Free stuff

This isn't really Festival Buzz since anybody lucky enough to have found a Piccolo Spoleto program guide can get this info by reading around in it, but here's the deal... I dislike (I'd say "hate" but Mama GMLc always discouraged use of that word) people who complain that Spoleto is too expensive. About as much as I dislike people who stand in front of a work of modern art and say: "I could do that." I usually answer 'em back: "But you didn't think of it, did you?" Or,"Then why didn't you?" OK, I'm being obnoxious, but then so are these people. And OK, the Big Festival costs, but Piccolo Spoleto has two tons of free stuff. Let me walk you through it. A selective menu (my choices, a la carte, and not in chronological order):

Viva Klezmer! And the Jewish Choral Society. Sunday, June 4, 4 p.m., Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, 90 Hasell St. Hello, can you say wild?

Jazzin' the Spirit with the Franklin Street Five and Oscar Rivers. The jazz spirit and heritage of the Jenkins Orphanage Gands comes alive. Thursday, June 1, 5 p.m., Robert Mills Manor Courtyard, 20 Franklin St.

Philip Simmons' 94th Birthday Celebration. Sunday, June 11, 2 p.m., St. John's Reformed Episcopal Church, 91 Anson St. Make Mr. Simmons a cake.

Seven Professors in Search of A Composer. C of C professors perform Mozart. Wednesday, June 7, 8 p.m.

Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival. More than 100 basketmakers, food, skits, storytelling, dance, lectures on this old, old art. Friday, June 2, 3-8 p.m., and Saturday, June 3, noon-6 p.m., Laing Middle School, 2213 Highway 17, Mount Pleasant.

L'Organo Recital Series. All of it. Great organists. Great instruments. Gorgeous churches. "Goldberg Variations" written by our friend J.S. Bach and played by Daniel Sullivan is tomorrow! Tuesday, May 30, St. Michael's Episcopal Church. 10 a.m.

Southern Appalachian Chamber Singers. French Baroque choral music, a cappella works, music of the Southern Appalachians. Bound to be beautiful. Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m., St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, 405 King St.

First (Scots) Presbyterian Church Kirk Choir. "Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary." (1695). Hmmm. Saturday, June 3, 5 p.m., Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.

Piccolo Pawcasso -- An Animal Art Exhibit. Art created by S.C. Aquarium animals: Maya, the lesser anteater; Joey and Marvin, macaws; Ace, the river otter). Through June 11. Free but you have to buy a ticket into the Aquarium.

Wild Things & Wonder. Rudy Mancke of ETV. He's great. He talks about native and endangered species. Wednesday, May 31, 7 p.m., Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St.

That's enough free stuff for now. We haven't even gotten to the visual art, literature and poetry.

Comments

[Vera]

I feel very strongly that the arts shouldn't be for the well-heeled only, so I'm glad Piccolo has free and inexpensive programs.

My husband and I are big fans of Rudy Mancke and plan to see him today.

[harriet (GMLc)]

Ain't it cool? I missed the Goldberg Variations at St. Michael's this morning. That was free, too! Plus all the visual art. By the way, I agree with you that graffiti is an art form.