Good News: Exhibit to highlight Fraser’s geographic batiks

Image is part of “Flying North,” by Mary Edna Fraser.

Above, Between, Below is a new exhibit featuring batiks on silk by Charleston artist Mary Edna Fraser that will be on display March 21 to May 3 at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park.

According to a press release, “Above, Between, Below is an ambitious exhibition of work by Lowcountry artist Fraser, depicting—through her signature batiks on silk—breathtaking perspectives on space, earth and deep sea. Developed with leading scientists in the fields of planetary science, coastal geology, and oceanography, Above, Between, Below bridges cutting-edge science and the living, ancient art of batik—a technique of hand-dyeing fabrics by using wax as a dye repellent to cover parts of a design, dyeing the uncovered fabric, and dissolving the wax in boiling water—to afford a vantage point the human eye and traditional cameras cannot reveal.” More. 

More Good News:

Hats off to IOP. A big thanks to Isle of Palms town leaders for unanimously passing a resolution last week opposing offshore drilling and seismic airgun blasting off the South Carolina coast, says the international advocacy organization Oceana. “This is no longer just a debate over the risks and benefits of seismic airguns,” said organizer Samantha Seigel. “It’s a fight to protect the East Coast and the marine life, people and communities that call it home.”

100 years of the Navy Reserve. The City of North Charleston, the Navy League of Charleston and others will present a celebration of the Navy Reserve’s 100 years of service from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. March 7 at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. There will be tours of the USS Shamal, a Cyclone-class patrol ship, speakers, history panels, bands, fireworks and more — including a Naval Reserve flyover. More.

Passing. A somber moment for The Citadel, which lost its retired bulldog mascot, General Thomas Curtis Metsker, on Feb. 26. Born in 2003, he served the college for 11 years. “General” was named, in part, for Capt. Thomas Curtis Metsker, who graduated from The Citadel in 1961. During the Vietnam War, he was in the battalion that led the first search-and-destroy mission to be conducted using airmobile (helicopter) warfare tactics. Metsker, who was wounded in the shoulder, was shot and killed when he gave up his seat on a helicopter to another soldier who was more seriously wounded, according to The Citadel. A memorial to past mascots of The Citadel will be dedicated 11 a.m. March 14 at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

New academy. The Footlight Players has added the Footlight Dramatic Academy to train a new generation of actors and theatre-goers with classes and workshops for ages 5 to 18. The first play it will produce is “Miss Nelson is Missing” on March 21-22. Ticket prices and more info.