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“Becoming Georgia O’Keefe:” Columbia College Observes the Centennial of an Art Legend's Residence

Since the fall of 2015, Columbia College has celebrated the centennial of the nearly-one-year teaching residence at the Midlands women’s college of one of the giants in American art – Georgia O’Keefe.  Jackie Adams, the college’s art gallery coordinator, notes the importance of that year.  That was the year that her style changed, from one influenced by her New York teachers to the direction that would win her worldwide acclaim.  Columbia artist Judy Hubbard, who mounted an O’Keefe-themed exhibit at the college’s gallery, believes that O’Keefe’s “isolation” in Columbia gave her the space to find what was within herself, to become “Georgia O’Keefe.”

Tut Underwood is producer of South Carolina Focus, a weekly news feature. A native of Alabama, Tut graduated from Auburn University with a BA in Speech Communication. He worked in radio in his hometown before moving to Columbia where he received a Master of Mass Communications degree from the University of South Carolina, and worked for local radio while pursuing his degree. He also worked in television. He was employed as a public information specialist for USC, and became Director of Public Information and Marketing for the South Carolina State Museum. His hobbies include reading, listening to music in a variety of styles and collecting movies and old time radio programs.