HEART inclusive arts community’s annual fundraiser Creative Misfits is a multi-faceted celebration with a virtual art auction, a gallery exhibition by the “HEARTists” and an exciting live concert at the Pour House on James Island.
HEART provides visual arts, music and performing arts mentorships and community engagement to adults with disabilities. On Dec. 2, the organization hosts its fourth annual Creative Misfits extravaganza, which executive director Sierra Garland said is a great way to support the mission of the 9-year-old nonprofit.
“The funds raised will go towards funding our ongoing programming and operating costs,” Garland said. “Fundraisers like this and our musical in the summer are what helps keep us going all year round. Without community support and fundraisers like this, we would not be able to do what we do.”
The nonprofit relies on membership fees for the artists in the studio-community, but about 30% of those members have free or reduced fees so that HEART remains “accessible and affordable for everyone, regardless of their financial situation,” Garland said.
This year, HEART moved from its longtime downtown space on Rutledge Avenue to a new North Charleston studio in the Trident United Way building. “It’s probably been one of the best choices we’ve made in a long time,” Garland said. “We feel like we have elbow room and great neighbors who are really excited to have us here.”
HEART hopes to continue growing into its new space in 2024, Garland said, and expanding membership, plus offering staple events such as Creative Misfits each December, Disability Pride events in July and an annual summer musical.
Visual, performance art collide at Pour House
The Creative Misfits fundraiser consists of the artists’ latest art exhibition, plus a donation-based art auction featuring work by emerging and established Charleston artists, including Taylor Faulkner, Sally Bunting, Kate Ritchie, Colin Quashie, Gerardo Leccese, Lese Corrigan and Gordon Wheeler.
Attendees can view the works at the Pour House on Dec. 2 or bid on artworks on HEART’s website. During the event, the HEART community will put on a musical performance, directed by performing arts director Mel Walker.
Walker said the show is a celebration of being a misfit. “Your uniqueness and quicks and your imperfections — whatever makes you a misfit — it can be celebrated through art,” Walker said.
“The overarching theme is creative misfits, and then in the performance we will recreate well known music videos very much in our own way. It’ll be a nice little hodgepodge of genres and artists that we’re covering.”
For Rae Weeks, the visual arts director, the Creative Misfits event exemplifies the mission of HEART. “Coming from a visual arts perspective, I think art allows everybody to communicate who might not be able to communicate verbally or through a spoken language. It just allows for this space where everybody can be on the same level, to create authentically and express themselves authentically and be celebrated for that.”
Garland agrees that art and connection go hand-in-hand at HEART. “And it’s not just our community of people with disabilities — everyone connects over art. When you meet a new friend, one of the first questions that you ask them is, what’s your favorite movie? What’s your favorite TV show?
“To get out and come to events like these, that are chock-full of art, music, performance is to learn about people. It really gives our community a way of learning from each other and forming those bonds of friendship and connection.”
Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door on Dec. 2 at the Pour House. Doors open at 5 p.m. Show begins at 6 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit heartsc.org/creativemisfits.
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