A graduate of Vanderbilt University’s fine arts program, Xiao Xin Lu is now an artist here in Charleston with a studio at Redux Contemporary Art Center.

Featured in the Piccolo Spoleto festival show “A Long Time Ago” at the City Gallery this past spring, she describes the aesthetics of her mixed-media monoprints as a combination of “simplicity and harmony to create a sense of visual poetry.”

In one of her first shows locally, Xin Lu will have an exhibition of her monoprints at Costa and Williams Dental Health Care on James Island. A portion of the proceeds from any of the art sold will benefit The Journey House.

There will be an opening reception 5-8 p.m. Friday with light refreshments. The public is invited. Costa and Williams is at 325 Folly Road, Suite 310, and can be reached at 737-4437. To get in touch with the artist, email her at xiao.x.lu@gmail.com.

CSO Gospel Choir

Dr. Isaiah McGee, artistic director of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir, recently announced this year’s programming. There are lots of great performances to save the dates for, so grab you calendar.

The first performance of the season will be “40 Acres and a Mule,” an epic story about African-American land preservation and their heirs. The performance will take place at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Calvary Baptist Church. Tickets will be $25.

In addition to the new production “40 Acres and A Mule,” this upcoming season also will include the much loved “CSO Gospel Christmas” with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the CSO Spiritual Ensemble in two performances Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Also, there will be two stand-alone performances: a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute and a Palm Sunday performance.

And in April, the group will make an appearance at the fifth annual Charleston International Festival of Choirs.

The CSO Gospel Choir was founded in 1999 and consists of more than 80 voices.

It’s been a major part of the symphony’s outreach programming.

“As one of Charleston’s most culturally diverse groups, performing gospel, spirituals and sacred music for local concert events as well as international and regional performances throughout the season, the Gospel Choir is noted throughout the region as one of the most noted and visual choral groups in South Carolina,” explains McGee.

To purchase tickets, call 991-1035 or go to www.csogospel.com.