chART-A-Rama Returns

During his run up to city’s highest office, mayoral candidate John Tecklenburg said he wanted to bring more cultural events to West Ashley. This week the newly-minted mayor proved those weren’t just empty campaign promises. Tecklenburg, who is also an accomplished jazz pianist in his own right, played The Music Battery’s Art Piano at Triangle Char & Bar on Tuesday, June 5.
Tecklenburg helped officially kick off three days of music, art, and spoken word as the second annual Piccolo Spoleto mini art festival chART-a-Rama got underway, bringing an interesting mix of events this week to the Avondale Point Business District.
While several events took place on Tuesday, the bulk of the action will occur Wednesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 9 at various locations along Savannah Highway and Mangolia Road.
The piano that Tecklenburg played on was painted by local artist and The Music Battery co-founder Kris Manning and is part of a benefit for the local non-profit, which is an accredited 501c3 that prvided a practice place, instruments, and music instruction to youths in the North Charleston Community.
The piano will be auctioned off at the end of chART-a-Rama, but not before Charleston’s own “The Piano Dude,” and fellow The Music Battery co-founder Braeden Kershner plays for 24 hours straight in a marathon to raise money for the non-profit.
The endurance, strength, and musical knowledge to accomplish such a feat is impressive and takes dedication that only a former Marine can posses. But the 24-hour piano marathon is not the first impressive physical feat that Kershner has attempted. He also holds the Guinness World Record for passing his body through a tennis racquet 23 times in one minute.
The marathon begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8 and will continue through to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 9, leading into a live concert event headlined by national recording artist Brendan James and other Charleston area musicians on the stage. James has had songs on more than 15 major television shows and feature films. He’s achieved the #1 Singer/Songwriter spot on iTunes multiple times. During the concert, the piano will be auctioned off to a lucky person.
The Art Piano is far from the only event taking place as part of this year’s chART-a-Rama. On Wednesday Triangle Bluegrass will play a free outdoor show in the Al Di La courtyard starting at 6 p.m.
Across Savannah Highway, Gala Desserts welcomes Truth Is, where storytellers hold a showcase of true storytelling, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Down the way at  4th Wall art gallery, The Astonishing Abigail: Aerial Artistry will be held at 7 p.m., featuring the acrobatics of Abigail Marie, an Avondale-based photographer and owner of Nonpareil Photography. The event is also a Dr. Sketchy show, which welcomes local sketch artists to come and make live art as the event is going on. Artists of all levels are welcome to the event, just bring your own supplies and creativity.
You can also personally be a part of the artsy action at Mellow Mushroom Avondale on Wednesday by painting your own modern art mini birdhouse from 6- 8 p.m. Led by local artist Sarah Dubay, owner of Wine & Design in West Ashley, the cost is $5 and includes the birdhouse and materials.
At the bus shelter right at the point of Avondale two 12-year-old musicians — Aidan Roff and Aidan Rix (aka Aidan R²)  will be performing live on Wednesday night from  6-8 p.m.
The action continues on Thursday with even more art events taking place around Avondale Point. Classic Coffee welcomes local singer-songwriter Madison McManus of the band Social Void, who will be performing an intimate acoustic set from 6-8:30 p.m.
Just down the way at Mellow Mushroom the crafts will continue for a second straight night when local artist Haley Hobeika leads a workshop in glass etching from 7-9 p.m. Hobeika teaches you how to make simple designs and create a fun and unique piece of art you can show off to your friends next time you are sharing a glass of wine. Presented by Mellow Mushroom and Lava Salon, advance signup is required for this workshop.
Across Savannah Highway, Gala Desserts presents It takes Heart, a private showing of EmCo’s Art, presenting the Pretty Women Collection from 7-9 p.m. The Roost also gets in the action with local musicians Jeep White, Tom DeWilde Kinney, and Bob Call performing live.
For a full list of chART-a-Rama events and happening, check out www.facebook.com/events/231650080542724.