GOOD NEWS: World-renowned artist paints vibrant mural at Dart Library

(Kuszyk, right, works on the mural.  Photo by Michael Kaynard.)

Artist and author Nick Kuszyk, also known as “R. Robots,” painted a colorful mural on an exterior wall of the John L. Dart Branch Library last week to honor Cynthia Graham Hurd, a 31-year employee of Charleston County Public Library and one of nine victims shot last year at Emanuel AME Church.

Kuszyk, a New York artist who has painted large public art projects in Berlin, Prague, London, Tel Aviv and throughout the United States is also author of the 2003 children’s book, R Robot Saves Lunch. Kuszyk graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in painting and sculpture.

Kuszyk told Charleston Currents that he felt called to do a public painting in Charleston, partly because he frequently visited relatives in the area as a child.

Hurd was branch manager at the Dart branch for 21 years before serving as branch manager of the St. Andrews Regional Library. The mural was being partially funded by a donation from Winston & Strawn LLP to the Cynthia Graham Hurd Memorial Fund, which was established at Charleston County Public Library by the Graham-Hurd families to promote outreach and educational programming at the two libraries she managed during her career.

The project is a collaboration between CCPL and Enough Pie, a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging and inspiring residents in Charleston’s Upper Peninsula. The organization identified the talented muralist and street artist to be part of the project.

CCPL Acting Executive Director Cynthia Bledsoe praised Enough Pie plus the many other donors and organizations committed to seeing that Hurd’s legacy continues.

“Cynthia grew up and lived just blocks from the Dart Library, and she helped thousands of people during her years there. This bright, bold mural will be a daily reminder of Cynthia and all the lives she touched,” she said.

In other good news:

Riley, Robinsons to be honored. Former longtime Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley and Charleston theater veterans Patricia and Emmett Robinson are the inaugural honorees of the Anthony Aston Honor established by The Footlight Players. Riley along with the Robinsons (posthumous award) will be recognized at the first Anthony Aston Gala on Tuesday, May 17 at Hibernian Hall, 105 Meeting St. in Charleston. The Footlight Players board of directors voted in 2015 to create this award to recognize individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to the arts or cultural life of Charleston. The award is named for Anthony Aston, a British actor, playwright and poet, who landed in Charles Towne in 1702 after being shipwrecked on the Carolina coast near Port Royal. In 1703, Aston wrote and performed “The Country,” thought to be the first play ever produced in America. Tickets are on sale for the Aston Gala at www.footlightplayers.net.

Earth Day contest. Charleston County environmental officials are encouraging students from kindergarten to 12^th grade to enter artwork in its Earth Day 2016 contest. This year’s theme: Be Earth Smart. Artwork is due 4 p.m. March 18. The county’s 17^th annual Earth Day Festival is to be April 23 at Riverfront Park in North Charleston. Artwork entry form | More info/rules.

Edelman to speak March 1 at CofC. As an advocate for America’s children for over four decades, Marian Wright Edelman has led the call for the needs of poor children, children of color, and those with disabilities. At 6:30 p.m. March 1 at the College of Charleston’s Sottile Theatre, Edelman brings her advocacy to Charleston as the inaugural speaker for the college’s Race and Social Justice Initiative 2016 Event Series. Over the next year, the Race and Social Justice Initiative, sponsored by Google, will work with various community partners to host nationally known personalities, and to develop collaborative projects that address race and social justice in the Charleston area and throughout the nation.

Lots of winners. With more than 700 participants, 100 teams and several categories, there were lots of winners in the 2016 Storm the Citadel! Trebuchet competition that provided students with an opportunity to show off their science, technology, engineering and math skills:

Elementary: For Design, the St. Andrews School of Math and Science were 1st (pictured). Boulder Bluff Elementary for second, followed by LCHEA Launchers. For Spirit, first place went to Girl Scout Troop 352, followed by Murray LaSaine Elementary, and St. Andrews School of Math and Science.  For Accuracy, Heathwood Hall Team 5 earned the top slot, the St. Andrews School of Math and Science were 2nd with the Porter-Gaud Team 4 in 3rd.

Middle school: Thomas Cario Middle School won for Design. For Accuracy, DuBose Middle School won, Boy Scout Troop 759 were 2^nd, and Hartsville Home Educators for 3rd place.

High school: West Ashley High School had the top Design. For Accuracy, it was West Ashley High School in 1st, Boy Scout Troop 759 in 2nd and Clover High School was 3rd.  For Spirit, Stratford High School won for the third year running, followed by BSA Troop 759 for the second year in a row, and Timberland High School for 3rd.

College and adults: de GeeChees won with overall accuracy and The Citadel, ASME coming in second.  In the Barbarian Division, Google – Berkeley County won the destruction award, and Boeing- Charleston won the accuracy award.