Pay no attention to the current swelter: Fall is on the way.
So take a look at these standout offerings in Charleston’s cultural scene in the coming months. Encompassing every artistic discipline and ranging from the probingly local to the magnificently global, these top picks are just the beginning of a full season to fill your artistic cups.
Grounded in Grain, Washed in the Water
Aug. 21 to Dec. 5
Opening reception Aug. 21 in the Hill Gallery
At once regionally rooted and visually expansive, the exhibition Grounded in Grain, Washed in the Water delves directly into our very soil and waterways to mine ancestral narratives and enduring relationships between land, water, memory and Black life in the American South.
A collaboration of the College of Charleston’s Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture, it is guest-curated by Lauren Jackson Harris and features the work of Maya Freelon, Corey Alston, Christa David and Derrick Beasley. Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art, 161 Calhoun St. More: halsey.charleston.edu
Church Wars
Cannon Street Arts Center
134 Cannon St. Aug. 27 to Sep. 19
Pure Theatre has long demonstrated its devotion to well-crafted theatrical works, so it’s no leap that the company would lead the charge in new works debuting on the stage of Cannon Street Arts Center, where it is the anchor resident.
Charleston-based playwright Fred Thompson’s Church Wars sends up, mockumentary-style, a struggling church in a bit of a pickle when a fundraiser heats up battle royale over recipes.
At its heart, Church Wars is a play about faith and family, but the secret sauce may well be Thompson’s proven chops at satirical romps. 134 Cannon St. More: puretheatre.org
Lang Lang with the Charleston Symphony
Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m.
For one night only, internationally-celebrated Chinese classical pianist phenom Lang Lang will join the Charleston Symphony for a special all-Beethoven program conducted by Yuriy Bekker.
Lang Lang will bring his signature charisma and mastery to Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto as well as Symphony No. 7, an audience favorite since its 1813 premiere.
Celebrated for captivating concert halls around the world, the dynamic artist regularly performs to sold-out houses as well as major events including the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing. Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St. More: charlestonsymphony.org
Akram Khan Company
Oct. 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m.
Choreographer Akram Khan’s roots in the Indian classical dance from Kathan infuse the electric, wide-ranging works of his internationally acclaimed contemporary dance company, which after 25 years is closing for the artist to pursue other creative projects.
Charleston audiences will be among those to see its last touring production, Thikra: Night of Remembering. Blending striking movement, evocative music and rich cultural influences, this meditation on remembrance tracks connections across time, place and generations in a fashion both intimate and expansive. Charleston Gaillard Center, 95 Calhoun St. More: gaillardcenter.org
Charleston Literary Festival
Nov. 6 to 15, various times
Bookish forays are all the rage, shaping social lives and travel experiences alike. As fate would have it, Charleston has hosted a plum convergence of literary luminaries for nearly a decade. The annual series of booksmart talks, now called the Charleston Literary Festival, parses and celebrates the written word for 10 days.
Among this year’s heavy hitters are Barbara Kingsolver (Partita), Liaquat Ahamed (1873), Virginia Evans (The Correspondent), Roxane Gay (How to be Heard), Hernan Diaz (Ply) and Belle Burden (Strangers). The full program and all tickets will go on sale Sept. 10. Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. More: charlestonliteraryfestival.com
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