New Year, a New Era for Carolina Muse✨
2023 has entered the chat... and so has volume III of Carolina Muse. We're ringing in the new year with three exciting changes. Editor-in-Chief, Madison Foster, is here to say that the best things come in threes💖
one. We've updated our logo & website!
Our logo is now unique to us! Gone are the days of using a free Canva design that feels heavy & out-of-touch with our brand. The North Carolina & South Carolina state flowers (dogwood flower & yellow jessamine) are designed in their full glory, and our script font finally aligns with the one that's in our magazine interior design (cohesiveness is the theme here).
Our website is also more in-line with our magazine interior... and it feels a bit more modern & responsive. We are a multimedia magazine, after all! So, I wanted the website to have a bit more pizazz. What do you think? www.carolina-muse.com
two. We're now publishing tri-annually!
Remember when I said the best things come in threes? This update is a prime example. Publishing slightly less frequently (3x per year rather than 4x) gives us more time to implement some multimedia features we had not been able to before. For example, one goal of ours is to bring our writer's work to life by adding their own voice readings to their pieces, and to do this, we needed more time during our editing & design phase. This also gives us longer open submission windows in order to collect even more of your quality work!
Our next issue (Volume III, Issue I) will be out early February. Stay tuned to our Instagram for an exact date reveal soon...
three. In place of our print issues, we will be hosting annual in-person events!
Of course, this was not an easy decision, but as a small publication, it's the decision we had to make to keep us afloat. Demand has gone down for our print copies, and prices have gone up (especially for the sustainable press we'd been using). But, we still wanted our readers, creators, and supporters to have a physical way to enjoy the magazine.
At our annual in-person event, Carolina Muse: Arts Jam, we will feature our previously published creators across art forms. Visual art pieces will line the room, writers will read their work, and musicians & dancers will perform. This year's event will take place in Asheville, North Carolina. Dates, venue, and line-up are still in the works, so stay tuned for more information about that to come!
We appreciate your feedback so far and are always acceptive of your thoughts & ideas. Email us or DM us on Facebook or Instagram to share :)
-
Visit our submission guidelines and submit your creative work (poetry, dance, music, visual art & photography, short stories & scripts) starting February 1st, when our submission window re-opens.
-
Check out our latest issue and our new website.
-
We have a very limited supply of our stickers left for sale:
-
Email us at carolinamuse.arts@gmail.com if you're interested in one!
-
NC Events 🌸
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Each Tuesday evening in Asheville, NC until March 7th, enjoy free bluegrass performances by JackTown Ramblers at Highland Brewing Company.
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Is one of your New Year's Resolutions to learn how to crochet? Each Tuesday in Raleigh, NC, attend Eva Hord's free crochet class at Lorraine's Coffee House and Music.
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Celebrate new exhibits "Bold and Bright" & "Monochrome Moments" at Art in Bloom Gallery's free opening reception in Wilmington, NC on January 12th.
SC Events 🌼
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Ever participated in a poetry open mic? Now's your chance! Visit Coffee Underground in Greenville, SC for Say What Poetry Open Mic featuring Jonathan Brown at 7:30pm on January 22nd.
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In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, SC is open with free admission all day on January 16th.
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Dance the night away at Swing Dance Night featuring live music by The Forte Swing at Forte Jazz Lounge in Charleston, SC on January 29th.
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
ASHLEY PRATT
art & design
MAEVE RILEY
poetry
Welcome to My Monthly Musings
If you're here, you have either: 1. subscribed to our monthly newsletter, or 2. had your work published in our magazine. Thanks for being our truest pals. Your support means the world, and we hope you'll stick around for some monthly musings from your favorite newsletter writer, Maeve Riley!
Here's the lowdown: I have creative arts advice for all artistic mediums, local Carolina arts events (don't worry, they're virtual and/or socially distant in-person), and my favorite, some creative inspiration from my lovely & talented team. See you next month :)
WRITTEN BY
Maeve Riley
EDITED BY
Madison Foster
Will you be our Valentine? 💌
Happiest day of love! I've always felt that we should place more emphasis on all types of love each Valentine's Day, not just the romantic kind. The day should be a celebration of universal love—defined as the warm & fuzzy feeling we get from snuggling our pets, drawing a bath, spending quality time with loved ones, giving meaningful gifts... and consuming heart-shaped things, of course! 💗
As creators, we may create as an act of self-love (or a way to show love to others). For many, our art is our truest love. We return to it for solace after a long day, we make sacrifices for it, and it brings us joy & growth.
Like any relationship, the relationship you have with your art form needs to be nourished in order for it to grow and stay healthy. Today, we're sharing tips for how to maintain the love you have for creating.
💕Falling in love with your art💕
Here are some of our favorite ways to nourish the relationship you have with your art form:
1. Put a new spin on one of your first creative projects.
It is rewarding to see how far your skills have come, and it can be exciting to think about an older project in a new way. Re-paint a piece from your first gallery showing, re-write the first story or poem you've published, or try creating an acoustic version of a song you've written.
2. Give your art some attention each day.
This doesn't necessarily mean creating every day, just giving space for your practice. In addition to creating, this could look like revising, planning, or consuming (i.e. reading, listening to music, visiting an art gallery, etc.)
3. Make a list of your fav projects, creators you look up to, artistic accomplishments, or encouragement your supporters have shared.
I am a HUGE list gal—my life could quite possibly fall apart without them. You could use lists to remind yourself of your accomplishments as well as your inspiration & motivation to create in the first place. This could even help with creative block.
4. Let go of all expectations.
Not everything you create will be perfect... actually, it's quite possible that nothing you make will ever be perfect. Get lost in the process, and let your emotions lead. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and embrace your chosen art's authenticity.
5. Connect with others through your art.
This could mean joining a writer's group (dance company, art club, etc.) or performing, displaying, or publishing (😉) your work. Art is what connects us to one another. It is our way of making sense of the world and helping others, and ourselves, feel less alone.
If these tips helped you and you created something great you'd like to share, submit to Carolina Muse for your chance to be published! Our submission deadline is midnight on Wednesday, April 12th.
New year, a new era for Carolina Muse✨
In other news, 2023 has entered the chat... and so has volume III of Carolina Muse! We're ringing in the new year with three exciting changes. Editor-in-Chief, Madison Foster, is here to say that the best things come in threes💖
one. We've updated our logo & website!
Our logo is now unique to us! Gone are the days of using a free Canva design that feels heavy & out-of-touch with our brand. The North Carolina & South Carolina state flowers (dogwood flower & yellow jessamine) are designed in their full glory, and our script font finally aligns with the one that's in our magazine interior design (cohesiveness is the theme here).
Our website is also more in-line with our magazine interior... and it feels a bit more modern & responsive. We are a multimedia magazine, after all! So, I wanted the website to have a bit more pizazz. What do you think? www.carolina-muse.com
two. We're now publishing tri-annually!
Remember when I said the best things come in threes? This update is a prime example. Publishing slightly less frequently (3x per year rather than 4x) gives us more time to implement some multimedia features we had not been able to before. For example, one goal of ours is to bring our writer's work to life by adding their own voice readings to their pieces, and to do this, we needed more time during our editing & design phase. This also gives us longer open submission windows in order to collect even more of your quality work!
Our next issue (Volume III, Issue I) will be out early February. Stay tuned to our Instagram for an exact date reveal soon...
three. In place of our print issues, we will be hosting annual in-person events!
Of course, this was not an easy decision, but as a small publication, it's the decision we had to make to keep us afloat. Demand has gone down for our print copies, and prices have gone up (especially for the sustainable press we'd been using). But, we still wanted our readers, creators, and supporters to have a physical way to enjoy the magazine.
At our annual in-person event, Carolina Muse: Arts Jam, we will feature our previously published creators across art forms. Visual art pieces will line the room, writers will read their work, and musicians & dancers will perform. This year's event will take place in Asheville, North Carolina. Dates, venue, and line-up are still in the works, so stay tuned for more information about that to come!
We appreciate your feedback so far and are always acceptive of your thoughts & ideas. Email us or DM us on Facebook or Instagram to share :)
-
Visit our submission guidelines and submit your creative work (poetry, dance, music, visual art & photography, short stories & scripts) starting February 1st, when our submission window re-opens.
-
Check out our latest issue and our new website.
-
We have a very limited supply of our stickers left for sale:
-
Email us at carolinamuse.arts@gmail.com if you're interested in one!
-
NC Events 🌸
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Tomorrow at 7pm, swing by the Salvage Station in Asheville, NC for No Simple Disruption: An Evening of Powerful Poetry & Music! Show is $20 in advance, $25 at the door.
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Drop-in contemporary dance classes? Sign us up! Join Dance Project's Contemporary Movement Lab for intermediate/advanced dancers in Greensboro, NC. Class is $15.
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This weekend, meet & listen to HBCU art professors & professional artists at "COMMON ROOTS: Many Branches" Exhibition Artist Forum 1pm-3pm in Fayetteville, NC. This is a free event.
SC Events 🌼
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Join nationally-published artist Sherri Welser to paint coffee mugs using alcohol ink in Greenville, SC, 12:30pm-2pm on Feb. 26th. You get to take two mugs home! ☕ Event is $38.
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The South Carolina Philharmonic is putting on a classical music concert in Columbia, SC designed especially for those with sensory sensitivities and their loved ones. Show is $13.
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Meet local & regional authors in Charleston, SC at the Local Authors Showcase 4pm-6pm on Feb. 25th. Featuring RJ Lambert, Alicia Hunter, Brian Livingston, Justin & Sebastian Estes, and Sean Keefer. This is a free event.
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
ASHLEY PRATT
art & design
MAEVE RILEY
poetry
Welcome to My Monthly Musings
If you're here, you have either: 1. subscribed to our monthly newsletter, or 2. had your work published in our magazine. Thanks for being our truest pals. Your support means the world, and we hope you'll stick around for some monthly musings from your favorite newsletter writer, Maeve Riley!
Here's the lowdown: I have creative arts advice for all artistic mediums, local Carolina arts events (don't worry, they're virtual and/or socially distant in-person), and my favorite, some creative inspiration from my lovely & talented team. See you next month :)
WRITTEN BY
Maeve Riley
EDITED BY
Madison Foster
A bit of gold in Appalachia☘️
Happy St. Patrick's Day! To celebrate, we're diving into the rich history of the arts in Appalachia, a region which credits many cultural traditions to the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled there. The Appalachian region, including Western North Carolina, is known for its arts: folk music, storytelling, quilted patterns, and square dancing, to name a few.
A Brief History Lesson
Before we explore how each art form was influenced by the Scots-Irish, let's review the brief history of how this group of people came to live tucked away in our beloved Appalachian mountains.
1660s - King James I of England seized Ulster, a traditional province in Northern Ireland, from the Gaelic (native) Irish people and gave the land to Presbyterians from southern Scotland. This scheme is known as the Plantation of Ulster.
Lees McRae College's 'In the Mountains' series, says, “Migration between Scotland and Ireland continued throughout the 1600s as the Scottish Presbyterians, the British Anglicans, and the Irish Catholics fought over land and sovereignty.”
1718 - Deteriorating conditions led the Scots-Irish to begin migrating to the colonies, primarily in Pennsylvania.
1740s-1760s - Increased Native American raids (pre-cursors to the French and Indian War) caused them to move to the Carolinas.
According to J.D. Lewis, they were drawn to the mountainous regions of Appalachia because it reminded them of the land they were used to back in Northern Ireland and in western Pennsylvania.
*Before continuing, we must acknowledge that the Scots-Irish people settled on Cherokee land. While the relationship between the native people and the Scots-Irish is documented as friendly, we know that stories of colonialism are largely told by whites and that colonialism brings disease & displacement to native people. More information can be found here & here.
Scots-Irish 🤝 Appalachian Arts
The arts of Appalachia are a testament to the resilience & creativity of the Scots-Irish. For the most part, the community they built was isolated in the hard-to-reach mountains, leaving them disconnected from the rest of society... which allowed their cultural traditions & arts to flourish without much influence from the outside world🌸
Visual Art - Symmetrical patterns that resemble the Celtic knot can be found in many quilt designs of the region. Another Appalachian craft, weaving, played a large role in Irish history (detailed by the Weavers of Ireland).
Storytelling - Storytelling was a central part of Scots-Irish life, an art that they carried over into Appalachian culture. The stories they told were tales, myths, and legends that have their roots in the ancient lore from the Scots-Irish.
For a deep-dive into this, read Annalee Tull's essay, Telling Tales as Oral Performance: A Cross Cultural Comparison of Storytelling in Ireland, Scotland and Southern Appalachia.
Music - Appalachian music began with soulful Irish ballads, usually using the song to tell a long, sorrowful story. As new musical influences entered the scene, "bluegrass music specifically, with its strong reliance on storytelling and instruments like the fiddle, was heavily influenced by music traditions from both Scotland and Ireland" (also from Lees McRae College's 'In the Mountains' series).
Dance - Clogging, "flatfoot" dancing, and square dancing in the Appalachian region each draw influence from the Scots-Irish's jigs & reels. We're not talking about Instagram Reels—traditional Scots-Irish reels were "set dances that had a characteristic weaving movement," according to Ballad of America's Southern Appalachian Square Dance: A Brief History.
As we celebrate St. Patrick's Day and the cultural heritage it represents, take a moment to acknowledge the vibrant & diverse arts that the Scots-Irish contributed to the Appalachian region. Whether you're a lover of art, storytelling, music, or dance, there's something for everyone in the world of Appalachian arts💛
NC Events🌸
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Black Mountain, NC - Tonight at 7pm, enjoy traditional Irish music & poetry at the 10th Annual Celebration of the Heritage of the Irish with Music & Poetry! Show is $25 at White Horse Black Mountain.
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Raleigh, NC - At 2pm today, watch traditional Irish step-dancing by the Triggle Academy of Irish Dance at the North Carolina Museum of History. This show is free!
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Wilmington, NC - Learn how to quilt! Join Susan Brubaker Knapp with the Quilters by the Sea Guild on Friday, March 24th at 9:30am. The kit fee is $20, workshop fee is $50.
SC Events🌼
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Greenville, SC - Enjoy music from female electric strings group BellaNova Strings from 7pm-9pm tonight at Fireforge Crafted Beer🎻 Show is free!
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Columbia, SC - Tartan Day South is taking place March 30th-April 2nd. Listen to Irish music, watch the Highland Games, and more!
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Charleston, SC - This weekend, it's time for the Charleston Show, an antique, fine art, and design show at Charleston Festival Hall. Exhibitors from the US, England, and Europe display "period to mid-century furniture, traditional and contemporary art and ceramics, jewelry, folk art, oriental rugs, silver, prints and maps, garden and architectural antiques."
Do you know of a fantastic arts event happening in the Carolinas in August? Tag us on social media and let us know so we can help spread the word!
As always, we appreciate your feedback and are always receptive to your thoughts & ideas. Email us or DM us on Facebook or Instagram to share :)
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Learn more about our first in-person show, Carolina Muse: Arts Jam, and buy your tickets today!
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Visit our submission guidelines and submit your creative work (poetry, dance, music, visual art & photography, short stories & scripts) by April 12th.
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Read our latest issue (and check out our new website)!
-
Apply for one of our open positions (we're in search of a social media manager, art editor, newsletter writer, and ads manager).
-
We have a very limited supply of our stickers left for sale:
-
Email us at carolinamuse.arts@gmail.com if you're interested in one!
-
Welcome to Our Monthly Musings
Thank you for subscribing! Your support means the world, and we hope you'll stick around for some monthly musings from our team.
Here's the lowdown: We have creative arts advice for all artistic mediums, local Carolina arts events, and creative inspiration from our talented team. See you next month!
WRITTEN BY
Madison Foster
All About Arts Jam (2023)! ✨🌸🎨🎶
by editor-in-chief, Madison Foster
It's about time we did a deep dive into all of the cool stuff that's happening at our FIRST in-person event this upcoming Saturday, June 10th at The Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC! We've been gearing up for this event since November, so I am thrilled to see it finally coming together... and I can't wait to meet some of our lovely published creators and see their work outside of our digital interface!
In case ya missed it, audience members can shop art & jewelry from some of our previously published artists, get "vintage explorer"-styled portraits taken, screen print their own 0_ Collective shirts, listen music & poetry readings, and watch dance performances. Oh, and there will also be tacos & drinks for sale for those interested🌮 Like I said, a lot going on! Here's are all the details:
Visual Arts, Raffle, and Merch
Starting at 12pm and during our 30-minute intermission, you'll have the opportunity to meet our artists and purchase their work as well as enjoy a couple of other fun activities...
Ami Patel will be selling her artwork.
One of her pieces will be up for grabs in our raffle! Ami is a 2020 UNC Chapel Hill graduate from Asheville, NC, currently residing in Raleigh, NC. Her purpose is to create, lead, and inspire—all in conjunction to help others. Her artwork is focused on abstraction and centers around the intersection of chaos & order in hopes to better understand and connect with the earth & people around her.
Camille Soltani Icely will be selling her paintings and has donated this piece, "Echoes of the Sea," to our raffle. Camille is a painter & poet. Born & raised in Summerville, SC, Camille attended Rollings School of the Arts from grades 4th-8th, and in her 20s she spent many years overseas doing volunteer work abroad. Throughout her travels, she never stopped writing or creating her art, even when she only had cardboard to paint on.
Hannah Eddy will be selling her floral artwork at Arts Jam. She is originally from Tega Cay, South Carolina. She lived in Philadelphia, PA for eight years and has now moved back to the Carolinas. She sees flowers & color as the perfect friend to adversity and believes her work speaks to those in need of brevity & light.
Ty Davis is selling his abstract artwork. Blessed with a natural love for art at an early age, Ty Davis learned to develop his talents in Columbia, SC and was dedicated to becoming an artist the world remembered. After years of painting, studying, and creating, Ty discovered a technique that would cement his name as one of the Carolinas premier artists and soon caught the attention of the local Carolina art scene.
Brittany Nailon will be running a "vintage explorer" themed portrait booth and selling her landscape prints. As long as Brittany can remember, photographs have fascinated her. There was something comforting to her about being able to go back in time and remember a time, a place, or a smell just by looking at a photograph. That same sense of nostalgia for places we’ve been or where we’re going is what she aims to capture in her photos 10 years later.
Gayle Miller is selling her detailed watercolor work at Arts Jam and donating this piece, "Turquoise Fantasy," to the raffle. With confident brushstrokes, Gayle Miller tickles our imaginations with her unique take. There’s so much joy in watching the playful dance with style, color, and emotion. Gayle paints in verbs instead of nouns, movement & feeling. Gayle’s work has won awards and was included in Telfair Museum F3A Show 2017-2019.
Kenndal Rote is a self-taught artist living in Charleston, SC. She creates work that intertwines abstract, illustration, and language. Her work is childlike by nature with bold lines & swift drawing. The language used is drawn from her own journals/writing. She incorporates unwanted items into most of her pieces to create something new versus something discarded. Art is a way to make sense of the world around her and to connect to her local community.
Jessica Swank & Brooke Day will represent Zero Space Art Collective, selling artwork and running their own screen-printing booth. One of their cow tongue candles is also part of our raffle. Zero Space Art Collective began when we found ourselves trying to build community, study and make art during a time that provided no access to studios, limited access to supplies, and only virtual access to other humans. Though our group began as a reaction to the devastating changes we were experiencing, we acknowledge that initially having studios and a community is a privilege.
Up front at the merch table, we're selling Carolina Muse stickers, Arts Jam shirts, raffle tickets, and small collages by Kayla Marie Ramey! Stickers will be $3, shirts are $22 and made of 70% responsibly-sourced bamboo and 30% responsibly-sourced organic cotton.
Raffle #1
2 Asheville Art Museum tickets
Hustle Souls CD
Carolina Muse Arts Jam shirt
Gayle Miller’s 11x14" matted and framed of "Turquoise Fantasy”
Camille Soltani Icely’s fine art print, 16x20” of “Echoes of the Sea”
Kenndal Rote’s 5x7” canvas, “i love you”
Raffle #2
2 Asheville Art Museum tickets
Hustle Souls shirt
Carolina Muse sticker
Virginia Shepley’s “In This Moment” 12x12" acrylic gouache, jewelry, and greeting cards
Ami Patel’s art piece
Jessica Swank (Zero Space Collective)’s
cow tongue candle
Music, Poetry Readings, Dance
Our seated show starts at 1pm and runs until 4pm with a 30-minute intermission and plenty of opportunities to take taco & drink breaks :) Here's the line-up:
1pm • Music • Lillie Syracuse & Kathryn O'Shea
In velvet streams of joy, grief, and love, Lillie Syracuse’s voice & music fill the golden spaces of the in between. For a decade, Lillie honed her craft in Nashville, TN, where she wrote & released her debut album Coming Up Diamonds in 2020. Lillie grew up in the cradle of Table Rock Mountain. She now lives in Brevard, NC, with her wife and their three pup-children, where she writes & records new music for release in 2023.
Kathryn O’Shea is an Asheville-born singer/songwriter mostly known for conjuring unsolicited catharsis for strangers in bars. Carried only by her unmistakable voice & soft electric banjo picking, O’Shea’s soul-stirring original songs employ confessional lyricism and winding melodies to leave listeners tear-stained yet somehow deeply galvanized to wake up and fight the good fight again tomorrow.
Spoken Word Poetry • Loni Covington
Loni is a graduate of Furman University, where she majored in theatre arts and communication studies. She is a passionate actor & performer from Spartanburg, SC. Vocalizing her voice in performance-based work has been so fruitful for her as she continues to grow as an artist. She believes that in her dance work, theatrical pieces, and singing endeavors are ways to inspire & connect with the people.
1:30pm • Dance • Rush Johnston
Rush (they/them) is a Bronx-based multimedia choreographer, poet, performer, filmmaker, and movement researcher. Rush creates at the intersection of visual & performing art, often exploring modes of artistic expression beyond the binary. As a queer, Native, neurodiverse artist, their work often plays with perception & identity, inviting viewers to question proposed truths of self & social misunderstanding. Rush is the founder & artistic director of Kaleid Dance Collective, an interdisciplinary artistic platform for creative exhibitions. Rush is our dance editor at Carolina Muse Literary & Arts Magazine.
Poetry • Piper L. White
Piper is a self-published author of two young adult novels titled Flicker and Flare. Her work is featured in literary magazines such as Atlantis, Portals, etc. Her debut chapbook, Barefoot in the Woods, was published by Bottlecap Press in May 2022. She has lived in North Carolina her whole life.
1:50pm • Music • CerVon Campbell
From South Carolina, Campbell is an artist known for his soulful sound & venting lyrics. Campbell is not only a singer/rapper but also a stand-up comic & songwriter. Favored for bending genres, Campbell has crafted mixtures of Pop, Hip-Hop, and R&B along with Alternative, Indie, Country/Folk, Rock, and EDM throughout his discography.
Dance • Caitlin Elledge
Caitlin is an accomplished choreographer & dance instructor born & raised in Simpsonville, SC. Caitlin has found her favorite genres to be ballroom, hip hop, and contemporary. She holds multiple regional & national choreography awards and has led many students, soloists, and teams to national titles. She has studied from the industry’s top teachers & choreographers.
2:15pm INTERMISSION
Poetry • Kayla Marie Ramey
Kayla Marie is an NC-born-and-bred writer and collage artist who tries very hard (and often fails) to keep her house plants alive. She is currently pursuing her Creative Writing BA at App State University in Boone. In 2018, Kayla wrote a one-act play entitled “Sunday Wine” that was produced by Glasbox Theatre in El Paso, TX. Recently, her short stories have been published in Altitude magazine and Carolina Muse. In April, her small collage collection, “Damsels De-Repressed” was featured in an art show at 3rd Place hosted by Oasis High Country.
2:50pm • Dance • Grayson Anthony
Grayson is a performer, choreographer, & dance teacher currently based in Greenville, SC. She is originally from Lexington, SC and has been dancing since she was 3. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications (digital media) with a minor in theatre from Anderson University. In the spring of 2019, she completed Broadway Dance Center’s Professional Semester program in NYC. This past year she choreographed Mamma Mia! at Greenville Theatre (GT), Cinderella at South Carolina Children’s Theatre (SCCT), and just finished choreographing Shrek The Musical at GT which runs until June 25th.
Poetry • Camille Soltani Icely
See bio under “Visual Artists.”
3:15pm • Music • EK Wallace
EK Wallace has lived in Raleigh, NC her whole life and is proud to call the Carolinas home. She grew up listening to country music, which fostered a love & appreciation for songs that tell a story. Once she picked up a guitar at 16, she never looked back. Since 202, she has put out several original songs with her best friend, Jess Avellino, under the name ‘five thirty two.’ She is currently working on her first solo project.
Poetry • Micheal Kleis
Michael Kleis is a musician as well as a poet and performs around the U.S. While on tour, Michael had the opportunity to camp in the Appalachian mountains outside of North Carolina, and he has hiked parts of the Smoky Mountains. Since then, Michael has planned to visit more of the Carolinas and explore more of its breathtakingly serene nature.
3:40pm • Music • dog fanclub
Katherine Anne Ledbetter, dog fanclub, is a North Carolina born & raised artist. As a child, she performed all over the Triad in various musical & operatic performances. Ms. Ledbetter formally studied classical voice at UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. While her main focus is opera, she also enjoys performing in the more modern or indie style. She recently released her first full-length album under her solo project name, dog fanclub, entitled it won’t last forever.
Purchase your $10 ticket online here, or buy yours for $15 at the door. I can't wait to see you at The Grey Eagle this Saturday!
Welcome to My Monthly Musings
If you're here, you have either: 1. subscribed to our monthly newsletter, or 2. had your work published in our magazine. Thanks for being our truest pals. Your support means the world, and we hope you'll stick around for some monthly musings from your favorite editor, Madison Foster!
Here's the lowdown: I have creative arts advice for all artistic mediums, local Carolina arts events (don't worry, they're virtual and/or socially distant in-person), and my favorite, some creative inspiration from my lovely & talented team. See you next month :)
WRITTEN and EDITED BY
Madison Foster
Thank you, dear readers💛
We hit our three-year anniversary in September and released our 11th issue in October. Three years and 11 issues later, I am so thankful for how our magazine has developed and how our arts community has grown. Thank you for taking the time to support our magazine, whether by reading, following us, or submitting your own work—we appreciate your support in all capacities! I hope our beloved magazine has introduced you to a new perspective, connected you with others, and helped you fall in love with a new art form.
Meeting so many of you in-person for the first time this year at Arts Jam was the cherry on top of everything we had worked toward up to that point... and I'm ready to see some of y'all in-person again at Creative Mornings in Charleston this Friday!
Creative Mornings: Rhythm
It is an honor to be a featured organization at Creative Mornings, a world-wide, free monthly event that connects communities through art (and breakfast!). This week's topic is "rhythm," and speaker Arlyn Ruddy (Awaken Spanda) will tackle this topic.
Caitlin Elledge is a Spartanburg-based dancer published in Carolina Muse Volume I, Issue IV. She performed at Arts Jam this June and will now be representing our dance section at Creative Mornings with an improv performance.
Grace McNally is a Charleston-based musician recently published in Carolina Muse Volume III, Issue III. She will be representing our music section at Creative Mornings with a performance.
I will be selling limited-edition print copies of our most recent issue at a discounted rate of $10 per copy! You'll also be able to flip through the online version of our magazine, previously printed issues, and more... Plus, you'll be able to purchase Arts Jam shirts & stickers for the first time since Arts Jam!
WRITTEN and EDITED BY
Madison Foster
Is all really calm and bright?
finding & protecting your peace this holiday season
The holidays are known for their chaos: shopping, baking, DIYing, bustling through crowds, and visiting with loved ones... Not to mention the expectation that we maintain joyful & present through it all. Even at Carolina Muse, the holidays align with one of our busy seasons—our submission deadline was just this past week, and we'll spend the coming weeks creating our next issue.
All of this chaos can bring excitement, overstimulation, and the overwhelming feeling of, "Is what I'm doing enough?"
To that, the answer is yes. We are all doing enough. Even if we aren't doing much at all. It is important to take a step back and release expectations of productivity, instead sitting with peace & reflection as we wrap up the year. Easier said than done for many of us— myself, included. So, here are some ideas to help us slow down:
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Practice saying no. If you're too busy, too tired, too overwhelmed, or just don't feel like it would bring you joy, then listen to your body. Being honest with your loved ones and setting boundaries can even inspire them to give themselves grace as well.
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Block out your calendar. Pick a few hours or days of your week (whatever length of time feels best to you) and mark them off. Use this time for yourself, resetting in a way that works for you, whether that be reading, napping, coloring, taking a bath, or watching a good movie.
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Try a meditative activity. In addition to some of the activities listed above, you could play an instrument, write in a journal, create art, go for a walk, or follow a mindfulness exercise.
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Return to the present. When we're busy, we get in our heads and cycle through thoughts about the past or future. If you notice yourself lost in your mind, focus on the space around you and take a few mindful breaths. With each exhale, let go of a concern swirling in your head and instead notice the colors & textures around you.
I hope you're able to find peace during last few weeks of the year. Happy holidays from the Carolina Muse team💫
Support Carolina Artists💝
'Tis the season to support our artists! The holidays may be fueled by consumerism, but where you're spending your money makes a big difference. Rather than purchasing gifts from large corporations, consider shopping small and/or local.
Here are a few of our published creators whose work could make a beautiful gift for your loved ones (or for yourself, we won't judge😉) Click the art to find each artists' corresponding shop:
NC Events 💗
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Asheville, NC - The Little Crafty - This weekend (Dec. 16 & 17), 12pm-5pm
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Raleigh, NC - Illuminate Art Walk - Daily, sundown-11pm
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Wilmington, NC - "It's A Wonderful Life" Screening - Friday, December 22nd, 4pm & 7pm
SC Events 💛
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Greenville, SC - Indie Craft Parade - Every weekend until Christmas, 11am-5pm (including Friday, Dec. 22nd)
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Columbia, SC - South Carolina Philharmonic's Home for the Holidays - Thursday, December 21st, 7pm
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Charleston, SC - PRAY Exhibition: Exploring the Intersection of Spirituality and Expression in Contemporary Art - Friday, January 5th, 7pm
As always, we appreciate your feedback and are receptive to your thoughts & ideas. Please email us or DM us on social media to share.
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Purchase a print copy of our latest issue or an Arts Jam t-shirt! This is how you can best support our magazine at this time... plus, a print copy could make a great gift!
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View the online version of our recent issue.
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Apply for one of our open positions (we're in search of a graphic designer, social media manager, art editor, newsletter writer, and ads manager).
Welcome to Our Monthly Musings
Thank you for subscribing! Your support means the world, and we hope you'll stick around for some monthly musings from our team.
Here's the lowdown: We have creative arts advice for all artistic mediums, local Carolina arts events, and creative inspiration from our talented team. See you next month!
WRITTEN BY
Madison Foster