Orvieto, Italy painter Livio Valentini made work in Aiken that was "transformative and unique," said Dr. Jeremy Culler, assistant professor of art history at USC Aiken. Culler is among many in the university and local community anticipating celebrating Valentini's work and relationship with Aiken, when the South Carolina Humanities Festival kicks off next month.

"We want to show people the real value of humanities and human expression and human experiences," Culler said, "and we want to celebrate those traditions that are unique to Aiken and we also want to give back to an individual that meant so much to so many people that is no longer with us."