Well, January was off to a quiet and cold start. Even though Charlestonians are still moaning and groaning about being colder than we'd like to be, I'm pretty sure the quiet part is just about over.

I'm sure most of your calendars are getting pretty full. I've even had to actually schedule personal reading time. ... Who am I kidding? The crazier it gets, the more I like it.

Digital Corridor

Here's some inside info on a show that's happening Friday evening. Come hang with some "material girls" at the Charleston Digital Corridor (corner of East Bay and Calhoun streets) for a show of the "Material World."

"Material girls" Hirona Matsuda, Kristy Bishop, Sarah Frierson and Nina Garner aren't anything like ones Madonna sang about.

The show's title references the materials they use to create their art.

Matsuda's wall sculptures are composed of various found objects: insects, nuts, bolts, gears, and other every day things that she manages to turn into extraordinary works.

Bishop's textile works are intricate paintings done with cloth and thread.

Frierson's oil and encaustic paintings take the painted images to a dreamlike state with the added use of encaustics on top of the oil.

Garner's works are mixed-media pieces that combine black-and-white photography with some organic elements such a dainty leaves or flower petals.

The event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

There will be food and wine provided by Social Restaurant and Wine Bar.