Storybook Shoppe hosting author Laymon at RSLA
The Storybook Shoppe children’s bookstore will host MacArthur Genius Grant Honoree and award-winning author Kiese Laymon for an evening of stories from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, July 24, at Robert Smalls Leadership Academy (RSLA) at 43 W. Alston Drive in Beaufort.
This free program for families will include a writing opportunity inspired by Lowcountry summers, as well as discussion of Laymon’s debut children’s picture book “City Summer, Country Summer” in conversation with local students E Achurch and Emily Alaia from DAYLO (Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization). Books will be available for sale and signing.
This special event is a community collaboration between the Storybook Shoppe, Robert Smalls Leadership Academy, DAYLO, and the Conroy Center.
Shrimp City Slim in Beaufort this week
Gary Erwin, aka Shrimp City Slim, Charleston-based blues pianist/singer, will perform two shows this week in Beaufort: 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 25, at Hop Dog on Scott Street; and from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, at the Ribaut Road farmers’ market in Port Royal.
Shrimp City Slim has been entertaining Lowcountry audiences for 40 years and is well-known on the beach/shag circuit as well as the international blues and jazz scene. His website is www.shrimpcityslim.com.
SOBA awards 2025 Naomi McCracken Scholarships
The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) has announced the recipients of the 2025 SOBA and Naomi McCracken Scholarship: Katherine Donahue and Ke’yari Kelly. The scholarship, established in 2007 to honor one of SOBA’s founding members, supports graduating high school seniors pursuing degrees in the arts.
This year’s awards were presented by Emmett and Teddy McCracken, along with SOBA President Karen Richards, during a special gathering at the SOBA gallery. The two student artists were recognized not only for their exceptional artistic talent, but also for their academic achievements and commitment to future careers in the arts.
Donahue, a graduate of May River High School, has been accepted into Clemson University’s prestigious architecture program. Kelly, a Bluffton High School graduate, will attend Winthrop University to pursue a degree in art education.
The Naomi McCracken Scholarship was founded following Naomi McCracken’s passing in 2006. Her family requested that memorial donations be made to SOBA, and in 2007, her son Emmett McCracken and then-president Dave Dickson created the scholarship fund in her memory. Naomi was a beloved artist and a driving force behind SOBA’s early growth.
‘Everyday Life on Hilton Head’ featured in SOBA’s August Exhibit
The Society of Bluffton Artists (SOBA) is proud to present “Everyday Life on Hilton Head,” a solo exhibit by Nancy Huson, as its August Featured Artist show. The exhibit will be on display from Sunday, Aug. 3 through Saturday, Aug. 30 at the SOBA Gallery, located in Old Town Bluffton.
An opening reception — free and open to the public — will take place from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 7 at the gallery, offering the community a chance to meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments.
Nancy Huson draws inspiration from her daily walks through Hilton Head’s natural landscapes — its beaches, gardens, and marshes. Her oil and pastel paintings radiate with vibrant color and the quiet joy of everyday island moments.
For more information about Huson and to preview her work, visit nancyhuson.com. For gallery hours and additional information about SOBA, visit sobagallery.com.
— Compiled from staff reports
