What do you get when you combine graffiti art, ballet and an orchestra? Something new called: Fascinations.

Presented by EnCore Arts, a non-profit collaborative group formed by the Robert Ivey Ballet, the Youth Orchestra of the Lowcountry and the Charleston Art Outdoor Initiative, Fascinations is a full length multi-disciplinary art performance that will combine 7 choreographed dances, in front of 7 street inspired art pieces, all inspired by 7 classical and neo-classical scores.

The live performance will take place at the Sotille Theater Friday, March 2nd (Black-Tie Gala) and Saturday, March 3rd (Premiere Show).

For more information and tickets, visit the Event Website.

Fascinated.

Hey Charleston. There is a cool event heading our way! A girl (Kyle Durrie) and her  truck, aka Moveable Type, will be bringing a 1982 Chevy step van with a built-in, fully functioning letterpress print shop to Sideshow Press on Feb. 9. Parliamentarians and PKN presenters Sideshow Press have invited us to all come on out for hot type, boiled p-nuts and tall tales of life on the road.

For more information on a Moveable Type check out the website here.

As if out of a reality show, comes The Perfect Pitch. The premise: Ten entrepreneurs pitch to judges to see if they have what it takes to get funding, a team of advisors and recognition. Five finalists move on to the final round and one entrepreneur will be selected as having the “Perfect Pitch”.

Thursday, November 10
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
The American Theater
446 King St., Charleston
Advanced registration (by Nov. 9): $20 for Chamber members, $30 for non-members
Registration (after Nov. 9): $25 for Chamber members, $35 for non-members

Click to link to the ticket page.

YALLFest. RAISING LOWCOUNTRY LITERACY THROUGH GREAT YA LITERATURE.

YALLFest 2011 will bring twenty top young adult writers from all over the country to Charleston for two days of seminars and panels. Events will be held at the College of Charleston and Blue Bicycle Books on November 11-12th. 

All events during the day are free and open to the public, and the Festival will come to a close with the YA SmackDown, Saturday night.  An “all-star jam” with teams of thevisiting YA authors competing for Lowcountry glory in storytelling games. (This event will be ticketed — kid-friendly prices).

To see the complete schedule or to find out more about YALLFest visit the event website here.

Pecha Kucha 11 is tomorrow, Wednesday, October 12th. And it’s officially SOLD OUT!

Here is all of the information you will ever need:

Tickets: If you’ve already purchased your ticket online your name will be on a list at the door.

Location: Charleston Music Hall – 37 John St.

Doors open at 6pm. Presenters start at 7pm.

Food will be on the downstairs level and provided by Rue de Jean and COAST: $3 fish tacos, $5 sushi rolls (CASH ONLY)

Beer will be on the upstairs level and provided by: Palmetto Brewing Company: $4 pint (CASH ONLY)

Once inside enjoy the Tunes provided by DJ’s Cassidy & the Kid.

Word to the wise: Please stop by an ATM between now and PKN 11. Credit cards will not be accepted. Cash Only for food and beverages. Go green. Not plastic.

Thank you to our awesomely-talented poster designer for Pecha Kucha 11: Christopher Murphy

We’ll see you at the Charleston Music Hall.

Drum Roll Please! The speakers for Pecha Kucha 11 are:

• Mark Bryan – Musician, Carolina Studios
• Aleysa Opelt – Aleysa Bags
• Steve Stegelin – Visual Artist
• Will Bullock - Digital Media
• Adam Boozer  – Filmmaker
• Sully Sullivan - Photographer
• Chris Starr -  Computer Science Dept, College of Charleston

The Emcee for the evening will be Charleston Magazine’s Style Director, Ayoka Lucas.

Music will be provided by the dynamic DJ Duo: Cassidy & the Kid.

The line-up for Pecha Kucha 11 speaks for itself, but we here at Parliament are really looking forward to this one.

Keep checking the Parliament blog, Facebook and Twitter. We’ll let you know who is bringing the grub and the brews, as well as when tickets will go on sale….this week!

Pecha Kucha 11 will take place next Wednesday, October 12th.

I want to become a kick*ss artist.

What: 2nd Annual Professional Development Day for Visual Artists
When: Saturday Oct 15, 10am – 5pm
Instructor: Redux visiting artist Susan kae Grant
Cost: $30 early registration (before October 8), $40 late registration (after October 8). Ticket cost includes lunch provided by Poogan’s Porch.

This informational and inspiring workshop focuses on seven strategies that Grant believes are crucial for preparing yourself for a successful and satisfying career as an artist. To find out more information or to register visit Redux Studios website.

The 11th Charleston Pecha Kucha Night will be held on October 12, 2011. That would be a Wednesday evening folks. So mark your calendars and keep watch here, on Twitter (@pkchs) and on the Facebook page for more details.

We’ve got a great venue lined up – but you won’t find out where that is until a couple days prior. We’ve got some creative and inspiring speakers lined up – but you won’t find out who they are until sometime next week…maybe. Oh and tickets will go on sale…prior to the event.  We’re not being elusive, the suspense is just the fun of it all. We’ve been through this rodeo together before, you know the drill.

In the meantime, we do need VOLUNTEERS! So, shoot us an email, write on our wall or a tweet and sign up.

See you on 10.12.11 for #11

Well, not exactly in that order. Soon enough the 2012 BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival® will be back in Charleston and all will be flocking to Marion Square and other designated locations to enjoy the feast that Charleston offers.

Each year there is an official poster and a call-for-entries is up and running for 2012. So up and run – entries are due this Friday, September 16th. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize and the title of Official Poster Artist. The design will be featured on official Festival merchandise and showcased in storefronts across the Lowcountry. The official poster design will be unveiled at a later event in the fall.

“We’re looking for something fresh and that has never been done before,” said Zach Norris, Graphic Designer for the Festival. “2012 will be the seventh year of the Festival and elements of the lucky number seven would be fun to incorporate.”

Submitted designs will be judged by a panel represented by Charleston’s culinary and art communities. Applications are available at charlestonwineandfood.com and entries are free of charge. Or for more information and details go to the Poster Competition Facebook Page.

For inspiration, here is the 2011 winner.

The Charleston Regional Alliance for the Arts is hosting the 2nd annual “OPEN” Arts Expo. The event is free and open to the public on September 10th from noon – 5:30pm at Memminger Auditorium.

Featured activities inside include: building Charleston’s creative arts district with LEGOS; a family-fun-arts corner directed by Creative Spark Center for the Arts; a scheduled series of participatory art activities giving attendees a personal and intimate experience of the arts; a multi-media film screening of local performances, concerts and exhibits.

Beaufain Street will be closed off for the event, attendees will enjoy famous fare from the Charleston Food Truck Federation; local performances and street performers.

For more details, visit the event page here.