Happenings at HEART

We got rained out last week, but that means you still have a chance to celebrate and SING with us!


Time Marches on!

Can you believe it’s been 2025 for three whole months already… How does that even happen?! Guess it’s true what they say - time flies when you’re making art. And woooooweeee have we been making some art.

Resident pet portraitist, Donnie Driggers.

Donnie shows off his latest pieces, commissioned as gifts for some of his biggest fans. You, too, can commission a Donnie Driggers original pet portrait, y’know?

Creating En Plein Aire at the new Goose Creek Amphitheater

Shinin’ and Dinin’

It was easy to share the love this Valen-times. This year, it all landed on the same wonderful weekend. Performing at the The Night to Shine Prom filled our Friday. Then we celebrated Pal-entine’s with our besties by sharing Margs and a Magic Show. We can say for sure that it was a weekend to remember.

Catchin’ up with the Community

Inside the HEART Studio. We got to lob all our best questions at - and learn so much from - the actors Robert Cornelius and Jeffrey Rashad of the Acting Company. We scored this personal talkback thanks to the Gaillard Center - and thanks to them, we got to see Robert and Jeffrey perform in an incredible production of Comedy of Errors.

Narrative Dance with Simone Liberty. Another lucky-us moment thanks to the Gaillard. Following a mesmerizing dance performance of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, teaching artist Simone Liberty guided us through developing our own narrative dance choreography.

Fresh New Freshman. With a whole new class of CofC First-Year Experience (FYE) students, we got to enjoy a private improv class courtesy of the primo improvers themselves, Greg Tavares and Brandy Sullivan from Theater 99. PLUS, Professor Genese Gee-Schmidtke got us movin’, groovin’, and partnered up to dance in the fresh air. Where else? Why, the Gaillard Center of course!

Arts Day. Our performance on the Statehouse steps got rained out. Booo! But, Sisi still got to shake hands with our legislators and advocate the importance of supporting ALL ARTS. Thank you to the South Carolina Arts Alliance for facilitating this opportunity, and all of the vital work they do to advocate for the arts.

Yoga with Freckled Bloom at Goose Creek Rec. We love yoga. But, we really loved this yoga class with Erika and Freckled Bloom. Including trying our hand at playing the singing bowls. This class is available regularly through the Goose Creek Therapeutic Recreation Department. Highly recommend!

Who needs personal space? Psssh. Not us.

Definitely not Karen.

We love the start of Market and Festival Season!

Could do with a wee bit less pollen, though. If you don’t mind.

It’s called FASHION!

MIS-fits-ELLANEOUS


Community Calendar

So Long, Summer!

HEART brought the heat this summer, that is for sure.

It was nonstop and we kind of still can’t believe how much we got up to. Take a look for yourself!


Performing at The Honors night for the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

OtherBrother Fest benefitting Warrior Surf and HEART!

 
 

You may recognize these friendly faces as the expert spirit-makers from Beyond Distilling Co. Seen here happily purchasing some killer artwork to adorn their new location.

Public Works Art Center Block Party!

Turning the Big One-OH!

Beaches. Pools. Obvi…

Rehearse! Rehearse! Rehearse!

We are extremely lucky to have so many helpful resources just a hop. skip. and jump away from our Studio. We could not bring life to our shows, or our shows to the stage, without the caring kindness of our friend Hannah Miller from the City of Goose Creek Therapeutic Recreation Department. We got the run of the Rec Center as we prepared for our original musical, MonoMyth!

Fun Fact: Hannah was just awarded Employee of the Year by the City of Goose Creek. A clear choice, we think. Congratulations, Hannah!

To the Great Unknown

The Park Circle Gallery selected HEART to be the sole exhibition in its space throughout August this year. The tactile and interactive work was created both collaboratively and individually by the HEARTists. Viewers were invited to happily raise a toast to those big unknowns in life. We can’t possibly map the ocean, or know the whole galaxy. We can’t even know what life has in store for us in this next minute. But, isn’t that what keeps us going?

View all of the pieces by clicking below.


Disability Pride

For the past 4 years, HEART has been organizing Disability Pride events and celebrations all over the Lowcountry - along with all our friends in the community. July 2024 was BUSY in the best way possible!

Empowerment Through Employment Celebration with Be the Change Charleston at Beyond Distilling Co.

Mix and Mingle with music by the Amazing Mittens at City Lights Eastside

Cult Classic wrestling show by Cult Inclusive Wrestling benefitting HEART for Disability Pride

Seriously… it is impossible to have more fun than this!

Professional photography by Samuel Vogel

Disability Pride Finale Celebration

It might have been a little rainy, but that didn’t dampen our PRIDE! All we need for a good time is great people, the Porter Room, and lots of Disability Pride.

Professional photography by Samuel Vogel

Photographer Samuel Vogel in action.

Fate and great timing led us to meet the wonderfully talented Samuel Vogel. A professional photographer newly moved to Charleston, it was our honor to have Samuel photograph the Cult Classic and Finale Celebration events for us.

Follow Samuel on Instagram!

Start Spreadin’ The News!

Disability Pride has been a part of the Disability community in the U.S. since 1990. Yeah! That’s a long time… Since our first celebration in the Lowcountry in 2021, we’ve seen the awareness and excitement around Disability Pride fomenting and spreading amongst our fellow Charlestonians. Now, the idea that celebrating the Disabled Identity is a great thing has really taken hold of the zeitgeist.

Check out some of many news appearances from this summer’s celebrations. Click the pics for video.

The Creative Misfits Are Coming!

Creative Misfits 2023 is almost here!

While you wait for the Virtual Art Auction to open on Cyber Monday,

get to know the artists behind the work.

All of their pieces will be revealed when the Virtual Art Auction opens online this Monday, November 27th at 12 pm noon EST. And, don’t forget:

Artwork makes the best gifts!

Each year, Creative Misfits just keeps getting bigger and artsier. This year boasts over 50 pieces that you can bid to win. Always remember, your bids support the inclusive arts and the ongoing arts programming for adults with disabilities who create together at the HEART Studio! It’s an all around WIN for everyone!

Close down the auction by bringing down the house! Join us for an MTV music video-worthy rock concert performed by the HEARTists live at one of Charleston’s best music venues - the Charleston Pour House. View the Art Auction items in-person and the newest exhibition from the HEARTists!


Creative Misfits is made possible by the care and support of our Sponsors!

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