Students display their artwork at Tapp's Center

By Phillip Weiss

Just minutes after the visitor walks into the large, dimly lit art room, 4-year-old Macy How, cannot wait to show off her artwork.

"Do you want to see my art," asks Macy, as people roam the exhibits.

Macy's work, along with the work of numerous others, is being showcased this month at Tapp's Center for Art, and it all kicked off at First Thursday's on Main.

First Thursday's on Main is an event held the first Thursday of every month to give local artists the chance to showcase their work and to raise awareness for the local art scene. Artists line the sidewalks of Main Street to display their artistic passion, whether it is visual or musical. Tapp's caters to artwork.

Tapp's assigns a theme to each month, and March is Youth Art Month. Most of the work in the exhibit was done by local students, ranging from kindergarten up to 12th grade. Even a few USC students helped with the exhibition..

Macy's mom, Mary How, 36, is a Columbia resident who says art has always been a part of her life; so much so that she is now an art therapist.

"This is a very positive event for the community," says Mary, who pauses to make sure Macy hasn't run off to get more people to check out her artwork.

Along with raising awareness and showcasing local artists, Mary says community artists are also trying to raise money so Tapp's can be renovated.

"They are going to turn this in to a community arts building. There will be an art studio, a framing studio, painting
rooms. Downstairs there is an old diner that will be turned into a restaurant."

One exhibit that is hard to miss is the Rangoli in the middle of the room. Rangoli, meaning row of colors, are decorative designs on floors. Used in India, these beautiful decorations are supposed to welcome deities. Taking up a large space on the floor, the Rangoli on display at Tapp's was a group effort, created by the University of South Carolina Art Department's students and faculty, community members, and local artist Khaldoune Bencheikh.

Macy's artwork, along with the art of other local students, will remain on display the entire month at Tapp's.RCT