New Appointments to the Georgia Council for the Arts

William “Bill” S. Adler, 49, Alpharetta, Sixth Congressional District Representative — Adler is the founder and chief executive officer of CyberScrub LLC. He has been a professional photographer for the past twenty-eight years and served as the official photographer to the Republican National Convention in 1996 and 2000. Adler earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. He and his wife, Brenda, have two children.

Elizabeth “Connie” G. Averitt, 70, Statesboro, Twelfth Congressional District Representative — Averitt serves as a board member on the David H. Averitt Center for the Arts in Statesboro. She is a member of the grant committee of the Hospital Authority of Bulloch County. In 1988, Averitt founded the Georgia Southern Botanical Garden and is currently a member of the board. She also founded the Bulloch Academy in 1971 and Joseph’s Home for Boys in 1981. Averitt earned a bachelor’s degree from Converse College. She survives her husband, Hal, and has three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Betty Anne Bell, 73, Atlanta, Fourth Congressional District Representative — Bell is retired after performing as a singer and serving as a teacher in the Atlanta School System. She served as the soloist for Southern Charm Ltd., and has sung for numerous presidents, governors, and foreign dignitaries. She served as president of the Atlanta Music Club, and as a board member of the Atlanta Repertory Opera Company, Atlanta Children’s Civic Theater, Southern Ballet Company and the Woodruff Arts Center. Bell earned a bachelor’s degree from Berry College. She and her husband, Bob, have two grown children and six grandchildren.

Warren J. King, 62, Dawsonville, Ninth Congressional District Representative — King is a retired executive with Amoco Corporation and British Petroleum. Most recently, he was the chief executive officer of ARCO Polypropylene Company. King is the president and chairman of the Dawson County Arts Council and the Bowen Center for the Arts in Dawsonville. He is also the president of his local rotary club and the chairman of the Dawson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to the Dawson County Board of Commissioners. King earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. He and his wife, Nancy, have three grown children and one grandson.

M. Marie Nygren, 48, Chattahoochee Hills, Thirteenth Congressional District Representative — Nygren is the owner of Serenbe Development Corporation and The Inn at Serenbe. She serves on the governing board of Woodward Academy. She has served on board of Zoo Atlanta and has directed the summer program of Emmaus House. Nygren attended Florida State University and Georgia State University. She and her husband, Steve, have three children.

Journeys of Textiles, Earth and Fire

The Roush Family Gallery of the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center presents “Journeys of Textiles, Earth and Fire,” a body of new works by Sally Austin and Don McWhorter. The exhibit which is open to the public will run March 7 – 28, 2008 with an opening reception Friday, March 7, from five until seven p.m.

The public is invited to come meet the artist and discuss their work.

The “journeys” of California native, Sally Austin and lifelong Carroll County, Georgia resident, Don McWhorter led the two to meet in Nashville, Tennessee. They quickly realized their mutual appreciation for an eclectic taste of the visual arts, music, writing and life in general. The two found in each other a friendship that encouraged and inspired not only each other’s art but their spirits as well. Now, after a few years of a long distance relationship, the two share each other’s studio space; summers in Grand Rapids, Michigan and winters in Carrollton, Georgia.

Sally’s work, inspired by nature and personal experiences, bursts with vibrant colors and textures. They are created by manipulating, coiling, wrapping and fraying silks, vintage and other fine fabrics collected from around the world. Don will be showing many works never exhibited before. Assembled groupings including stone and clay resemble the cliff dwellings and landscapes of the southwest United States. Included will be some miniatures in porcelain and altered large stoneware vessels. Both artists have recently been recognized for their latest works. Sally has received an ‘Invitation to exhibit’ at the prestigious Cherry Creek Festival in Denver Colorado this summer and Don recently won the judges Award at the Festival of the Masters Art Show at Disneyworld and the Artigras Festival of the Arts in Jupiter, Florida.

The Galleria of the Cultural Arts Center will host a premier solo exhibit by Suzanne Smith, entitled “three acre pond, a watercolor collective.” Suzanne is a Tennessee native, where she graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelors of Fine Art in 1991. She has called Carrollton home since 1995, and has been a long time member of the Carrollton Artist Guild. Working with several water mediums, she favors watercolors. Her works reflect the warmth of country living with rural sophistication. Suzanne will also be at the reception to greet friends and answer questions. Most of her works are for sale, with a few in private collections on loan for the exhibit.

For more information call the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center at 770-838-1083. The Carrollton Cultural Arts Center is a facility of the Carrollton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department.
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GET INTO THE GROOVE OF ATLANTA’S BEST ARTS & MUSIC

Presenting the 2nd Annual Super Summer Art & Music Celebration
Mable House Amphitheatre, Saturday, May 17 ,2008

Get fired up and into the groove with the best of Atlanta’s arts scene. The South Cobb Arts Alliance, in tandem with TD Entertainment, presents the 2nd annual Super Summer Art & Music Celebration at Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 17th from 4:00pm-10:00pm. This premier art and music festival is a fun, family–friendly, free event that treats you to an evening of the arts, including artistic demonstrations, song and dance numbers by local performers and more. Kids and parents will love the Children’s Creative Corner and Play Pavilion, an artists’ market, restaurant row, and live music throughout the day. Stay for the show when PebbleBrook High School’s ComPAny present JUMP, JIVE AND WAIL, demonstrating why they are known for excellence in the performing arts. www.cccepa.com/.

At 8:00 PM, New York saxophonist Reggie Hines takes over the stage with his high energy and electrifying sounds along with special guest performances by, trumpeter Melvin Miller of Five Men on a Stool and Tammy Allen, Atlanta’s favorite vocalist extraordinaire singing her signature sultry blend of jazz.

Reggie Hines is known as a diverse and explosive musician who has played for Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and the O’Jays, among many others. His well-schooled and fantastic finesse with the saxophone will leave audiences begging for more.

Stylish trumpeter Melvin Miller, one of the members of Five Men on a Stool, will join Reggie onstage for a one-night-only, special performance of contemporary jazz with an old time twist, reminiscent of the classic masters Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and Louis Armstrong. .http://www.melvinmmiller.com/

Fiery performer Tammy Allen exudes energy and fun onstage. The soulful songstress, scats, dances and connects with the audience every single performance she gives. http://www.tammyallen.com/

So mark your calendar today for the 2nd Annual Super Summer Art & Music Celebration to be held on Saturday, May 17th. The doors open for fun at 4:00 pm, and the music cranks up from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm. Admission is free and reserved tables for four is available for the concert at a cost of $50.00 with all proceeds collected benefiting the programs and events offered by the South Cobb Arts Alliance.

Mable House Complex is located at 5239 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126. For more information on exhibits and upcoming events, call 770-819-3285, or visit http://www.southcobbarts.org/.

Sponsors for the Super Summer Art & Music Celebration include: South Cobb Arts Alliance, Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ, Atlanta Life Magazine and TD Entertainment. For Corporate Sponsorship or exhibitor information, contact Terri Harof at wlmailhtml:%7B35CDC00E-0D4A-4FFC-8D54-7BA927D04798%7Dmid://00000002/!x-usc:mailto:Terriharof@bellsouth.net or call 404.786.7410.
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MudFire Gallery Presents Kyle Carpenter "The Pot Adorned"

March 1 - March 29, 2008
Opening Reception
Saturday, March 1, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm

MudFire Gallery welcomes back Kyle Carpenter of Asheville, North Carolina for his annual solo exhibition of new functional pottery, this year entitled "The Pot Adorned."

In this year's show, Kyle unveils a stunning new direction in his brushwork, with detailed illustrations that complement his elegant mark making. Select works from the show will be posted to the website early next week.

- artist info, images, and more information about the show -
- gallery hours, location, and map below -

Upcoming Workshops
Kari Radasch --- Making Pots Inside Out and Upside Down --- March 8-9
Learn to make functional pottery from molds, with focus on creating the mold. Hands-on.

Jeff Oestreich --- Attention to Detail --- April 12-13
Throwing and altering demo with an eye towards the critical details that make the difference.

Steven Branfman --- Raku Spectacular --- May 3-4
Group raku firing with throwing, glazing, and firing demonstrations.

Richard Notkin --- Innovative Techniques for Ceramic Sculpture --- May 16-18
One day hands-on sculptural exercise followed by two days of demonstration.

MudFire Demos at The American Craft Show

MudFire potters will be doing demonstrations of making pots on and off the wheel throughout the day at the American Craft Show at Cobb Galleria Centre on March 14, 15, and 16. The show features over 200 artists this year.

- get more info on the American Craft Council website -

Please call us with questions at 404-377-8033.
Loads of information and images available at www.mudfire.com

Gallery Location and Hours
www.mudfire.com
175 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030
Open Thursday - Sunday, from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
Outside these hours, please call ahead, we're usually here: 404-377-8033.
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The Three Musketeers

Georgia Academy of Dance & the Performing Arts
in association with Georgia Dance Theatre
Presents
The Three Musketeers
Sunday, June 8th at 7 pm
Coweta Performing Arts Centre
For tickets and additional information on upcoming performances visit www.gadance.com

PHOTOGRAPHER SHEILA PREE BRIGHT’S YOUNG AMERICANS

Election Year Exhibition Examines National Identities of American Youth
May 3 – August 10, 2008

"Young Americans,” a dynamic new series of photographs by Atlanta-based photographer Sheila Pree Bright, will debut at the High Museum of Art in May 2008. The exhibition explores the identities of U.S. citizens and immigrants pursuing citizenship by presenting portraits of Americans aged 18 to 25, each posing with an American flag.

The exhibition will consist of 28 large-format chromogenic prints, several accompanied by statements from the subjects revealing their opinions and attitudes about American culture and society. On view in Atlanta through August 10, 2008, “Young Americans” will travel to The Amistad Center for Art and Culture, an affiliate institution housed within the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Conn. Additional venues yet to be announced will follow.

“The High Museum is proud to debut this vital new work,” said Michael E. Shapiro, Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Director at the High Museum of Art. “Sheila Pree Bright’s ‘Young Americans’ brings an exciting and timely dialogue about American identity to the High in this election year. The exhibition offers a fresh, contemporary perspective and an insightful look at the attitudes and beliefs of young adults.”

Pree Bright began working on the “Young Americans” series in the fall of 2006, and her swift development of the project led to her selection as the inaugural recipient of an artist-in-residency at the Amistad Center for Art and Culture. Her subjects are photographed with the American flag in poses reflecting elements of their identities and feelings about their country. Pree Bright collaborates with her subjects by inviting them to choose their own clothing, poses, and interactions with the flag. She has said of the work, “Young people born between 1982 and 2000 constitute the largest generation since the baby boomers, but they are often portrayed negatively in our society. I wanted to give them a platform to speak for themselves—to show and describe how they feel about this country. I also wanted to include young people from diverse backgrounds and socio-economic groups.”

“Sheila is a tremendously talented artist, independent and courageous of voice,” remarks Julian Cox, Curator of Photography at the High and organizing curator for this exhibition. “While relatively simple in conception, the series is challenging and thought-provoking in equal measure.”

Sheila Pree Bright
A 2002 National Graduate Seminar Fellow at the Photography Institute at Columbia University, N.Y., Pree Bright earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in photography from Georgia State University in 2003. Her photographs are included in public and private collections across the United States. In 2006 she was awarded the prestigious Santa Fe Prize. Presented annually by the Santa Fe Center for Photography, this prize recognizes young artists working in photography who show special promise. Currently a studio artist at The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, she was awarded the En Foco New Works Photography Award (1999) and the National Bronica Award (2001). Pree Bright’s work prior to “Young Americans” highlights issues related to ethnic identity and gender and includes the series “Suburbia,” which focuses on home environments of African Americans residing in the suburbs.

Exhibition Organization and Support
The production costs for the “Young Americans” project and exhibition have been generously underwritten by the AETNA Foundation. The exhibition is organized by Julian Cox, Curator of Photography at the High Museum of Art, in partnership with the Amistad Center for Art & Culture at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut. The exhibition will be presented at the Wadsworth Athenaeum this fall and will travel to additional venues to be announced.

AETNA
The Aetna Foundation is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Founded in 1972, the Foundation helps build healthy communities by promoting volunteerism, forming partnerships and funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where our employees and customers live and work. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed nearly $ 335 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments.
For more information, please visit www.aetna.com/foundation.

The Amistad Center for Art & Culture
The Amistad Center for Art & Culture owns one of the country’s finest art and humanities collections devoted to the African American experience. Its holdings include rare books, manuscripts, artifacts and fine art and photography relating to the history of African Americans. A particular strength of the collection is its more than 1,900 19th- and 20th-century photographs that range from vivid images of slave life and the Reconstruction era of the 1860s through the turn of the century, to 1940s and 1950s news photos of the civil rights movement, performers and political figures, to mid-to-late- 20th-century work with themes of social, political and historical references from our own time. For more information, please visit www.amistadartandculture.org.

Photography at the HighThe High’s photography collection includes more than 3,900 prints, with notable examples of every photographic genre and process as well as many of the acknowledged masters in the field, including Julia Margaret Cameron, Carleton Watkins, George N. Barnard, Harry Callahan, Walker Evans and Richard Misrach. American photographs made between 1945 and 1980 are a particular strength of the collection. Additionally, large-scale prints by leading contemporary artists such as Sally Mann, Thomas Struth, Taryn Simon and Jeff Wall also feature prominently in the collection.

High Museum of Art
The High Museum of Art, founded in 1905 as the Atlanta Art Association, is the leading art museum in the southeastern United States. With more than 11,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High Museum of Art has an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American and decorative art; significant holdings of European paintings; a growing collection of African American art; and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography and African art. The High is also dedicated to supporting and collecting works by Southern artists and is distinguished as the only major museum in North America to have a curatorial department specifically devoted to the field of folk and self-taught art. The High’s Media Arts department produces acclaimed annual film series and festivals of foreign, independent and classic cinema. In November 2005, the High opened three new buildings by architect Renzo Piano that more than doubled the Museum’s size, creating a vibrant “village for the arts” at the Woodruff Arts Center in midtown Atlanta. For more information about the High, please visit www.High.org.

The Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center is the largest arts center in the Southeast as well as one of the four largest in the nation. The Woodruff is unique in that it combines five visual and performing-arts divisions on one campus as one not-for-profit organization. Opened in 1968, the Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the High Museum of Art, Young Audiences and the 14th Street Playhouse.
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Silver Jewelry Workshop - only 3 slots left!

Sat. March 1st, Peg Kersey of La Grange, will be holding a silver jewelry workshop using PMC or precious metal clay at the Fayette Art Center. The workshop will run from 10:00 AM until 2:00 Pm. $60.00 plus $15.00 material fee. Call 770-631-2780 or email Fayetteartcneter@bellsouth.net to register. Only three openings left.

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Fayette Society of Fine Arts Members Plan Spring Art Show

Fayette Society of Fine Arts (FSOFA), a non-profit 501(C3) organization dedicated to instruction in the fine arts currently is planning its annual Spring Art Show. Its membership includes residents of Fayette, Coweta, Clayton, Spalding, and Pike Counties. Annually FSOFA awards grants to the art departments of Fayette County Public High Schools.

As a non-profit organization these grants are funded through dues and donations. All donations are tax-deductible. One major source of these funds is the annual Spring Art Show displaying members’ artwork. This year the Spring Art Show will be the weekend of March 29-30 at the Executive Center on Habersham Drive in Fayetteville. The show is open to the public.

Works by members of FSOFA may be found on display at the following locations: Fayette Senior Center; Heritage Bank, Jeff Davis Drive; Heritage Bank, Town Center; BB&T, Jeff Davis Drive; Community Capital Bank, Jeff Davis Drive; Peachtree City Library; Bank of Georgia, and Barnes &Noble. Any business interested in displaying artwork of FSOFA members may contact the association’s president, Sandy Holcomb, 770-461-8609.

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Georgia Magazine sponsors art contest

GEORGIA Magazine is looking for patriotic art created by kids from all across Georgia as a part of its 2008 Kids' Fourth of July Art Contest, so get out your paints, crayons and markers and draw a picture showing how you celebrate the Fourth of July- and you just might win!
http://www.thebladeplus.com/news/2008/0225/News/008.html

2007 Poetry Pulitzer Prize Winner to Read at Clayton State Tomorrow Night

2007 Poetry Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey will read from her work, “Native Guard,” on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. in room 272 of the James M. Baker Center on the Clayton State University campus as part of the University’s spring 2008 Visiting Writers Reading Series. Copies of Trethewey’s work will be available for purchase, and a question/answer session and book signing will follow the reading.

“Native Guard” (Houghton Mifflin 2006) won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Tretheway, who has also authored “Bellocq’s Ophelia” (Graywolf, 2002), which was named a Notable Book for 2003 by the American Library Association, and “Domestic Work” (Graywolf, 2000).

Her poems have appeared in such journals and anthologies as “American Poetry Review,” “Callaloo, Kenyon Review,” “The Southern Review,” “New England Review,” “Gettysburg Review,” and “The Best American Poetry” 2000 and 2003. Currently, she is Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry at Emory University. She is also the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Study Center, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Bunting Fellowship Program of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard.

Her first collection of poetry, “Domestic Work”, was selected by Rita Dove as the winner of the inaugural Cave Canem Poetry Prize for the best first book by an African American poet and won both the 2001 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Book Prize and the 2001 Lillian Smith Award for Poetry. In her introduction to the book, Dove said, “Trethewey eschews the Polaroid instant, choosing to render the unsuspecting yearnings and tremulous hopes that accompany our most private thoughts—reclaiming for us that interior life where the true self flourishes and to which we return, in solitary reverie, for strength.”

To learn more about Trethewey, visit http://www.blueflowerarts.com/ntrethewey.html.

The Visiting Writers Reading Series is funded by Clayton State’s Lyceum and is free and open to the public. For directions to the campus, visit www.clayton.edu. For additional information, contact brigittebyrd@clayton.edu.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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The Margaret Mitchell House and the Georgia Council for the Arts Announce Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest

On March 16, poetry recitation champions from 41 high schools across Georgia compete for first place in Poetry Out Loud, a national recitation contest. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation present Poetry Out Loud in partnership with The Margaret Mitchell House and the Georgia Council for the Arts. Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. State champions will advance to the National Finals, to take place on April 28-29, 2008 in Washington, DC.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to foster the next generation of literary readers by capitalizing on the latest trends in poetry – recitation and performance. The program builds on the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of rap mosaic amoung youth. Poetry Out Loud invites the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theatre into the English or Drama class. Through Poetry Out Loud, students can master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage

“Learning great poetry by heart develops the mind and imagination,” said Dana Gioia, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “It isn’t just an arts program. By immersing themselves in powerful language and ideas, the student will develop their ability to speak well, especially in public. This is a skill they will use in the workplace and the community for the rest of their lives.”

The NEA and Poetry Foundation have partnered to provide administrative grants to state arts agencies, prizes for state and national winners, and will coordinate the National Finals next April. With this support, the Margaret Mitchell House has targeted high schools across Georgia.

Additionally, the NEA and the Poetry Foundation will provide state arts agencies with free, standard-based curriculum materials for use by participating schools. These materials include print and online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide with sample lesson plans to help instructors teach recitation and performance, and an audio CD featuring well-known actors and writers such as James Earl Jones, Anthony Hopkins, Alyssa Milano, and N. Scott Momaday. Program materials are available for download on the website, http://www.poetryoutloud.org/, which offers additional resources.

Poetry Out Loud prizes

Students who participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program may be eligible to compete in the state and National Finals in 2008. Each winner at the state level will receive $300 and all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to compete for national competition. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $150, with $200 for his or her school library, and the second runner-up will receive $100, with $100 for his or her school library. Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

For further information on Poetry Out Loud, visit http://www.poetryoutloud.org/

The Margaret Mitchell House, Inc., was founded in 1985 to save and preserve the house where Margaret Mitchell lived and wrote the book Gone With the Wind. On August 1, 2004, the Margaret Mitchell House merged with the Atlanta History Center (AHC). As a result, the AHC oversees the operation of the Margaret Mitchell House, Gone With The Wind Movie Museum, Visitors Center, Museum Shop, and The Literary Center as a permanent landmark, a literary center, and a tourist attraction.
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LOCAL ARTIST TRACY HARTLEY FEATURED AT PROMISE PLACE 2ND ANNUAL ART AUCTION

Promise Place, the council on domestic violence that serves Fayette, Pike, Spalding and Upson Counties invites the community to join them for a live and silent art auction to be held at the Tyrone Depot located at 847 Senoia Road, Tyrone, on Saturday, March 15th, 2008.

The preview begins at 6:30pm and the live auction starts at 7:30pm. Admission is a donation of $15 per person or $25 per couple which includes hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and hourly door prizes. Art provided by ARTcetra will include lithographs, oil and watercolor paintings, celebrity and sports collectibles.

This year, art work donated by local artist Tracy Hartley will be a part of the collections up for bid. Tracy moved to Atlanta in the 1980's and began creating. Initially, his artistic creations were mainly focused on music and videos. Later, wanting to turn his creative passion into a full time business, he moved on to building furniture from salvaged and recycled materials. Over the years he has built a reputation and a big following for the uniqueness of his pieces.

Recently, Tracy was inspired to dig even deeper into his artistic well. "Two years ago, I began perfecting my "recipe" for my art. I work in a very mixed medium", said Tracy. He now paints on canvas using "... a "loose style" mixing collage, spray paint, sharpies, glazes and stencils. Once a piece is almost finished, it is then distressed with fire and sandpaper", he stated.

Roosters are often found among Tracy's collections and will be a part of the artwork up for bid at the Promise Place fundraiser.

Promise Place Art Auction Committee member Amy Leuenberger is thrilled to have Tracy's artwork as part of the selection of beautiful and unique pieces up for bid. "I fell in love with Tracy's creative style and was thrilled when he offered to donate some of his art to our event, she said. "Knowing that Tracy has a heart for victims of domestic violence, makes his artwork all the more meaningful. We appreciate Tracy and all the other generous friends of Promise Place such as "Rip" Ripplinger of Tomberlin Golf Cart Company in Peachtree City who has donated a golf cart that will be up for bid, and Chip Young who has offered to let us use his Tyrone Depot for the second year in a row."

"Volunteers have been working hard to make this year's auction as exciting and as successful as last year's. We hope the community will come to support Promise Place and the work they do for those in crisis situations," stated Amy.

The auction will also include a 7 day stay at a Fabulous Tuscan villa! RSVP's are appreciated by March 7th at 404-702-4490.

Promise Place serves over 1,200 women and children each year. Proceeds from the art auction will benefit the many programs for domestic violence victims and their children, as well as help to offset going operating expenses for the emergency shelter. To volunteer, make a donation or for more information on Promise Place call 770-460-1604.
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Shontelle Thrash Performs One-Person Show, “The Journey” at Clayton State on Feb. 28

Clayton State University Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Shontelle Thrash will be performing her one-person show, “The Journey” in the Clayton State Theatre (room G132 of the Arts & Sciences Building) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28. Thrash’s performance is free and open to the public.

“This is an especially theatrical piece for Black History Month,” comments Clayton State Theatre Director Phillip DePoy.

“The Journey,” written by Dorothy Myles, is a play that tells the beginning of a nation of people in a country without a legacy to remember, following four black women through moments in time, beginning in Africa, and going from slavery to the hope of freedom.

“No pictures, no fortunes, no roots that were not tainted by another nation’s seed. Imposed upon in every way; no dawn to follow a new day -- a struggle to know where they belong when freedom rings. Women are said to be the backbone of every family. The black nation is no exception,” states Thrash’s website, www.shontellethrash.com.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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Five Finalists Compete for Winning Design of Official Race Poster for 2nd Annual ING Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon

From 20 original entries created by 22 students, five students at the Atlanta campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) were recognized as finalists in a design contest to create the official race poster of the 2nd annual ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon.

The grand prize winner, Mike Albuquerque, of Pernambuco, Brazil, was announced today at a special ceremony held at the Gallery 1600 on the Atlanta campus, and was presented with a $2,500 scholarship, as well as the right to see his creation reproduced as 15,000 posters for the March 30 running event.

The winning design captured the city of Atlanta and the energy of the race. The design features the silhouettes of runners set against the Atlanta cityscape. Albuquerque is a second year MFA advertising grad student.

“The creativity involved with this contest began in the fall, when the students simulated a half marathon to develop their initial designs. They used 13 hours and 1 minute to cross the finish line using brush strokes rather than foot steps. I expect it was just as exhausting for them as it will be for 15,000 people come March,” said Victoria Seahorn, race director of the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, who was at the ceremony to unveil the winning designs. “All the runners, walkers and wheelchair athletes who come to the race next month are sure to love this creative poster and appreciate the energies that went into the process.”

The unique design contest was held on November 11, 2006, with a total of 22 SCAD students participating. They had 13 hours and one minute (simulating 13.1 miles of the half marathon) to create their own original designs. At the conclusion of the contest, each student crossed the “finish line,” submitted a team or individual entry, and received a Design Contest Medal. A judge’s panel, consisting of representatives from ING Americas (event title sponsor), SCAD-Atlanta and race staff, selected five finalists and the one winning design.

The other four finalists included:
Yoon-Ae Goh- Jeonrabukdo, Korea
Kimberly Prindle- Orlando, FL
Daniel Walden- Springfield, IL
Corey Wilkes- Atlanta, GA

The second annual contest was developed by race sponsor PSI Promotional Solutions Inc. PSI will print the poster, which will be included in all registration packets for racers at the Health & Fitness Expo on March 28 and 29. A few of the posters will be signed and numbered by the artist as special gifts to the event winners on March 30.

Last year 39 students at the SCAD-Atlanta campus participated in the first design contest. The winning design, which incorporated the skyline of Atlanta, dogwood blossoms and a variety of runners, was created by NaLee Kim of Seoul, South Korea, a fourth-year undergraduate student. Kim’s design was produced as a Limited Edition print in 2007 to commemorate the inaugural marathon; the second place design, by Scott Zettergren of Atlanta, Ga., was distributed as the participants poster.

About the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon
The 2008 ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, to be held on Sunday, March 30, is Georgia’s picturesque, springtime, neighborhood–based distance combo event. Beginning at Centennial Olympic Park, it will travel through 26.2 miles (and 13.1 miles for the half marathon) of Metro Atlanta area’s most interesting and historic areas including the Sweet Auburn District, Inman Park, Midtown, Downtown and the city of Decatur. Along the way it will pass landmarks including the King Center, and Carter Center, before returning to Centennial Olympic Park for the finish. A limit of 15,000 registrations will be accepted for the ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon. The event is owned and operated by Georgia Marathon LLC.

The ING Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon includes a full weekend of activities for athletes, families and spectators – Health & Wellness Expo, Tot Trot, Neighborhood Challenge, and the ING Run for Something Better. A full list of weekend activities, volunteer opportunities and registration information are available at http://app.bronto.com/public/?q=link&fn=Key&id=bmodejkfjedhsbfvcxsonxddrzohbmk&link=abuhgdvjgwfirsptzeydptjxlycnbfj,

About ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management to more than 75 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 50 countries. With a diverse workforce of over 120,000 people, ING comprises a broad spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under the ING brand. In the U.S., the ING family of companies offers a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative investments, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit http://www.ing.com/.

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‘Carousel’ more than amusement park ride

ACG Note: The Springer Opera House is located in Columbus, GA. It is the State Theatre of Georgia and it is well worth visiting, regardless of what is showing! Be sure to head down early as you'll want to enjoy some of the side-walk restaurants just down the street and maybe take in a walk on the river. The Theater is gorgeous! The website is listed at the end of the info below, take a look!

Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein were the Midases of the Golden Age of Broadway and they considered “Carousel” the jewel in the crown they wore during the 1940s and 50s.

The Springer opens “Carousel” at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28, for a three-week run.

Rodgers and Hammerstein agreed that “Carousel” was their favorite of all their musical masterpieces. They appreciated the way in which they managed to integrate music with plot, tell a serious story and compose music that is unforgettable. “Time” magazine named “Carousel” the best musical of the 20th century.

The musical tells the story of the romance and marriage of an innocent girl (Tala Al-Khudhairi) and a carnival worker (Adam Clough), who finds easy pickings too hard to resist. Both of these actors were in Some Enchanted Evening, the Springer’s 2007 touring production that played all over the United States — and two dates in British Columbia.

Local audiences will remember Al-Khudhairi from this fall’s Enchanted April in which she played Costanza, the housekeeper at an Italian villa where four English women vacation.

“This is the musical that isn’t afraid to ask: Why is it that nice, intelligent girls will risk everything for a snarling rouge with a duck-tail haircut, leather jacket, tight jeans and several outstanding warrants, leaving the Boy Scout standing in the exhaust of a disappearing Harley,” said Springer artistic director Paul Pierce.

At a time when musicals were silly or vehicles to give some star a ride on the “Great White Way,” Rogers and Hammerstein had the foresight, fortitude and talent to tell meaningful romances with compelling tunes.

“Carousel” opened on Broadway on April 19, 1945, and ran for 890 performances.
Musical numbers such as “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” immediately became classics of the American musical songbook. In fact, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” has assumed a life of its own; not only is it often sung at graduations and funeral, many English soccer clubs sing it at their games.

For all its light-hearted moments, “Carousel” has some difficult subject matter, including domestic violence. As a consequence, the Springer is producing this show in conjunction with Hope Harbour, the Columbus Alliance for Battered Women. Hope Harbour volunteers will be available at performances with literature and information about how people can use their services.

The Springer and Hope Harbour will also hold talkbacks after three of the performances of “Carousel” — the 7:30 p.m. performances for the first two Saturdays of the run (March 1 and 8) and the 2:30 Sunday matinee (March 9). The audience is invited to stay after these performances to talk about the issues of abuse raised by the musical and ways to deal with this problem.

Volunteers from Hope Harbour and other social service agencies and some of the members of the “Carousel” cast will be on hand for these talkbacks.

“Carousel” runs at the Springer at 7:30 Feb. 28 – March 1, March 6-8 and March 13-15 and at 2:30 Sunday, March 9. For tickets or information, call 706-327-3688 or visit www.springeroperahouse.org.

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Shontelle Thrash Performs One-Person Show, “The Journey” at Clayton State on Feb. 28

Clayton State University Adjunct Instructor of Theatre Shontelle Thrash will be performing her one-person show, “The Journey” in the Clayton State Theatre (room G132 of the Arts & Sciences Building) at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 28. Thrash’s performance is free and open to the public.

“This is an especially theatrical piece for Black History Month,” comments Clayton State Theatre Director Phillip DePoy.

“The Journey,” written by Dorothy Myles, is a play that tells the beginning of a nation of people in a country without a legacy to remember, following four black women through moments in time, beginning in Africa, and going from slavery to the hope of freedom.

“No pictures, no fortunes, no roots that were not tainted by another nation’s seed. Imposed upon in every way; no dawn to follow a new day -- a struggle to know where they belong when freedom rings. Women are said to be the backbone of every family. The black nation is no exception,” states Thrash’s website, www.shontellethrash.com.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

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Essential Graham: Classics from the The Martha Graham Dance Company

Reminder! This is well worth a trip to see:

February 26th at 7pm
At the
Centre for Performing &
Visual Arts
Newnan, GA
Tickets $25
On sale at the Centre, Scott’s Bookstore
and Morgan’s Jewelers in Ashley Park
For Info: 770254-2787

The Martha Graham Dance Company, founded by Martha Graham in 1926, is the oldest most celebrated modern dance company in the world. It presents the classics Graham repertory and new choreography in its home city of New York and on tour, featuring an international roster of today’s most talented dance artists.

Since its inception, the Martha Graham Dance Company has received international acclaim from audiences in over 50 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The Company has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Paris Opera House, Covent Garden, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as at the base of the Great Pyramids of Egypt and in the ancient Herod Atticus Theatre on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. In addition, the Company has also produced several award-winning films broadcast on PBS and around the world.

Celebrating Its 80th anniversary season, and acknowledged as “one of the great companies of the world” by Anna Kisselgoff, former chief of dance critic of the New York Times, the Martha Graham Dance Company has been lauded by critics everywhere. Alan M. Kriegman of the Washington Post called the Company “one of the seven wonders of the artistic universe,” while Los Angeles Times critic Martin Bernheimer noted, “They seem able to do anything, and to make it look easy as well as poetic.” Ismene Brown of the Daily Telegraph, London, touted the Martha Graham Dance Company’s performance a “Unmissable.”

Martha Graham (1894-1991) is recognized as a primal artistic force of the 20th century, alongside Picasso, James Joyce, Stravinsky, and Frank Lloyd Wright. In 1998, TIME Magazine named Martha Graham as the “Dancer of the Century”’ and People Magazine named Martha Graham as the “Dancer of the Century”, and People Magazine named her among the female “Icons of the Century”. As a choreographer, she was as prolific as she was complex. She created 181 ballets and a dance technique that has been compared to ballet in its scope and magnitude. Her approach to dance and theater revolutionized the art from and her innovative physical vocabulary has irrevocably influenced dance worldwide.
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CALLING ALL FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL CHILDREN!

Here is your opportunity to showcase your artistic abilities and hidden talents! And don’t forget about the over $4000 in cash prizes to be awarded to the contestants winning the judge’s approval.

It’s time to get ready for the 2008 23rd Annual Art & Talent Showcase sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Peachtree City. Competition is open to all public, private or home schooled students in Fayette County in 1st through 12th grades.

Students will compete against their own age and grade levels. Application forms and rules may be picked up at the Peachtree City Library, public school offices or downloaded from the Kiwanis website at http://www.peachtreecitykiwanis.org/. Applications must be submitted by March 5, 2008. Talent auditions will be held at Starr’s Mill High School on Saturday, March 8th. Final talent competition will be held in the Starr’s Mill Auditorium on Monday, March 24 at 7:00 PM. Art winners will also be announced. The event is open to the public at no charge.

Pictured are the finalists from the 2007 Art & Talent Showcase.

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Fayette Coweta Family Theater's Upcoming Shows & Auditions

FCFT Junior Musical Theatre Workshop Presents
The Workshop Review ~ The Music of Disney
A 30-minute, music filled review presented by the participants of FCFT's Junior Musical Theatre Workshop. Come help us encourage these young people in their creative efforts!

March 1 at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Fayette Family YMCA Lodge House in Fayetteville~ www.fcft.net/Directions

FREE TO PUBLIC~ Seating is limited~ Reservations suggested
770-251-7611 or www.fcft.net/HomePage
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A Company of Friends Educational Productions Presents
4 PUBLIC Performances of Their 2008 Rockin' Touring Musical

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE, JR.
Join us for a rock n roll afternoon or evening of fun! A Company Of Friends (FCFT's Professional Touring Company) will present 4 shows of this high-energy, fifty-minute musical that has already played to thousands of local school children in Fayette and Coweta Counties to rave reviews and audience cheers! Don't miss your chance to "Do the Circulation," "Unpack Your Adjectives" or take a ride on the "Conduction Junction." A wonderful show for children from 3 to 12 years of age and their families!

Fayette Family YMCA Lodge House
215 Huiet Drive in Fayetteville (Directions)

March 8 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Cast A)
March 9 at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Cast B)

$5.00 admission
Reservations suggested! 770-251-7611
or online at www.fcft.net/HomePage

________________________________________________________________

Little Ones~ Theatre Production Shop~ The Little Mermaid
Saturday, March 15 from 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Age: 6 to 8 years Fee: $70.00
This shop is designed to get the youngest of performer up and performing! Class will work toward presenting a narrated version of "The Little Mermaid" at 7:30 p.m. for an invited audience. Participants will be cast in roles, rehearse their parts, make their own simple costumes and sets and learn one dance routine as they rehearse to put on the show. A wonderful first time performance experience for the young actor.

(Class is limited to only 12 participants~ So register early! at 770-599-0051 or fcftdirector1@aol.com)

___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Theatre Machine~Acting Classes (6 Sessions)
Join FCFT's Artistic director for a series of in-depth acting classes that cover ALL the basics of stage acting. Each of the six sessions will deal with a specific theatre skill.
1. Theatre Movement and Staging~ 3/17/08 2. The Actor's Speaking Voice~ 3/19/08
3. Creating a Believable Character~ 3/21/08 4. The Art of Auditioning~ 3/24/08
5. Meeting the Monologue~ 3/26/08 6. Partner Scene Study~ 3/28/08
*Class will conclude with a presentation of Monologues and Scenes performed by the students (from both classes) for an invited audience on March 29 at 6:00 p.m.

*Ages: 6 to 9 years from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. *Ages: 10 to 16 years from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
*Fee: $240.00 for all six sessions Each class is limited to 12 participants
Register Early~ 770-599-0051 Or fcftdirector1@aol.com

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The Art Of Auditioning~ High School Musical
Thursday, April 17 ~ 5 to 8 p.m.
Friday, April 18 ~ 5 to 8 p.m.
Fee: $55.00 Ages: 10 years to 17 Years

FCFT's most popular workshop. Learn the many techniques of auditioned for a Broadway Musical Show. Class will conclude with a mock audition using the audition dance, song and script from our upcoming audition for "Disney's High School Musical/

These classes fill up very quickly and pre-registration is required. Call 770-599-0051 or e-mail fcftdirector1@aol.com.

NOTE: If you are presently registered for the CATS audition workshop. This workshop will replace it. The only difference is the material used the last hour for the mock audition portion.

Auditions~ Disney's High School Musical
Saturday, April 19, 2008
WWW.FCFT.NET/AUD

Ages: 10 to 12 years (Ensemble Roles Only~ Singing and Dancing)
@ 11:00 a.m.

Ages: 13 years to Adults~ (Principle and Ensemble Roles)
@ 2:00 p.m.

Auditions will consist of a taught song from the show, an intermediate dance combination and cold readings from the script.

Show Dates: June 19-22 at Sams Auditorium in Fayetteville
Rehearsal Will Run April 21 - June 3 (No rehearsals weekend of graduation)
*All MUST be available from June 10 - June 17 for full run-throughs with entire cast
each night. No absences will be allowed during these dates.

Note: There will be a $55.00 costume/production fee required from each participant. Also, each cast member is required to obtain at least $120.00 (1 half page or 2 business/personal ads for the playbill)

*Rehearsals will run "weekends only" until after May 10
*After May 10th Musical rehearsals will be Tuesday evenings, Acting rehearsals will be Monday and Thursday evenings and Dance rehearsals will be Saturday mornings.

FOR SHOW INFORMATION VISIT~ www.fcft.net/HSM

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Carroll County Community Theatre Presents "Hello Dolly"

CCCT’s 100th production!

Photo: Dan Lewis (Horace) and Terri Ducker (Dolly)

Based on The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, Hello Dolly tells the story of Dolly Gallagher Levi (Terri Ducker), a matchmaker who has been hired to arrange a marriage for the widowed half-millionaire Horace Vandergelder (Dan Lewis). Dolly, however, has other plans. She has herself been recently widowed and comes to the conclusion that Horace and his fortune will make her the perfect mate. So when she arrives in Yonkers, she immediately begins to plant seeds of doubt in Vandergelder's mind about Irene Molloy (Ginna Blair), the pretty young widow she has picked out for him.

Hello Dolly is directed by Kathy Waldrop and music directed by Laurence Smith. A large cast, a spectacular set, a live orchestra, and a special appearance by Central High School band all add up to a must-see production.

Performances are March 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are $10. Call 770-838-1083 to order by phone. This production is funded, in part, by the Community Foundation of West Georgia and United Community Bank.
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Southeastern Ballet Company receives Arts Clayton Funding

Southeastern Ballet Company (SBC), a non-profit, professional dance company based in Newnan, has received a grant from Arts Clayton, Inc. to help fund “A Choreographer’s Showcase.”

“A Choreographer’s Showcase” will be performed as a special feature during Classical Dance Theatre’s 2008 Spring Concert to be held in May of 2008. SBC was one of only three organizations in Coweta County to receive Arts Clayton funding for FY2008.

This program is supported in part by the Grassroots Arts Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and in partnership with Arts Clayton.
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Patrons of the Centre 2008 Membership Drive

Patrons of the Centre is a membership organization formed in support of The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Coweta County. The mission of the Patrons of the Centre is to sustain the vision of artistic excellence for our community. The generosity of the Centre Patrons directly supports events sponsored by the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts by broadening the community and student opportunities in partnership with the Coweta County Board of Education.

The members of the newly formed group recognize the importance of the Arts in our community and are willing to share their time, talents and resources to ensure that our community’s commitment to the arts continues to grow and prosper. The Coweta Community Foundation, a non-profit corporation, serves as the fiscal agent of the Patrons organization.

Membership is currently being sought for the 2008 calendar year. “The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts is a tremendous asset for our community. We are seeking supportive members whose patronage will enable the Centre to offer more cultural enhancements and opportunities for the public to enjoy,” according to Dr. Mary Ben Christensen, Membership Chairperson for Patrons of the Centre.

Membership Levels are available beginning at $45.00 as a “Friend of the Centre.” Patrons joining as “Stars of the Centre” ($250 dual membership) and above will receive an invitation to a Venetian Masquerade Gala Ball, an event celebrating the newly formed Patrons group. The Black Tie event will be held March 8, 2008 at Riverwood Studios in Senoia.

To join the Patrons of the Centre and for additional information, call the Centre at (770) 254-2787.
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Local Artist to Receive National Honor

The National Museum of Naval Aviation recently announced Marc Stewart as the recipient of the 2008 R.G. Smith Award for “excellence in naval aviation art.” The prestigious honor is awarded annually to a single artist. The Museum’s Foundation selects the recipient.

Upon receiving the news from the Museum, Stewart’s initial reaction was one of disbelief. “At first I thought it was a mistake,” he laughs. “Actually, I feel honored to be so recognized for my work. It means a lot to me.”

Unlike a competition or a juried exhibit that may recognize one piece of artwork, the R.G. Smith Award is a career honor, similar to a lifetime achievement award. The namesake of the award, Robert Grant or R.G. Smith contributed immeasurably to the preservation of the proud heritage and rich history of naval aviation through his 50-plus year career as an aeronautical engineer and accomplished artist, according to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Previous recipients include Jack Fellows, Keith Ferris, Roy Grinnell, Stan Stokes and numerous other artists at the top of the highly niched field of aviation art. Marc Stewart is pleased to now be counted among them.

Stewart shares the accolades with his supportive family. “I want to dedicate this to my Dad, the late Marcus Stewart, and to my Mom, Marilyn,” the artist explains. Both parents were talented artists themselves. “They’ve always encouraged me artistically. Aside from my wife, Robin, they’ve been my biggest cheerleaders and biggest fans. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.” Both Stewart and his father served in the U.S. Navy, which gives the award another dimension of personal meaning.

In May, the Naval Aviation Museum will bestow the award to Stewart at their annual symposium in Pensacola. During the ceremony, Stewart will present one of his original oil paintings to the Museum as a donation to their permanent collection. “I’m definitely excited,” says Stewart. “For an aviation artist, there’s simply no higher honor. It just doesn’t get any bigger or better than this. I’m thrilled!”

Stewart currently has 20 pieces of artwork on display at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, Georgia, near Savannah, as part of their “Southern Wings” exhibit. That show runs through early April. Twice his art has earned awards from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine. In 2006, his painting “Hell Over the Hadley” won Best in Show at the National Museum of Naval Aviation’s juried exhibition. Marc Stewart is an Artist Fellow of ASAA, the American Society of Aviation Artists, and an active member of the Newnan Coweta Art Association. His work may be viewed online at http://www.aviationartbymarcstewart.com/.
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Carrollton Kiwanis Art and Music Talent Showcase

Carrollton Kiwanis Art and Music Talent Showcase, on Saturday, February 16, 2008. The showcase begins at 4:00 p.m. in the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center Theatre and features the best of musical talent from local high schools competing for scholarships. Winners of the High School Juried Art Show will also be recognized. Tickets available at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center or through Carrollton Kiwanis Club members. $5 adults and $4 seniors and students. For more information call 770-838-1083.

Fayette Art Center / Gallery Upcoming Classes

We are taking names for Summer Art Camp, June 2nd. through August 8th, $140.00 a week with a $25.00 supply fee. 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. Mornings are dedicated to fine art and the afternoons rotate between pottery and photography.

March:

March 1st, PRECIOUS METAL CLAY JEWELRY WORKSHOP with Peg Kersey. Saturday, 9:00-2:00, at Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line) $60.00 plus $15.00 material fee. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com for more info.

March 3rd -24th, Monday Nights, 6:30-8:30,pm, NOVEL WRITING with Dianna Snell, a New York best seller author, at Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line) Learn to write and package your work according to publishing house standards. $120.00/4 classes. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com for more info.

March 7th, Friday at 7:30 - 9:30 pm. IMPROV AT THE GALLERY. The Gallery Players will be doing hilarious skits based on audience interaction. $15.00/ $20.00 at the door. Coffee and dessert available. Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line). Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

March 8th, 15th and 22nd (all day Saturdays - 9:00-4:00) PORTRAIT BUST SCULPTURE WORKSHOP with Rachel Cold at the Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line). Create a life size head and shoulder sculpture. $295.00 includes all materials.Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com for more info.

March 3rd - 24th Monday nights 6:30-8:30, FULL FIGURE SCULPTURE with Nat'l recognized black sculptor Nnamdi Kokonwo whose work is in art magazines and galleries. Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line). $140/4 classes plus $20 clay fee. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com

March 22nd, all day Saturday, 9:00-4:00, PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP with Randy Drake. Work with live models and a professional portrait photographer. $125.00 plus $15.00 model fee. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

Introduction to Digital Editing and Photoshop Elements Class, March 4th-25th, Tuesday night 6:30-8:30 pm with Donnar Rosser. $120/4 classes for members, $140 for non-members of the Fayette Art Center. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

Introduction to Digital Camera Class Wed. morning 10:00-12:00, March 5th - 26th. or Thursday night 6:30-8:30 March 6th-27th. $120 for members, $140 for non-members of the Fayette Art Center, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line). Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com for more info.

Introduction to Watercolor Class Wed. night, 6:30-8:30 pm, March 5th - 26th, with Judy Huang. $120.00/4 classes. $20.00 material fee if don't have your own. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com for more info.

Introduction to Drawing and Painting Class , Thursday nights, March 6th -27th, 6:30-8:30 pm with Yun Liu. $120.00/4 classes. $20 material fee unless you have your own. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

Introduction to Acrylic, Oil and Pastel Landscape Painting Class , Tues. afternoons 1-3:00 pm, March 4th-25th with Kathaleen Brewer. $120.00/4 classes. $20 material fee unless you have your own. Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

April:

Friday, April 4th, 7:30-9:30 pm. IMPROV AT THE GALLERY. The Gallery Players will be doing hilarious skits based on audience interaction. $15.00/ $20.00 at the door. Coffee and dessert available. Fayette Art Center and Gallery, 2011 W. Hwy 54, Fayetteville (at Peachtree City line). Call 770-631-2780 or visit www.Fayetteartcenter.com.

“Call for Entries” Now Taking Place for the 2008 Photo Exhibition of SlowExposures 2008

A Juried Photo Exhibition Celebrating the History and Character of the Rural South

Weekends, September 19th through September 28th

Pike County, Georgia

Deadline for Submissions is June 15, 2008

“SlowExposures,” the nationally recognized photography exhibition that underscores the diversity and complexity of the rural South, is currently inviting fine art photographers to apply to this year’s sixth annual event by submitting their photos taken in the “Southeast” and/or “West Central Georgia” to a distinguished panel of professional photo jurors by Sunday, June 15th. The theme for this year’s exhibit is “The Rural South – Real and Imagined.”

Jurors Jamie Allen (George Eastman House, Rochester, NY) and Mike Smith (East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN) will choose a limited number of images from the scores of images that are submitted by mid-June. These will be showcased in the annual exhibition and sale that opens on Friday, September 19 for two weekends in the picturesque town of Concord, Georgia, in Pike County, an hour’s drive from the Atlanta airport.

“SlowExposures 2008” features two categories: “Photographs of the Southeast” can include images taken anywhere in the Southeastern United States. “Photographs of West Central Georgia” can include images taken anywhere in Bibb, Coweta, Crawford, Harris, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Monroe, Muscogee, Spalding, Talbot, Taylor, Troup and Upson Counties in addition to Pike County, home of “SlowExposures.”

The deadline for submissions is June 15, 2008. Photographers may enter up to four images in each category for a nonrefundable fee of $30 per category with checks written to the Pike Historic Preservation, beneficiary of SlowExposures. Final winners will share $2,000 in awards at the September show.

Copies of the “Call for Entries” applications may be picked up at the Showcase School of Photography in Atlanta; A Novel Experience Bookstore, or the Pike County Chamber of Commerce on the Square in Zebulon; or the Concord Café in Concord.

For complete rules and regulations regarding this year’s “Call for Entries,” please visit www.slowexposures.org or contact “Slow Exposures 2008,” P.O. Box 489, Zebulon, GA, 30295, (770) 567-3600.

Voices Announces Contribution to Wellspring

Voices held the second presentation of their 2007 "Canto ad una Terra, Song to One World" as a benefit for Wellspring Living on September 15 of last year. The presentation was a first class, fully staged production that presented an eclectic combination of music; everything from pop favorites, Disney tunes, musicals, Christian contemporary, world music to classical-crossover and straight classical, including instrumental, operatic and symphonic pieces.

After closing post-production and starting preparations for this year, Voices is glad to announce that they were able to make a $2,000.00 donation to Wellspring as a result of the benefit.

"Selling tickets to a musical production seemed the ideal way to offer support for this endeavor. It is a wonderful way to contribute to this program. In this way, we help them assist women whose lives have been devastated by drug and alcohol addictions, depression, working in the sex industry and other behaviors that stem from the core issue of childhood sexual abuse" explained Maria Pia Ugarte, Artistic Director of Voices, during last year’s season.

Wellspring provides a no-cost residential program for women. For the first six months in the program, this organization offers women an intensive, therapeutic environment followed by supported transition during the last six months. The structured daily program provides opportunity for holistic change, offering both group and individual sessions and activities dealing with the body, soul and spirit. (For more information, please visit the Wellspring Living website at www.WelspriingLiving.org.)

"It has been our absolute pleasure being able to make this contribution," explains Ms. Ugarte. "None of this would have been possible, though, without the enthusiasm and collaboration of those involved. I could give you a list of names that would fill a whole page.” Evidence of this is the long list posted on the Voices website, which in actuality is two pages long (2007 Canto ad Una Terra.)

With about 130 people that were involved in this production, 100 of which were on stage, Ms. Ugarte explains “every single one that participated made this happen, each one of them; as well as our sponsors, who believed in what we were trying to do and in us at such an early age! It is certainly our intention to continue this kind of contributions as an ongoing practice, as much as possible.”

Voices is currently in the planning stages for 2008. More details about this season and further years are to be released in the upcoming weeks. For information about Voices or if you are interested in being a part of this organization on stage, behind the scenes or within their administrative body, please visit www.VoicesOnine.org or email their Artistic Director at maria.pia.ugarte@VoicesOnline.org. Voices is actively seeking for volunteer to assume the role of Media Relations Representative.

Wadsworth Auditorium Restoration Project Is "On Schedule"

On March 29 at 7:30 PM, world-renowned pianist Charles Wadsworth will host a spectacular concert celebrating the much-anticipated completion of the Charles Wadsworth Auditorium Restoration Project.

Since its original completion in 1939, Newnan's Art Deco style Municipal Auditorium has seen many years of constant use by the community. It has always been a place of special memories for local audiences. On its stage hometown folks appeared in plays, graduations. Recitals, concerts, Junior League Follies, special ceremonies, and much more. Some of those memories have been inscribed in the graffiti that can still be seen on the back stage brick walls ... and with a respect for history, will not be covered with paint.

Recognizing the importance of preserving the heritage of such an historic part of Newnan, the Auditorium Restoration Project begun in 1993.

Restoration of the auditorium itself has been completed and returned to its original Art Deco beauty. Refinished and reupholstered seats have also been re-installed. They now sit in the darkened and sleeping auditorium … soon to be released from their protective wrapping and occupied by a new audience. At the present time the stage area has been completely walled off to protect the auditorium from the work being completed on and behind the stage area. A new, high, stage ceiling has already been finished. A completely new modernized steel rigging system is being made and will soon be installed. Following that, new stage curtains will be hung, and the lighting system will be installed.

Soon the auditorium will awake … ready for its grand reopening.

Renamed The Charles Wadsworth Auditorium in 1998, the auditorium will be the site of the March 29th "A Preservation Celebration" which will welcome back local son and internationally acclaimed pianist Charles Wadsworth. Throughout the restoration committee’s spearheading efforts to restore and enhance the acoustically superior auditorium, Wadsworth and other artists have participated in annual concerts to raise funds for the project. He'll return to his hometown with a stunning presentation of musical artists. Patrons and sponsors of the event will also attend a special post-concert reception. All are invited to be in attendance at this historic reopening and this grand concert by Charles Wadsworth and Friends.

Tickets for "A Preservation Celebration" are available at Scott's Book Store on the Newnan Courthouse Square, Morgan's Jewelers at Ashley Park, and The Bank of Coweta - Thomas Crossroads branch. General Admission tickets are $20. Student and Seniors (65+) are $15. For more information log onto www.ci.newnan.ga.us

Local Artist to Receive National Honor

Newnan’s Marc Stewart named recipient of 2008 R.G. Smith Award

The National Museum of Naval Aviation recently announced Marc Stewart as the recipient of the 2008 R.G. Smith Award for “excellence in naval aviation art.” The prestigious honor is awarded annually to a single artist. The Museum’s Foundation selects the recipient.

Upon receiving the news from the Museum, Stewart’s initial reaction was one of disbelief. “At first I thought it was a mistake,” he laughs. “Actually, I feel honored to be so recognized for my work. It means a lot to me.”

Unlike a competition or a juried exhibit that may recognize one piece of artwork, the R.G. Smith Award is a career honor, similar to a lifetime achievement award. The namesake of the award, Robert Grant or R.G. Smith contributed immeasurably to the preservation of the proud heritage and rich history of naval aviation through his 50-plus year career as an aeronautical engineer and accomplished artist, according to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Previous recipients include Jack Fellows, Keith Ferris, Roy Grinnell, Stan Stokes and numerous other artists at the top of the highly niched field of aviation art. Marc Stewart is pleased to now be counted among them.

Stewart shares the accolades with his supportive family. “I want to dedicate this to my Dad, the late Marcus Stewart, and to my Mom, Marilyn,” the artist explains. Both parents were talented artists themselves. “They’ve always encouraged me artistically. Aside from my wife, Robin, they’ve been my biggest cheerleaders and biggest fans. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.” Both Stewart and his father served in the U.S. Navy, which gives the award another dimension of personal meaning.

In May, the Naval Aviation Museum will bestow the award to Stewart at their annual symposium in Pensacola. During the ceremony, Stewart will present one of his original oil paintings to the Museum as a donation to their permanent collection. “I’m definitely excited,” says Stewart. “For an aviation artist, there’s simply no higher honor. It just doesn’t get any bigger or better than this. I’m thrilled!”

Stewart currently has 20 pieces of artwork on display at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, Georgia, near Savannah, as part of their “Southern Wings” exhibit. That show runs through early April. Twice his art has earned awards from Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine. In 2006, his painting “Hell Over the Hadley” won Best in Show at the National Museum of Naval Aviation’s juried exhibition. Marc Stewart is an Artist Fellow of ASAA, the American Society of Aviation Artists, and an active member of the Newnan Coweta Art Association. His work may be viewed online at http://www.aviationartbymarcstewart.com/.

Portraits by Jennifer Julian

The Roush Family Gallery of the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center presents “portraits” by Jennifer Julian. The exhibit will compile ten years of work dividing them into four walled categories: Not Just Black and White - shows her interest in form and perception, Obstructed – are photographic documents of resistance, Water – an emotional connotation, and Wall – a conglomeration.

The exhibit will run February 1 through 29, 2008 with an opening reception on February 1 from 5-7 p.m. in the front lobby of the Cultural Arts Center. Images from her first book of photographs entitled “Path” illustrate how photographs deceive the viewer who thinks they see one thing and then realize it is actually a shadow on something else, or something entirely different. During the reception Ms. Julian plans to demonstrate portrait taking, for those “brave and willing.”

These will be available for purchase with a bonus copy of her book. Ms. Julian who now lives and works in the north Georgia mountains, relates “Our perceptions of what we see, how we feel and how we connect to others is sometimes very clear, sometimes broken, and inevitably seen through our unique lenses made from life experience. It is my hope that you will be compelled by the uncertainty of your perception.”

Jennifer attended the University of Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Auburn University and the Art Institute of Atlanta with her first big break in 1999 when the Fay Gold Gallery of Atlanta showed her work at the prestigious Association of International Photography Art Dealers in New York City. Her photographs are in many national public and private collections. Ms. Julian has taught Creative Photography at Spruill Center for the Arts in Dunwoody, GA, and North Georgia College and State University, in addition she enjoys teaching children and teens in many venues.

Jennifer has taught many programs through the Douglasville Cultural Arts Council and the Douglas County School System. Ms. Julian’s first book, “Path”, was published in 2006. Some of her works are in the permanent collections of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida, Douglasville Cultural Arts Center, the Meriwether County Courthouse in Greenville, the Georgia Regional Hospital in Decatur and the John Cleary Gallery in Houston, Texas. After her exhibit at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center she looks forward to another solo exhibition at Mercer University in Atlanta later in 2008. Please browse her website at www.jenniferjulian.com for more information.

In the Galleria of the Cultural Arts Center beginning February 9 – 29, 2008 the Kiwanis Club of Carrollton and CPRCAD will co-sponsor the annual High School Juried Art Show. There will be a reception on Saturday, February 16 beginning at 5:00 p.m. Visitors are invited to see the visual as well as the performing arts of the areas high school talents.

For more information call the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center at 770-838-1083. The Carrollton Cultural Arts Center is a facility of the Carrollton Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department who sponsors the Carrollton Artist Guild and the MeccaFest. For information on these and other programs visit: www.cprcad.org, www.carrolltonartguild.com or www.meccafest.com.

Portrait Bust Sculpture Class with Rachel Cold

Rachel Cold explains how the eye is shaped to Andrea Boswell of Peachtree City, while Heidi Truax, of Hampton, works on her girl.

The next portrait bust sculpture class will start Saturday, March 8th.

For more information call 770-631-2780 or go to http://www.fayetteartcenter.com/.

SHOW US YOUR DRAWERS! Be a part of the High’s latest commission

Tejo Remy Drawer Project: If you’re into recycling, conservation, or reusing old things, and if you’ve ever wanted something of your own displayed in a museum, here’s your chance. The High has commissioned Dutch designer Tejo Remy to create a special permanent piece for our decorative art collection—and the city of Atlanta. The piece is a unique chest of drawers, stacked together irregularly and held together with a furniture movers’ strap. In order to complete the chest, we need your drawers! 20 drawers will be chosen for use in the final piece. Submission Deadline: February 15, 2008. For details and guidelines, please click here.

FEBRUARY FRIDAY JAZZ: Winard Harper
Friday, February 15, 5 to 10 p.m.

The High welcomes drummer Winard Harper for February’s Friday Jazz. Harper is known for bringing jazz alive for audiences of all ages and cultures, combining charisma with superb musicianship for his performances. Held on the third Friday of every month, Friday Jazz includes live musical performances in the Robinson Atrium of the Stent Family Wing, art-making activities in the Greene Family Education Center and gallery tours. During Friday Jazz, a live model—in costume—will be positioned in the galleries for patrons and visitors to see and capture with pencil and paper. The model will be positioned for short-term poses, ideal for gesture drawing and quick sketches. Pencils, paper and drawing boards will be provided. Free with Museum admission. Food and drink available for purchase. The media partner for Friday Jazz is WJZZ Smooth Jazz 107.5. Tickets: $18 general admission; free for members.

TRUNK SHOW: Marci Fried
Friday, February 15, Main Museum Shop

Artisan in Residence Marci Fried will be showcasing her new spring collection partly inspired by the works of Georgia O'Keeffe. Pieces are handcrafted using semi-precious stones, vintage jewelry, pendants, charms, vintage findings and fresh water pearls.

Panel Discussion and Book-signing: A Conversation with “David C. Driskell: Artist and Scholar” Saturday, February 16, 2 p.m. Hill Auditorium

Artist, educator, historian, curator, and humanitarian, David Driskell will talk with Michael Harris, curator of African American art, and Julie McGee, author of “David C. Driskell: Artist and Scholar.” They will discuss Driskell’s southern upbringing, his education in Washington, D.C., at Howard and Catholic Universities, and the many people with whom his life has intersected, including artists Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence—all of which helped to set the stage for Driskell’s remarkably productive and influential life. In 2000, he was the recipient of the National Humanities Medal from former President Bill Clinton. One year later, the University of Maryland, College Park, established the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora. The High Museum of Art also presents a prize awarded annually, The David Driskell prize, that recognizes an individual in the beginning or middle of his or her career whose work makes an original and important contribution to the field of African American art and art history. Free with museum admission and free to members

FILM SERIES: Films from the Arab World Continues Saturday, February 16
Saturday, February 16 at 8:00 p.m.

In February the High presents five films representing the Middle East as part of “Films from the Arab World” from February 2 through 23. The films explore difficult relationships and changing social mores in the 21st century, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and post-9/11 attitudes in America. The festival continues on February 16 with “Bab'Aziz-The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul,” Tunisian director Nacer Khemir's enchanting film that weaves elements of Sufism into a beautiful story of yearning and belonging.

“Bab'Aziz-The Prince Who Contemplated His Soul,” Saturday, February 16, at 8 p.m.
In Arabic with subtitles.

All films are screened at 8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) in the Richard H. Rich Theatre, located in the Memorial Arts Building, adjacent to the High at Peachtree and 15th Streets in midtown Atlanta. For in-depth film series descriptions, click here or call the films hotline at 404-733-4570.

Films from the Arab World is made possible with support from the Alif Institute and the Swedish Film Institute. 35mm projection facilities in the Rich Auditorium were provided by a gift from George Lefont. All programs are subject to change or cancellation.

Tickets: $5 for the public and $4 for Museum members, students and seniors. Patron-level members enter free. Tickets can be purchased in advance by going online at www.High.org, visiting the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office, or by calling 404-733-5000. Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the night of the screening. Phone and internet orders will incur a service fee of $1.00 per ticket.

SAVE THE DATE: Target Free Family Fun Day: Sunday, February 24, 12 to 5 p.m.
For details, please click here

High Museum of Art
1280 Peachtree Street
Midtown Atlanta
MARTA: Arts Center

From Americans for the Arts

President Bush today sent his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, beginning the yearly appropriations process for, among many things, the nation’s cultural agencies and programs, including the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Office of Museum Services (OMS), Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), and the Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs. Because drastic cuts are being proposed for some key arts programs, we urge you to write your Members of Congress and tell them to reject the President's budget cuts.

On the heels of signing the largest Congressionally-initiated funding increase for the arts in 28 years, President Bush has proposed a senseless $16.3 million cut for FY 2009 for the NEA—from $144.7 million to $128.4 million. After three years of minimal, but incremental, funding growth, we are surprised to see an attempt to erase this progress.

For the eighth consecutive year, the President’s budget has eliminated funding for the Department of Education’s Arts in Education programs, which include funding for model arts programs and collaborations with schools, teacher professional development, and arts programs for at-risk youth. Arts literacy is as central to an educated citizenry as are reading, math, and science. The Administration needs to understand the role of arts education in developing an innovative and creative society.

Also, the FY 2009 budget request calls for a rescission of $200 million in already-approved funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). As a trusted community resource, CPB uses the power of noncommercial television and radio to enrich the lives of all Americans through quality programs and education services.

The President also asked for a slight cut to the NEH, from $144.7 to $144.3 million. Finally, and on a positive note, the President requested a funding boost of over $8 million for the Office of Museum Services, bringing the amount of funding available for grants to almost $40 million. A breakdown of the President’s budget request is as follows:



Federally Funded Arts Program
FY08 Enacted
Appropriations
(in millions)
FY09 President’s
Budget Request
(in millions)

National Endowment for the Arts
$144.7
$128.4

National Endowment for the Humanities
$144.7
$143.0

Office of Museum Services within IMLS
$31.3
$39.9

U.S. Dept. of Education’s Arts in Ed
$35.3
$0

Corporation for Public Broadcasting
$400.0
$200.0

Next Steps

As you know, the President’s budget is the first step in the appropriations process. While it serves as an important framework, Congress has the power to set its own priorities and change these funding levels. That’s where you come in.

Arts advocates can make their voices heard by writing their Members of Congress and urging them to increase funding for arts and culture and restore funding for arts in education programs. We have provided you with a customizable letter to send to your Members of Congress, as well as several talking points to help you craft your message. We recommend you add your own thoughts and stories about why the arts are important to you and your community. We also encourage you to join us in Washington, DC for Arts Advocacy Day 2008, March 31 - April 1, 2008. You’ll have the opportunity to visit your Members of Congress face-to-face and urge them to support the arts.

Thank you for your continued support of the arts!

Stella Cooper Mitchell to Deliver Laughter and Nostalgia

Local funny lady Stella Cooper Mitchell takes center stage at the Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville on Saturday, February 16 at 1:00 p.m., as she reads from her hilarious new book, “The Original Big Hair Girls.”

The reading is free and open to the public. The audience will have an opportunity to ask questions and enjoy complimentary light refreshments. The author will sign copies of the book, which will be on sale at the event.

Stella Cooper Mitchell, or “Miss Stella,” as she is fondly known, is a retired Fayette County teacher who says, “I am selling laughter. For 64 years I have made it my life’s goal to make people laugh.” Her first book, “Walking Ivy’s Path,” published in 2006, told the laugh-out-loud story of Alice Ivy and her surrogate brother George, two “unfortunate looking” children growing up in a dysfunctional family in Pea Ridge, Tennessee in the 1950s. Miss Stella wrote the book for everyone who has ever felt “picked on, not cute enough, not rich enough” and who wants “to get even.”

In “The Original Big Hair Girls,” Sadie Songbird, also of Pea Ridge, relates her madcap adventures in high school and college, as the 1950s roll into the 1960s. Alice Ivy and George
reappear in the new book, along with a full cast of outrageous characters, both on the home front and on campus.

The reader learns valuable life lessons from Sadie and her friends, such as how to tell a “raised right” girl from a “wild” girl from a “trashy” girl. Zany escapades abound, as three green country girls explore the wide world beyond Pea Ridge, getting in and out of trouble, and finding out things are not always what they seem.

Miss Stella has been an audience favorite at the library in the past, because her expressive reading brings her comical characters and situations to life.

The event is free and open to the public, and sponsored by the Fayette County Public Library and the Friends of the Fayette County Public Library.

The Fayette County Public Library is located behind the Fayette County administrative complex in downtown Fayetteville, at the southwest corner of Highways #85 and #54. For additional information, please contact the library at 770-461-8841.

Offshoot Productions Downsizes, Makes Costumes Available

Offshoot Productions, the 14-year-old Fayette County professional theatre company now focusing on touring and special events, is holding a costume sale on Saturday, February 16, from 10-3, at the Peachtree City home of artistic director Susan M. Steadman, Ph.D. Costumes ranging from Greek to Elizabethan and from animals to fantasy creatures will be available as well as small props and front-of-house equipment such as brochure holders and storage bins.

“The goal is to consolidate our belongings and to make available to other performing arts groups and individuals much of what we’ve accumulated over the years,” said Steadman. “So far, we’ve emptied out a lot of the warehouse, but still have flats, wood, carpet, drape and other stage-related materials not necessary for our improv troupe, murder mystery or touring children’s show.”

For additional information and directions, contact Offshoot at (770) 631-2362 or offshootpr@aol.com

Patrons of the Centre 2008 Membership Drive; Coweta County, Georgia

Patrons of the Centre is a membership organization formed in support of The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Coweta County. The mission of the Patrons of the Centre is to sustain the vision of artistic excellence for our community. The generosity of the Centre Patrons directly supports events sponsored by the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts by broadening the community and student opportunities in partnership with the Coweta County Board of Education.

The members of the newly formed group recognize the importance of the Arts in our community and are willing to share their time, talents and resources to ensure that our community’s commitment to the arts continues to grow and prosper. The Coweta Community Foundation, a non-profit corporation, serves as the fiscal agent of the Patrons organization.

Membership is currently being sought for the 2008 calendar year. “The Centre for Performing and Visual Arts is a tremendous asset for our community. We are seeking supportive members whose patronage will enable the Centre to offer more cultural enhancements and opportunities for the public to enjoy,” according to Dr. Mary Ben Christiansen, Membership Chairperson for Patrons of the Centre.

Membership Levels are available beginning at $45.00 as a “Friend of the Centre.” Patrons joining as “Stars of the Centre” ($250 dual membership) and above will receive an invitation to a Venetian Masquerade Gala Ball, an event celebrating the newly formed Patrons group. The Black Tie event will be held March 8, 2008 at Riverwood Studios in Senoia.

To join the Patrons of the Centre and for additional information, call the Centre at (770) 254-2787.