Characterized by falling leaves and baskets full of food, autumn is at once symbolic of harvest and abundance, and at the same time, a symbol of decay and death.

The vibrant lineup of the arts calendar before us shows Charleston artists are, like the fall season, handling great nuance.

Theater productions like the Charleston Gaillard Center’s Finding Freedom will provide an intimate look into the humanity of a hero, while visual art offerings like La Vaughn Belle’s When the Land Meets the Body at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art reckon with colonization and its effects on both an individual and collective scale.

The Halsey Institute of Art features a diverse range of contemporary art exhibitions, showcasing both established and emerging artists, including students of the college.

In addition to captivating exhibitions, you can also partake in lectures, workshops, and artist talks at the Halsey Institute of Art.

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, Charleston, SC’s destination for adventurous contemporary art, is celebrating its newest exhibition La Vaughn Belle: When the Land Meets the Body, on display August 25-December 9, with an array of events open to the public.

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will host a new display by renowned artist La Vaughn Belle called “When the Land Meets the Body,” beginning Friday, Aug. 25, through Saturday, Dec. 9. To celebrate the new exhibition, there will also be various events for the community to enjoy.

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts has announced When the Land Meets the Body by renowned artist La Vaughn Belle, on display beginning August 25 until December 9.

In this exhibition, multidisciplinary artist La Vaughn Belle seeks to explore the relationship of history, land, and the bodies between them, and considers that who we are is a product of historical processes that are often represented in the landscape. When the Land Meets the Body will present a selection of existing and new works inspired by the Lowcountry landscape.

The College of Charleston is excited to introduce some of its newest staff members to campus. From making clothes to making electric guitars, from playing Dungeons & Dragons to playing the trombone: They may have a wide variety of interests, but these new employees all share an enthusiasm for joining the Cougar family. Please extend a warm welcome to them all!

Annex Dance Company is providing audiences an opportunity to imagine digital spaces in new ways with “V3: A Dance Installation” by creating a fourth dimension through movement. The show takes place in the same space where contemporary museum-goers can immerse themselves in artist Carla Gannis’ artificial intelligence universe through virtual reality goggles and other multimedia works. 

New York City-based artist and educator Carla Gannis brings a physical manifestation of her ongoing virtual project to the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. 

This exhibition, called wwwunderkammer, can be explored through social virtual reality (VR), a simulated 3D world also called a metaverse. Visitors at the Halsey can experience Gannis’ metaverse using VR headsets in the gallery space and participate as their own avatars. Alongside the digital work, Gannis will show physical sculptures, videos and what she called “augmented reality experiences,” where static objects in the gallery come to life through animations. 

Following the film premiere, the company will present a dance installation within the Carla Gannis / C.A.R.L.A. G.A.N.: wwwunderkammer exhibit at the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of the Arts on June 1 at 5:30pm, June 2 at 11:30am, and June 8 at 6:30pm. The culmination of the annual residency with the College of Charleston Department of Theatre and Dance as part of the Stelle di Domani Series, this site-specific piece is created and performed by students and company members. Admission is free.

Most of us know what the magical month of May means in Charleston. But for the newly initiated, it’s all about the art. Beyond the festival performances, the visual arts scene is always vivid, and this year is alive with color and texture.

We know the first glimpses of festival season. Spoleto Festival USA banners begin to top off street lamps. Piccolo productions are touted around town. Some particularly inspired locals festoon storefronts with creative displays. Then there are all those artists. They begin to stream in from near and far, next-leveling the people-watching for weeks ahead.

The time of year is also ideal for going local by supporting the city’s homegrown museums, galleries and artists, and engaging with the novel ways they consider our world today.