NORTH AUGUSTA – Rain and high winds were in the forecast for Feb. 17, but no water could be seen nor felt. Instead, watercolors and other mediums of art from local students could be seen in a juried show, one of the activities held during the monthly Third Thursday.
Sponsored by the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council, the student art event at the Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta opened with a reception Thursday. It features art from all grade levels in Area II schools. Elementary and middle school art is on the first floor of the center while art from high schoolers is on the second floor.
Udurji Oji, a North Augusta High School junior, won best in show for a colored pencil piece on toxic masculinity. He also won best in show last year.
The work depicts artists the student knows as well as an ancient Greek statue.
“Masculinity was defined with different standards back then,” he said. “Masculinity was defined in a more feminine way back then. Those parts of the piece are more symbolic or figurative.”
Some of the more literal parts of the drawing relate to toxic masculinity.
“I have gone through my life thinking that I have to be a man. It does not matter if I have to be more masculine or feminine or anywhere in between,” he said.
Brieanna Bolin, another North Augusta High School student, was also present at the art show but did not place in the show. Bolin submitted a photograph in which she used long exposure and Nikon DSLR.
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“I was trying to show the contrast with how much saturation you can have compared with a dark background,” she said.
She also experimented with her concepts.
“It also goes to prove that it is hard to take the same picture twice,” she said.
In addition to the opening arts reception, multiple businesses took part in the Third Thursday event.
Two vendors set up tables in front of Shoppe 3130, and groups of people were milling past those tables and into the store behind it.
First time Third Thursday vendor, Kaitlyn Harrison of Sidney Grace Co. sold an assortment of the hair bows she designs.
“I absolutely love being involved in North Augusta’s Third Thursday and being a part of this community,” she said.
Courtney Hammond, owner of Candles All Day, echoed Harrison’s comments.
“I love being a part of Third Thursday,” Hammond said. “The downtown shops are really trying to bring the community together.”
Lydia Gramazio had her toddler Fritz, 2, with her and was buying some things from Hammond during the event.
“I bought a beeswax candle, essential oil room spray and essential oil roll-on,” Gramazio said.
Maddy and Matt Talbott brought their young golden retriever, Beaufort, and stopped by and looked at all of the wares. They both said they lived down the street.
“We try to walk around every Third Thursday,” said Maddy Talbott.
Business owners keep their doors open a little later on Third Thursdays.
“Third Thursday is one of our favorite events in downtown North Augusta,” said Jenny Elliott, owner of Shoppe 3130 and Sweet Fig Market. “Lots of stores, like ours, stay open until 8 p.m. We often have live music and live makers or vendors at our stores and offer special deals.”
In another part of the downtown North Augusta area, the Rev. Randall Haase, associate pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, said their church was sponsoring musical entertainment in the courtyard area of Cavalier’s Coffeehouse. The courtyard and coffeehouse itself were packed during the event.
Brian Grooms played acoustic guitar and did vocals while Mike Milheim accompanied him on acoustic guitar. They played a mix of secular and religious music.
Ashley Walpole, a 5K teacher at Mossy Creek Elementary, had ice cream with her daughter, Lily, a 5K student, at the Pink Dipper. Lily had just finished her dance class at the North Augusta School of Dance.
Third Thursday is organized by North Augusta Forward. A trolley runs during the event to help people travel to different participating businesses.
The next Third Thursday will be from 5 to 8 p.m. March 17. For a full listing of participating businesses for Third Thursdays, go to the North Augusta Forward Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/naugustaforward.
Ron Baxley Jr. is a correspondent for The Augusta Press.
