A Call to All:  The Great War Summons the Palmetto State
April 2007 marks the ninetieth anniversary of the United States' entry into World War I.  The war not only had a major impact on the nation, but on individual states, cities and towns. South Carolina, like many other states, was not free of involvement. A Call to All explores the many means of propaganda employed by the U.S. Government to encourage soldiers and their families to support the war effort. This exhibition is one part of a five-institution collaboration in Columbia that will present a view of how South Carolinians became involved in the war effort and how the war affected the Palmetto State. A symposium, lectures, and gallery tours are just a few of the many programs associated with this collaborative project to be held in the fall of 2007.

Grandeur Saved: Photographs of the Aiken-Rhett House by Michael Eastman
Grandeur Saved features sixteen large-scale, color photographs of the Aiken-Rhett House by renowned contemporary photographer Michael Eastman. This body of work was inspired by Eastman’s love for old buildings and his desire to document historic structures before they vanish from the American landscape. Built in 1818 and virtually unaltered since 1858, the Aiken-Rhett House stands alone as the most intact townhouse complex showcasing urban life in antebellum Charleston, South Carolina. This exhibition is on loan from the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston.

Spring for Art! McKissick Museum Annual Fundraiser Exhibition
An invitational exhibition and sale of works by artists on themes reflecting the South Carolina Midlands. This annual event is sponsored by the McKissick Museum Advisory Council. A gala fundraiser will be held on Friday evening, March 28, 2008, from 7:30 to 10:00 PM

Barbecue Joints & The Good Folks Who Own Them
Photographer and author David Gelin traveled throughout the south, documenting a variety of barbecue restaurants and the proprietors who keep the tradition going. Through extensive B/W and color images, paired with contextual information, the author takes the visitor on a remarkable visual journey through the heart of barbecue country.

Generations: African American Camp Meetings in the Carolinas
This exhibit will capture the history and spirit of camp meetings through photographs, video, and artifacts. The project will increase the understanding and awareness of this rich, southern tradition and show the importance camp meetings hold both within and outside the communities where they take place. This exhibition is organized with the assistance of Minuette Floyd in the USC Department of Art. Her photographs and oral histories will make the past and present come alive joining generation to generation.

Carrying the State
South Carolina has long been considered one of the most influential states when it comes to the history of presidential elections. As one of the earliest states on the primary trail, South Carolina serves as a major political battleground during the primaries as well as the elections. Here, voting results often separate the candidates with a viable chance at their party’s nomination from those who do not. Curated by students from the Fall 2007 Museum Exhibitions Development class, this exhibit will explore the important role South Carolina has had in presidential elections, discuss the evolution and methods of the voting process and give visitors a chance to vote for their own candidate (with results posted on the museum website).