic recycling, plus tips to protect identity. All proceeds from the event benefit Better Business Bureau Education Foundation.
AARP® and Better Business Bureau® Education Foundation (BBBEF) will be providing educational handouts to prevent consumers and businesses from becoming victims of identity theft.

Individuals and businesses can take advantage of FREE on-site document shredding, electronic recycling, and take home practical tips to prevent identity theft online and off.

Goodwill on-site accepting old desktop computers, laptops, monitors and printers. Before reselling, hard drives are wiped clean to the standards of the US Department of Defense.

Maximum number of boxes and plastic bags per consumer, business and vehicle is 3. Cardboard boxes will be emptied and returned to consumers. Due to safety concerns and to ensure that we are able to serve as many vehicles as possible, we are unable to accept people on foot this year or allow people to get out of their vehicle to watch their paper shredded. The complimentary shred event is first come, first serve or until the shred trucks fill up, so coming early is advised.

For more information about Shred Day, contact the Better Business Bureau of the Upstate at (864) 242-5052.

Come join us for live music by Mac Arnold and opening act Wanda Johnson. Stroll through the craft market while enjoying the music. We will also have cold beverages, food trucks and kids entertainment.