PechaKucha 47 to offer creative spurts of inspiration

Nine members of Charleston’s creative community will ignite the minds of people attending PechaKucha 47 at 7 p.m. March 18 by sharing what inspires them.

“PechaKucha” is a Japanese phrase that means “chit chat.” Started in Tokyo in 2003, the presentations morphed through the years into a global conversation platform now represented in more than 1,300 communities, including Charleston, which will host its 47th version at Charleston Music Hall.

“The city’s PechaKucha 47 will bring an array of distinctive presenters, such as Luke Shirley of Quest in fostering mental and physical health for area collegians, Angel Holmes and her chameleon-like transformations since the founding of the Wine + Food Festival and the Ross brothers of Peculiar Pig Farms,” said PK organizer Terry Fox of the Charleston Arts Festival.

Here’s how PechaKucha works: Audience members watch eight presentations that blend 20 slides shown each for just 20 seconds by a presenter or presenters. In 400 seconds (it goes by quicker than you might expect), presenters are supposed to share what inspires them and get audience members to think in new ways.

The results often are magical as listeners get sucked into what stirs and spurs poets, writers, chefs, artists, comedians, photographers and other creatives to do what they do.

The March 18 event will showcase these presenters:

Nakeisha Daniel, educator, actor and founder of The Well Theatre;
Luke Shirley, founder of Quest;
Tonya Nicole, vocalist and actor;
Lee Barbour, musician, producer, composer and owner of Black Label Event Music;
Sean Gallagher, artist and graphic designer;
Geoff Yost, director of marketing and communication, Spoleto Festival USA;
Angel Holmes, founder of Like Minded CHS; and
Marvin and Jada Ross, owner and lead farmer of Peculiar Pig Farm.

Longtime DJ Josh Silverman (Professor Ping) will spin tunes. Lydia Chernicoff, founder and artistic director of New Muse Concerts and a veteran of PK 39, will serve as emcee. According to the PK47 website, New Muse Concerts presents classical and contemporary chamber repertoire in the context of diverse musical traditions, exploring the interplay between them, and telling stories that reveal their cultural and historical connections.