Ah - h - h - h the arts. Everyone agrees: We need lots of culture and exposure to the arts. What are the arts? We think painting, sculpture, music and so on.

Orangeburg County has the Orangeburg County Fine Arts Center with programs from exhibits to music to wood carving to quilting to instruction in painting and mosaics and more. There are ballet, gymnastics, symphonies and lectures at the colleges; I even remember when the Junior Service League volunteers taught art lessons in the schools before art programs were instituted by the schools. A photography club meets at the County Library.

Then there is the Orangeburg League of the Arts ... WHAT? I hear that group is about to disband. "WHY," you ask. Let's see ... Apathy on the part of the county citizens, lack of participation, a sense that the organization has been here a long time and is simply taken for granted. It has sponsored the Art Exhibit at the County Fair since 1983 and always will ... OR WILL IT??

Long-time treasurer Alex Dibble says he will definitely retire as of January 2009. Other board members have served long and hard and look for new input.

Back in the 1970s, the Claude Teem home on the North Road, built in 1918 by Hampton H. Culler Sr., was purchased by Arthur and Lois Lusty. Retired teachers, they immediately began participating in local cultural activities. Lois, along with Gloria John Barter, worked to establish the Orangeburg League of the Arts which held its first meeting on Monday, Nov. 19, 1979 with 47 attendees and a watercolor demonstration by Oscar Weatherington. Meetings were held at the Broughton Street Armory Recreation Center and at a lecture room at Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College.

The Lustys were hosts to many workshops in their spacious home, including a wreath-making workshop, which I attended.

It became obvious that there was a need for an arts center in the Orangeburg area. Representatives from the community, with the help of Art Lusty, approached the City Council about renovating the former River Pavilion/bath house. Federal grants, other funds and volunteers repaired and renovated the building; on March 17, 1986 the Orangeburg Arts Center opened.

Members of OLA were generous in sharing their talents and knowledge and taught many free or low-cost classes and workshops. Many members volunteered and painted a mural on "the wall" beside the parking lot across from First Baptist Church.

During the 29-plus years of its existence, OLA has presented many outstanding programs at its monthly meetings. Some of the artists presenting were Brian Regs and Ann Hightower Patterson of City Art, Campbell Frost, Bob Hickman, Jim Finch, Ted Borg, Jeannie LaFreniere, Jesse Thomas, Dr. Robert Moe, Bretta Staley, Noel Jernigan, Helen Mack and many others.

The Orangeburg League of the Arts meets on the third Monday of each month. Artists, art patrons and the public are invited to come to a reception and business meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 12 at the Orangeburg Arts Center. Anyone interested in the visual arts is invited to join the OLA.

Membership advantages include a monthly newsletter, access to art books and art videos in the OLA Library as well as opportunities to exhibit and sell one's creations, including an annual members' Fine Arts Exhibit at the OCFAC.

As a community, let's turn out for this meeting, voice our opinions and show the Orangeburg League of the Arts that WE CARE.

T&D Correspondent Dr. Iris Arant-Kittrell can be reached by e-mail at arant@mindspring.com.

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