Charleston Currents #13.14 | Feb. 15, 2021
Safe Sounds is back. The High Divers will perform May 15 as part of the third series of the Safe Sounds concerts at Firefly Distillery. Check out the lineup in News Briefs below. Photo via Charleston City Paper.
FOCUS: Wentworth, Singleton receive top state arts honors
COMMENTARY, Brack: Return to government dullness lessens national anxiety
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
NEWS BRIEFS: Safe Sounds series returns to Firefly 15 shows starting March 19
FEEDBACK: Responding to recent column on Santee Cooper
MYSTERY PHOTO: A real tough one to identify
CALENDAR: Auction, museum hours, wild run, more
Wentworth, Singleton receive top state arts honors
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | Former S.C. Poet Laureate Marjory Wentworth of Mount Pleasant and Grammy Award-winning trumpet player Charlton Singleton of Charleston have received the state’s highest award for 2021 for arts achievement from the S.C. Arts Commission.
““It means a lot to me that Charlton and I are getting this honor at the same time,” Wentworth said today about the S.C. Governor’s Awards for the Arts. “We used to teach together at [Charleston County] School of the Arts. We’ve improved together. It’s been so much fun to watch his trajectory. Because he got it too, It just means so much more. It’s just sweeter.”
Singleton received the award for Artist of the Year, while Wentworth received a special award.
Singleton, considered the modern face of jazz in the Lowcountry, received a Grammy Award in 2020 for his part in the band Ranky Tanky, a quintet that interprets the sounds of Gullah culture. The inaugural artist-in-residence at the renovated Gaillard Center in Charleston, Singleton studied organ, violin, cello and trumpet throughout childhood and adolescence and earned a music performance degree from South Carolina State University. Since then, he’s taught music at every level from elementary school through college. In addition to Ranky Tanky, he has his own touring ensemble, is artistic director and conductor of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra, is organist and choir director of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Charleston.
Wentworth, who stepped down as poet laureate last year after serving since 2003, is The New York Times bestselling co-author of Out of Wonder, Poems Celebrating Poets and author of prize-winning children’s story Shackles. Her lengthy list of published titles includes several of her own poetry books, additional co-authored titles, and she is co-editor, with Kwame Dawes, of Seeking: Poetry and Prose Inspired by the Art of Jonathan Green. Following the Emanuel AME Church massacre in Charleston, she co-wrote We Are Charleston with writer Herb Frazier and historian Bernard Powers. Currently, she is teaching courses in writing, social justice and banned books at the College of Charleston.
Others honored with the Sunday announcement included : The late Furman University professor and artist Tom Flowers of Greenville (lifetime achievement, posthumous); arts manager Jennifer Clark Evins of Spartanburg (individual); Dr. Tayloe Harding of Columbia, a composer and former dean of the University of South Carolina School of Music (arts in education); Colonial Life of Columbia (business); and ColaJazz Foundation of Columbia (organization).
“With the Governor’s Award, we celebrate achievement and thank these accomplished recipients for enriching life and culture here in South Carolina. Recipients always represent the best of South Carolina,” said S.C. Arts Commission Chairwoman Dee Crawford in a press release. “They are talented, successful, and dedicated. They exemplify giving of themselves to ensure everyone who wants to can benefit from access to the arts.”
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Return to government dullness lessens national anxiety
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The relative quiet on social media over the last month has been so loud that it’s still a shock.
Ever since Twitter cut off former President Donald Trump’s daily outlet of rage, there’s been a noticeable chilling of fractiousness in the country. Add to that a new president who is taking bold action on several long-ignored fronts and we find an America that is turning its back on constant confrontation and the politics of petty personalism.
The nation feels less electric and more stable. It’s as if someone finally pushed a button on a red-white-and-blue pressure valve to relieve pent-up anxiety, frustration, steam and worry. Instead of headlines bouncing from scandal to walls to swamps to personal attacks, governing is returning, warts and all, to elected officials who are trying, albeit imperfectly, to fix problems.
It kind of feels good to have adults in charge, doesn’t it? It’s refreshing to feel the return of the grind of government. Everything’s still not hunky dory with America’s political culture, but the crisp, refreshing scent of change to normalcy is in the air.
Regardless of your political party or whether you like or support Trump, you’ve got to admit that the country’s temperature has fallen. A month after the shock of a violent insurrectionist mob that tried to topple the U.S. Capitol, the country is harkening to being a more civil union of states in the heady days of Bush or Obama presidencies. Just look at the changes across society since Trump’s skulk away from Washington:
- News reporting, obsessed for more than four years by constant barrages of insults and pettiness emanating from the White House, is less brooding. Sure, there’s still conflict, but there’s been a return of civility and process over outrage and destruction.
- Anxiety among Americans fatigued by a coronavirus pandemic not taken seriously by the previous administration is ebbing as vaccinations are on the rise and there’s finally a real pathway toward full vaccination by the summer.
- Your social media feeds likely aren’t blowing up as much with negativity. Instead, they’ve become more of the community connectors they were intended to be.
None of this relatively swift flip means the undercurrents of our democracy are again strong. Things are still fragile, held together by Republicans and Democrats tenderly putting one foot in front of the other after four years of stalking, pounding and heavy marching.
In South Carolina, the Trump wing of the Republican Party continues to grip power. But something’s happening, there too.
First, there are fissures in the Trump wing as Gov. Henry McMaster is not-so-subtly being challenged on his leadership by Greenville businessman John Warren, who has set up a political action committee. Its first real political effort was to raise Cain about “liberal judges” in a return to the playbook of using political division and fear to garner support. Meanwhile, McMaster recently turned on his online political network to push a position to vaccinate seniors ahead of teachers in what seemed like obvious pandering to shore up part of his political base.
And second, not all Republicans are following the instructions of the GOP politburo in Columbia. You can see it in U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace’s comments after the Jan. 6 insurrection. You can see it in the vote to impeach Trump by U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, which garnered a censure by the state party. Both members of Congress are showing streaks of independence that put country over party
At the Statehouse, Republicans are moving with renewed vigor to pass long-sought abortion bans and to get legislation that would allow the open carry of handguns. At a time when the country is starting to chill, they’re pressing advantages at home as a sleepy public isn’t paying much attention.
“I dare say among S.C. Republicans, the fear of Democrats is greater than the fear of the mob that showed up at the Capitol on Jan. 6,” observed Furman University political scientist Danielle Vinson.
Perhaps what they’re really afraid of is that state Democrats might sometime get their mess together and become a real party of opposition as occurred in neighboring Georgia after 10 years of organizing, planning and working hard. We shall see.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Charleston Currents, and publisher of the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Charleston Gaillard Center
Charleston Gaillard Center provides the Lowcountry with a world-class performance hall, elegant venue space and vibrant educational opportunities that inspire dynamic community throughout the area through the power of the performing arts. The Center’s vision is to enrich the diverse community of Charleston with artistic and cultural experiences that are accessible and unique, and to serve as an educational resource for generations to come.
Did you know that the Charleston Gaillard Center is a 501c3 non-profit that works with over 25,000 students each year from the tri-county area? Promoting education is one of the core values of the Charleston Gaillard Center and an integral part of our mission. By broadening the reach of arts-education in the Lowcountry the Gaillard Center encourages learning through the arts and serves as a powerful tool for student achievement and personal development while providing people of all ages with the opportunity to cultivate and grow their talents and appreciation for the arts. To learn more about our education initiative, click here: www.gaillardcenter.org/outreach.
For more information, click the links below:
- Buy tickets and see our great events
- Become a member today
- Plan your event at the Charleston Gaillard Center
- Learn about our education and community programs
- Contact the Gaillard Center.
- To meet all of our underwriters, click here.
Safe Sounds returns with 15 shows starting March 19
Firefly Distillery in North Charleston again will host the Safe Sounds series. Photo via Charleston City Paper.
Staff reports | Firefly Distillery last week announced the third installment of its social-distanced Safe Sounds series. The 15 spring and summer concerts will begin March 19 with a performance by Sam Bush.
The season of Safe Sounds will feature cover bands and original artists from the local and national circuits. Here’s the full schedule:
- Friday, March 19 – Sam Bush
- Saturday, April 17 – 20 Ride: “America’s No. 1 Zac Brown tribute band”
- Saturday, April 24 – Randall Fowler with special guest
- Sunday, April 25 – The Allman Betts Band
- Saturday, May 1 – On the Border – “The ultimate Eagles tribute Band”
- Saturday, May 8 – Runaway Gin
- Thursday, May 13 – TBD
- Saturday, May 15 – The High Divers with She Returns from War
- Thursday, May 20 – Jimmie Allen
- Saturday, May 22 – The Reckoning
- Saturday, May 29 – Idlewild Revival – A tribute to The Allman Brothers
- Saturday, June 5 – Motown Throwdown
- Saturday, June 12 – Night Moves with Taylor Hicks, A tribute to Bob Seger
- Saturday, June 19 – Elise Testone & BlackNoyze and special guest Brandon “Taz” Niederauer
- Saturday, June 26 – The Midnight City Band
Capacity for Safe Sounds is limited due to COVID-19 safety guidelines. The concert series, sponsored by REV Federal Credit Union, takes place in the open field next to Firefly’s Park Circle-area distillery.
- Head over to citypapertickets.com to secure a spot. Tickets are available now. (Editor’s note: City Paper Tickets, which run by sister publication Charleston City Paper, is operating ticketing for Safe Sounds.)
In other recent news:
Literacy awards. The Trident Literacy Association on Friday announced eight honorees of its 2021 Founder’s Award Honorees. In lieu of the traditional celebratory luncheon, it will host a series of Founder’s Award virtual events on Thursdays in March where honorees will receive their awards and discuss women’s roles in our community. This year’s honorees are Julie Armstrong, Charleston County Clerk of Court; LaVanda Brown, executive director, YWCA Charleston; Susan Dunn, legal director, ACLU SC; Sue Hanshaw, CEO and chairman emeritus Tricounty Family Ministries; Linda Ketner, organizational consultant and donor activist; Harriet P. McDougal, editor, philanthropist, and author; Nilsy Rapalo, life coach and author; and Nina Cano Richards, attorney and immigration rights advocate. More info: www.tridentlit.org/events.
Nation’s leader in new cases. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) last week reported that South Carolina’s average of 62 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 tests over the last seven days was the highest of any state in the nation. As of Friday, Arkansas reported the second highest with 45 new cases per 100,000 tests, followed by Kentucky with 43.2.
State Senate may be last hurdle to open carry gun bill. Opponents of a measure that would allow handgun owners to carry their weapons in the open are relying on the state Senate to stop it in its tracks, according to Statehouse Report. But the bill’s sponsor says an enlarged Republican majority in the state Senate may push the proposal toward ultimate passage after it gets through the S.C. House. Critics say the bill isn’t needed and has no general public benefit because there’s already a state process for citizens to carry concealed guns if they have required training.
Abortion bill on track. It looks like the so-called “heartbeat bill” that would essentially ban all abortions is on track to pass the S.C. Earlier in the legislative session, it passed the state Senate, which has been its stumbling block in past years.
Searching for a new poet laureate. The South Carolina Arts Commission is accepting applications through March 19 to assist in the search for a new poet laureate. More: Charleston City Paper
- Have a comment? Send to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com
Responding to recent column on Santee Cooper
To the editor:
A recent commentary references “wrong figures” on Santee Cooper. If the author had us in mind, we should note that a single figure in a single blog post about a single year of rates was transposed; one word in hundreds of pages we have published on Santee Cooper. Following journalistic best practice, we published a correction that still lives on our website.
But, the “who is lowest” contest misses the more important question: why are Santee Cooper’s residential rates even in the ballpark with for-profit utilities? Our dive into rates since 1990 shows that government-owned Santee Cooper’s residential rates were for a time far below Investor-Owned Utility (IOU) rates. But now they are virtually the same as those of for-profit utilities. Just this week, Santee Cooper’s largest wholesale customer reported that they pay higher wholesale rates to Santee Cooper than to any other electricity supplier in their network.
The reason for the rates? Debt. In our latest report, our economist questioned the ongoing ability of Santee Cooper to simultaneously invest in needed capital expenditures, freeze electric rates temporarily, and pay rebates required by the ratepayer lawsuit over its V.C. Summer debacle. A month later, Santee Cooper reported it had borrowed for capital expenditures.
Santee Cooper may very well be doing all it can to forestall a sale. Only a sale to a private buyer with the requirement that the buyer take on all debt and remove it from the rate base permanently can get Santee Cooper and Electric Co-op ratepayers out of the bind they are in.
— Oran P. Smith, senior fellow, Palmetto Promise Institute, Columbia
Editor’s Note: Thanks for the letter. But we continue to oppose the sale of Santee Cooper because we want the utility to answer to South Carolinians, not huge out-of-state conglomerates.
Send us a letter: We love hearing from readers. Comments are limited to 250 words or less. Please include your name and contact information. Send your letters to: editor@charlestoncurrents.com. | Read our feedback policy.
A real tough one to identify
This one might be nearly impossible to identify, but let’s see what y’all can do. Hint: It’s in Charleston County. Send your best guess to editor@charlestoncurrents.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.
Our previous Mystery Photo
Our Feb. 8 photo, “Where’s this painting,” is a marshy mural painted by Sean Williams at Holy City Brewing on Aragon Avenue in North Charleston.
Hats off to several readers who identified it, including Sarah Nielsen of Charleston; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Jay Altman of Columbia; Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas; and Kristina Wheeler of West Ashley.
Nielsen was pleased to see the artwork on the shipping container at the brewery’s entrance: “Man, that beautiful map of Charleston with the winding rivers and everything is just amazing.”
Graf told us that Williams also painted the label for new Pluff Mud Porter bottles and other brands. “While Sean was working at Ahern’s Anvil, he forged beer taps for Holy City and thus a relationship with the business that led to the shipping container project, a mural on the brewery itself, and now, beer label artwork.”
Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send it along to editor@charlestoncurrents.com.
Auction, museum hours, wild run, more
Land trust auction. Online through Feb. 21. Nature lovers, hunters and conservationists can bid on Lowcountry experiences and products as part of the For the Love of the Lowcountry Auction benefiting Lowcountry Land Trust. The online auction opens at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 and runs through 6 p.m. Feb. 21. Proceeds support Lowcountry Land Trust’s work preserving vital Lowcountry lands and waterways. Lowcountry Land Trust has protected more than 147,000 acres across 14 counties in South Carolina. To place bids or purchase items directly, visit this link.
Museum adds February hours. The Old Slave Mart Museum, which is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the week, will also be open 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each Sunday in February to honor and celebrate Black History Month, the City of Charleston said in a news release. The museum, owned and operated by the city at 6 Chalmers Street, recounts the story of Charleston’s role in the slave trade.
Where the Wild Things Run 5K. 8:30 a.m., March 6, Caw Caw Interpretive Center, Ravenel. Registration ends Feb. 24. You can take part in this race and enjoy a wild, but managed county park that is a favorite habitat for rare wildlife. There also is family-friendly yoga and readings from Marice Sendak’s book that gives the race its name. Learn about registration and rules.
Wine Down Wednesdays: 5:30 p.m. March 17 and March 31, Old Towne Creek County Park, West Ashley. You can enjoy a glass of wine and explore Old Towne Creek County Park, a West Ashley gem, with the return of this evening event. Guests will enjoy wine and live music from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. from a local Charleston performer, while experiencing the beauty of this natural site. A commemorative wine glass is included with admission. Food truck fare will be available for purchase on-site. Cost: $15. Ages 21 and up. There is no onsite registration. You must purchase tickets in advance.
Sunday Brunch Farmers Market: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., every Sunday, Charleston Pour House, 1977 Maybank Highway, James Island. While the market is discouraging people from spending too much time hanging out during the market, everyone is invited to shop their local vendors.
Craft entries sought. Fine craft artists from around the state are invited to enter the 19th annual S.C. Palmetto Hands Juried Fine Craft Competition and Exhibition, which will be presented April 28 to May 2 as part of the North Charleston Arts Fest. Entry fee is $15. The deadline for entries is March 15. Applications are offered online only. The show, cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, will offer objects made in media of clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, and three-dimensional mixed media. More info: culturalarts@northcharleston.org.
Bird-watching at Caw Caw. Every Wednesday and Saturday — particularly through the end of February — you can see a plethora of birds at Caw Caw Interpretive Center in Ravenel as they make their way through the Lowcountry. The two-hour regular walks, which start at 8:30 a.m., are through distinct habitats that allow participants to to view and discuss a variety of birds, butterflies, and other organisms. Registration is not required. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars. A paid chaperone is required for participants ages 15 and under. Max. 10 participants. Fee: $9; free for Gold Pass holders. Open to all ages. More: Caw Caw Interpretive Center.
- If you have any online events, drop us a line (editor@charlestoncurrents.com) and make sure to put “Online event” in the subject line. Similarly, if you’ve got cool ideas for stuff to do while in isolation at home, send them our way.
- ORDER NOW: Copies of our new book, 350 Facts About Charleston, are in Lowcountry-area bookstores now, but if you can’t swing by, you can order a copy online today.
As more people stay home to deal with the coronavirus crisis, people are looking for things to do. You can find some fun things to do online in our calendar section below, but let us also encourage you to FORWARD your issue of Charleston Currents to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. It’s got a great price, as you know: Free! We hope they’ll enjoy our coverage.
- DONATE. Now also would be a great time to contribute as we deal with the crisis. In advance, thank you.
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