4th Annual Art with Heart Fine Arts and Crafts Show Highlights Art and Giving

Janet McGregor Dunn, Sandy Holcomb, Vicki Turner, Clenette Todd and Cathy Spitz
show a sampling of their art on location at St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church.

Over 30 fine artists and crafters from across the state will be sharing their talents on February 7th and 8th in Peachtree City. Juried members of the Fine Arts and Crafts Entrepreneurs (FAACE) group will be giving demonstrations and selling stained glass, paintings, ceramics, fiber art, wood and other beautiful pieces.

Art with Heart is the perfect place to pick up a unique Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other, family member or friend.

The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday evening. Food, beverages, music and art are on the agenda during the drop-in reception from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. There is no charge to attend the reception although a voluntary donation of $5 to the church is requested.

Saturday the show is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is no charge to come see the fabulous art.

Art with Heart will benefit The Children’s Village at Christian City through voluntary donations from artists and attendees and a silent art auction.

Christian City has been caring for abandoned and abused children in a family centered residential setting since 1965. Over 1,000 children have called Christian City “home.” If you would like to learn more about The Children’s Village or are interested in sponsoring a child, please call Heidi Becker at 770-703-2636 or visit www.christiancity.org.

FAACE meets at St. Andrews on a quarterly basis at St. Andrews in the Pines and holds a number of art shows and workshops in the area. Upcoming workshops and speaker topics include social media, photographing artwork, and the ins and outs of websites.

St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church is located at 316 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree City, GA 30269. For more information on Art with Heart or FAACE please call Janet McGregor Dunn at 404-290-3638, email Noel at noelmer7@yahoo.com.

3rd Annual Art with Heart to Benefit The Children’s Village at Christian City the First Weekend in February

Noel Gilliam and Chuck Tryon set up Chuck's booth at Art with Heart

Fiona Dennis paints during show.

Christmas is behind us and many are focused on the next important shopping holiday, Valentine’s Day. Finding the one special gift that says “I Love You” can be a struggle, especially for those who want to say it in style! Once again the Fine Arts and Crafts Entrepreneurs (FAACE) group is doing its part to help solve the annual dilemma by sponsoring the 3rd Annual Art with Heart Fine Arts and Crafts Show in Peachtree City.

Over 20 quality artists will be showcasing their one-of-a-kind works of art and fine craft at Art With Heart February 1st and 2nd. Shoppers and guests will find original fine paintings, pottery, jewelry, stained glass, fiber art and more at the show --- a perfect mix of gifts for Valentine’s Day plus a great selection of art for the home, garden or office.

The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday evening. Food, beverages, music and art are on the agenda during the drop-in reception from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday the show is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A small number of spaces are still available for quality artists who would like to participate. The deadline for application receipt is January 16th. Applications are available at www.FAACE.org or via email to info@faace.org.

Art with Heart will benefit The Children’s Village at Christian City through voluntary donations from artists and attendees and a silent art auction. Christian City has been caring for abandoned and abused children in a family centered residential setting since 1965. Over 1,000 children have called Christian City “home.” If you would like to learn more about The Children’s Village or how to sponsor a child, please call Heidi Becker at 770-703-2636 or visit www.christiancity.org.

Art With Heart will be held at St. Andrews in the Pines Episcopal Church, 316 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree City, GA 30269. For more information, please call Janet McGregor Dunn at 404-290-3638, email Noel at noelmer7@yahoo.com or visit the FAACE website at www.FAACE.org.

Opinion: Who will play Dorothy? Who will dance Clara?

The question is not “…who will dance these roles in “The Wizard of Oz” or “The Nutcracker.”

The question is “…will there be forthcoming performances of “Wizard” or “Nutcracker” in the foreseeable future without state support of the arts.

The Georgia Council for the Arts is threatened with extinction.

This can only mean that Camelot productions of their fine family shows such as “The Wizard of Oz” or the Christmas favorite of the Griffin Ballet Theatre may come to an end.

Both these fine regional companies depend on the Georgia Council for the Arts for support to mount these splendid productions enjoyed by hundreds of Spalding County residents every season.

For example, the recent collaboration between the Griffin Choral Arts and Griffin Ballet Theater reached a thousand new-comers to ballet and the choral arts with their well-received performances of “The Armed Man.” The Griffin Auditorium was packed for two nights of mesmerizing entertainment with this unique collaboration between two of Griffin’s finest performing arts groups. GCA helped support this brilliant group effort.

Every November, the Griffin Ballet Theatre, presents the holiday favorite “The Nutcracker” and has presented this Tchaikovsky masterpiece for over a dozen years with help from GCA. They could not do this alone without state support.

Remember that the sale of tickets covers only about one-third of the cost of these productions. Why? Because these are live performances, not recorded on film or shows that are repeated verbatim from one night to the next (like those road-shows that come to Atlanta). They are often one-night-stands that must pay for themselves with a limited, one time audience.

And with important support from the GCA.

The theater arts in Griffin (Camelot or Main Street Players), the visual arts (Griffin-Spalding Art Association) or the literary arts (Flint River Writers' Group) play an important esthetic as well as economic role in making Griffin and Spalding County livable and economically sound.

How many more Italian dinners did Angelo’s Café serve before “The Armed Man” concerts; did Grogan’s gas station sell more gasoline to get students and parents to and from the auditorium for rehearsals and performances of “The Nutcracker” and did the Corner Café in the old McClellan’s store sell more sandwiches and salads before Sande Cropsey’s recent hit, “Who’s There?”

And the jammed-packed performances of Camelot’s “Disney’s High School Musical” helped to fill, not only The Enrichment Center, but also the nearby Mexican Tequila Café and the Waffle House.

Let’s not forget that the Georgia Council for the Arts has been very generous to the arts in Griffin.

It was the Griffin Ballet Theatre, which in 2008, received $2,000 from the GCA to mount the full-length ballet “Robin Hood,” with original choreography by Ballet Theatre’s founder Mitch Flanders.

In 2008, the fledgling Griffin Choral Arts received $1449 for their Master Works Concert. The next year, Camelot received $1000 for their lively “Radio Story Drama” and Closer Look Ministries used their $500 from GCA's Grassroots Arts Fund to mount their successful “IMAGINE Storytelling Festival.

In 2009, Griffin Area Arts Alliance produced over fifty weekly radio shows promoting the arts on WHIE; while Griffin Choral Arts used their $1000 to sing “Sweet Lovers Love the Spring.” That same year, Main Street Theatre offered a “Free Night of Theater” to introduce new audiences to the legitimate theater on Hill Street.

This season, GCA helped make two ambitious productions possible: the Griffin Choral Arts/Griffin Ballet Theatre’s “The Armed Man, A Mass for Peace” and the Main Street Player’s mounting of Sande Cropsey’s “Who’s There?”

Neither could have happened without the support of the Georgia Council for the Arts.

Meanwhile, Chris Curry, Executive Director of Pike Historic Preservation, Inc., announced that the annual fall photo exhibition, “SlowExposures,” added over $30,000 to the economic viability of Pike County during its two week run. “Slow Exposures” was made possible in part by a generous grant from the GCA.

It is important to thank our state Senators and Representatives for their previous support of the arts in Griffin and at the same time make them aware of the urgent need to keep the GCA alive and well enough to continue their mission to support the arts throughout Georgia --- especially here in Griffin and the surrounding areas.

If you value the arts in Georgia, please contact your legislators and make them aware of the impact of the loss of GCA funds to your organization and to our state. Remember that investing in the arts pays off both in tax revenue, jobs and tourism --- it's one industry that is alive and well in spite of the overall economy.

With the help of the Georgia Council for the Arts, Griffin will continue to be a culturally vibrant town --- a perfect place to live and raise a family.


Joe McKaughan
Board Member
Main Street Players
Slow Exposures

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New Plein Air Art Show and Sale at Callaway Gardens April 17

To benefit the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Callaway Gardens® is hosting a new and very unique Plein Air Art Show and Sale on Saturday, April 17, 2010, at 7 p.m.

While visiting art events in Laguna Beach, California, and meeting experts such as Jean Stern, director of the Irvine Museum, and other notable California artists, Edward Callaway was inspired to create something new at Callaway Gardens, an art event unlike any other in our region - a Plein Air Art Show and Sale. Plein Air, French for “open air,” is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

“We have invited 24 notable plein air artists from across the United States to come here and capture the beauty of Spring,” said Callaway, chairman of the board for the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, the non-profit parent organization that owns and operates Callaway Gardens. “The artists will arrive a week before the event and spend time painting the beauty they see at Callaway Garden as well as other public and private gardens in the region, including Columbus, LaGrange and Atlanta. These paintings will be submitted on Friday to be viewed and purchased Saturday night.”

In the early 19th century paint manufacturers made available, for the first time, pre-mixed oil pigments in easily carried tubes. Armed with an easily transferable medium, painters took their newly minted paint tubes and easels outdoors. The ability to paint directly from nature opened the door to the Impressionist movement and Barbizon school.

Impressionist artists were interested in the influence of changing outdoor light on a color. Painting real life and naturalistic scenes, they focused on form as color that suggested light. Leaving behind formulas and static scenes, these plein air painters tested out the theory of trusting their eyes to portray the truth in nature.

Building on the work of the realists and impressionists, modern plein air artists are experiencing a renaissance. Callaway Gardens is proud to partner with these artists as they draw their audience into a greater appreciation of the natural world. Invited artists include:



· Perry Austin, Goodwater, AL

· Jacobus Baas, Laguna Beach, CA

· Bucky Bowles, Fortson, GA

· Roger Dale Brown, Franklin, TN

· Geri Davis, Columbus, GA

· Dee Beard Dean, Davidson, NC

· Mary Erickson, Marshville, NC

· Jo Farris, Columbus, GA

· Suzanne Reed Fine, Columbus, GA

· Millie Gosch, Roswell, GA

· Erin Gregory, Columbus, GA

· John Lasater, Siloam Springs, AR

· Gloria Mani, Columbus, GA

· Diane C. May, Nashville, TN

· Richard Millman, Auburn, AL

· Larry Moore, Winter Park, FL

· Arlaine Morrison, Suwanee, GA

· Richard Oversmith, Asheville, NC

· Jill Chancey Philips, Columbus, GA

· Junko Ono Rothwell, Atlanta, GA

· Sally Stanley, Winnetka, IL

· Karen Stewart, Columbus, GA

· Jo Ann Williams Walker, Panama City, FL

· Bruno Zupan, Columbus, GA



Inside the beautiful Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center, guests will be able to enjoy and purchase the paintings while enjoying cocktails, camaraderie and fine cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Bill Justus. In support of Callaway Gardens’ commitment to sustainability, the menu will feature regionally grown and locally available items such as Callaway Gardens’ famous Speckled Heart™ grits with shrimp; wild mushroom ravioli, fried oysters with barbecue vinaigrette and more.

The first Plein Air Show and Sale, continues Callaway Gardens’ tradition of supporting the fine arts.

To attend the Plein Air Art Show and Sale at Callaway Gardens, please call 706-663-5047. Tickets are $150 per person, which can be applied in full to the purchase price of any artwork purchased the evening of April 17th. Cocktail attire is appropriate. For more detailed information or to view samples of the artists’ work, please visit www.callawaygardens.com/pleinair.

Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus. For additional information, visit www.callawaygardens.com or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).

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Color Combinations Electrify Georgia Quilt Show

/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Quilt Show returns to Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Georgia with aisles of color and more than $5,000 in awards. Opening October 14, Georgia Quilt Show 2010 brings together the "best of the best" in quiltmaking, with aisles of displays, retail exhibits and hundreds of hours of hands-on workshops.

"Seeking Color Harmony" is the competitive aspect of Explorations in Quilting, an initiative sponsored by GQS's sister event, Original Sewing & Quilt Expo. Quilters who have attended the Expo will take pleasure in the expanded quantity, variety and depth of "all things quilt" at Georgia Quilt Show 2010.

Designed to expand color boundaries, "Seeking Color Harmony" will accept entries through September 1, 2010. "The quilts we're drawn to attract us because of the use of color...how they play off each other," explains Gini Baldi, longtime quilter, driving force behind Georgia Quilt Show and Marketing Manager at MS. Productions, Inc., the company behind Georgia Quilt Show and Original Sewing & Quilt Expo. Traditional or contemporary, folk or art quilt, color choice can make or break it. "Truly inspired use of color turns a quilt into a prize-winner," she continues. "As a quilter, having a color 'epiphany' changes everything!"

A juried competition, "Seeking Color Harmony" will become the feature display at Georgia Quilt Show 2010. Judges will award the $1,000 Prize for Best of Show in addition to First, Second and Third place in each of three categories. Winning quilts will become a focal point in the Display Galleries at Original Sewing & Quilt Expo Fall 2010/Spring 2011 events.

Open the door to your own inner or outer color exploration, and see the quilting world expand around you. Rules and entry forms are available at www.georgiaquiltshow.com.

Georgia Quilt Show features classes and workshops with leading quilt educators and an evening Keynote event with Laura Wasilowski. Quiltmakers can shop with more than 100 vendors who surround the Quilt Display Gallery with beautiful quilts and all the supplies and inspiration needed to make them on your own.

An active partnership between Georgia Quilt Show and the non-profit Georgia Quilt Council continues, helping this organization and area guilds fund the Georgia Quilt Museum.

For more information, to receive a class brochure or to find out more about entering "Seeking Color Harmony", please visit georgiaquiltshow.com, sewingexpo.com or call 1-800-699-6309. Registration and class information will be posted to the websites this summer.

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New Sculpture Exhibit Opens in Carrollton

The Department of Art opened its first artist exhibit of the year in the Bruce Bobick Gallery featuring work by Atlanta resident Corrina Sephora Mensoff.

“Rescue Vehicles and the Souls of the South II” will run through February 11 and shows a mixed media installation inspired by Hurricane Katrina. Mensoff will present a talk and host a reception on Thursday, January 21, at 1 p.m. in Room 203 of the Humanities Building. The events are free and the community is invited to attend.

The exhibition features an installation of mixed media sculptural works that includes cast iron, organic materials, forged and fabricated steel, cloth, paper, string and printmaking.

Rescue Vehicles developed after Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. During that time, Mensoff began to wonder what she could do to bring aid to those affected by the disaster.

“Eventually, I decided to create an art exhibition that would function as an empowerment tool for the victims of the storm,” said Mensoff. “I wanted to produce a clean, comfortable space for the artists to exhibit their works, to lift their spirits and take the weight of the disaster from their shoulders. New Orleans Diaspora brought segments of a scattered arts community back together and created new bonds.”

Mensoff’s reflection of this experience and other times in her life produced the work currently on exhibit. The concept of floodwaters rising, the legend of Noah’s Ark and the architecture of the “Row house” inspired her work as well as a photograph of a boat tethered to a telephone pole taken just after the hurricane.

Her metalwork is on permanent display in Atlanta at the King and Spaulding Contemporary Art Collection, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Temple Sinai, the Martin Luther King Natatorium and in many private collections internationally. Mensoff operates Phoenix Metalworks in Atlanta, a shop that specializes in sculpture, furniture and architectural works and is dedicated to bringing artists and community together to create social change.

The Bobick Gallery is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 678-839-6521 or contact Gallery Director Stephanie Smith at slsmith@westga.edu.

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New Year, New Reasons for Cinema, Savoring and Sophistication at Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX®

It was a long December without Atlanta’s perfect mix of culture and cocktails, but Martinis & IMAX® is back in action Friday, January 8, 2010 with a new event time and a new, hipper attitude.

Beginning Friday, January 8, the experience of “IMAX® After Dark” will be offered every Friday from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.—starting an hour later and ending an hour later. Also new in 2010, Fernbank has revved up the musical entertainment by providing both live music and a DJ to keep the beats flowing.

When it comes to movies, size does matter. So don’t forget to make IMAX® part of your evening and catch a flick on the biggest screen in town—Fernbank’s five-story silver screen. January Martinis & IMAX® films are Wild Ocean and a special double feature of Van Gogh: Brush with Genius and Academy Award-winning animation from The Old Man and the Sea.

Wild Ocean shows at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. through March 26, 2010. The film plunges audiences into an underwater feeding frenzy off the coast of South Africa to witness an epic struggle for survival. Whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, gannets and billions of fish collide during one of nature’s greatest migration spectacles.

Van Gogh: Brush with Genius and The Old Man and the Sea combine for a special double-feature with shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. through March 31, 2010. Audiences will see some of the greatest works of art come to life on the big screen in Van Gogh. Then, they’ll experience Hemmingway’s classic story told through stunning animation of the Academy Award®‐winning film The Old Man and the Sea.

As always, cocktails and specialty martinis from the full, cash bar help quench your thirst after grooving on the dance floor or savoring the delicious cuisine of the Fernbank Café.

Martinis & IMAX® admission is included with the purchase of an IMAX® film ticket or is available with a $7 cover charge. IMAX tickets for Martinis & IMAX presentations are specially priced for a limited time only at $12—a $3 savings. Museum Members never pay a cover charge and pay only $7 for a Martinis & IMAX® film ticket.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road NE in Atlanta. Tickets are available at fernbankmuseum.org or 404.929.6400.

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Central GA Shutterbugs Meeting Jan 12

Regular monthly meetings of the West Central Georgia Shutterbugs will resume on Tuesday, January 12th, 6:30 p.m., at the Thomaston-Upson Arts Council Gallery and Gift Shop.

Guest speakers George Bradfield and Gail Stewart will present a program entitled “Up Close and Personal…with Nature.” George and Gail have been photographing and teaching together for over three years.

For more info about the speakers and to view their work, please visit their website: www.thrunatureseyesphotography.com.

As always, anyone interested in learning more about photography is invited to attend. There is no admission fee.

Shutterbugs have been invited to exhibit our photos in the DiscoveryCenter at Callaway Gardens from February 27 through April 11, 2010. We deeply appreciate this invitation and invite everyone to view the “Through Our Eyes” exhibit.

To join Shutterbugs, attend one of the above meetings and pay your dues to Dee Hinson, Treasurer. Dues are $12 per year. Please visit the WCG Shutterbugs blog for more information on previous activities and awards, www.wcgshutterbugs.blogspot.com.
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SlowExposures 2010 bring Fine Art Photogaphy to the South.....‏

Opens Friday, September 17th, 2010
Pike County, Georgia

SlowExposures, held annually in Pike County, Georgia, is the nationally recognized juried photo exhibition which faithfully captures the South's rural character through fine art photography.

The eighth showcase of photography opens on Friday, September 17th, 2010, in pastoral Pike County, located one hour south of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The photo celebration includes cutting edge seminars and workshops, a local children’s photography contest, satellite shows and a traditional, black tie SlowExposures Ball on Saturday, September 25th.

In addition to the primary collection of over ninety photos, a self-driving road tour features a map of the satellite shows and historic sites throughout picturesque Pike County.

SlowExposures is the annual fundraiser of Pike Historic Preservation and is dedicated to supporting the historical and cultural heritage of the rural south through contemporary photography.

All proceeds from the show and the dinner/dance go to the preservation of Pike County's historic buildings and landscapes.

SlowExposures attracts hundreds of visitors each fall.

For more information, please visit www.slowexposures.org or contact Slow Exposures, PO Box 489, Zebulon, GA, 30295, (770) 567-3600.

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UGA to exhibit New York paintings by professor emeritus James Herbert

The University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School of Art presents an exhibition of paintings by James Herbert on view Friday, Jan. 8 through Wednesday Feb. 3 in Gallery 101 of the art school.The opening reception on Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. is free and the public is invited to attend.

A world-renowned filmmaker and painter, Herbert has work in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, the Walker Arts Center in Minneapolis, Minn. and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. He has won two Guggenheim Awards (one in painting and one in filmmaking), a Tiffany Foundation Award, A Gottlieb Foundation Award and three National Endowment for the Arts senior painting grants. Herbert taught painting and filmmaking as a distinguished research professor at the art school until he retired in 2006.

In mid-2006, Herbert moved to Brooklyn, New York to continue painting.The UGA exhibition is a selection from the 120 large-scale acrylic canvases completed by Herbert since that time.

“I’ve been painting for the last 3½ years in a studio in an industrial area of Brooklyn called Bushwick—among the wholesale importers, metalwork shops, razor wire and dust from five cement plants. A lot of artists have studios here and there are emerging galleries getting attention and lots of bands and young people,” Herbert said recently. “But it is the edgy, cluttered urban intensity that revises my feelings for painting—and the spectacular light, sometimes more like Italy than the gray city I expected. My new work does not illustrate or embrace these things but reflects them I think, at least in attitude or reaction.”

“We are delighted that our long-time distinguished faculty member, Jim Herbert, will premiere new paintings created in his New York studio,” said Georgia Strange, director of the art school. “Our dynamic community of artists in the school of art welcomes Herbert’s vital, energetic work.”

Gallery 101 is located on the first floor of the art school, which is located at 270 River Road on the UGA campus. For more information, see http://art.uga.edu.

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Final Weeks to Enter Olympus Share the Experience Photo Contest

/PRNewswire/ -- The National Park Foundation issued a reminder today that there are just a few weeks left to enter the 2009 Olympus Share the Experience photo contest, which is seeking this year's best photo of the 392 national parks or other federal recreation lands. More than 2,000 photo entries have been submitted to the contest so far.

The Share the Experience photo contest closes at 11:59 pm ET on December 31, 2009. The grand prize winning photo will be featured on next year's Federal Recreation Lands Pass and will receive an Olympus E-3 Digital Camera.

The 2008 winning photo was taken in Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.

The winning photo from this year's Share the Experience photo contest sponsored by the National Park Foundation and Olympus.

The 2007 winning photo was taken at the Grand Canyon. Amateur photographers are invited to submit up to three photos to the Share the Experience contest through December 31, 2009. In addition, at the end of the submission period the public will be invited to vote for their favorite photo. Enter by visiting www.sharetheexperience.org or pick up a brochure and entry form while visiting a Federal Recreation Land this year.

Share the Experience is the official photo contest of America's national parks and federal recreation lands. Sponsored by Olympus and the National Park Foundation in partnership with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service, the Share the Experience Photo Contest showcases the more than 500 million acres of Federal Lands and draws entries from all across the United States.

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Holiday Extravaganza to Open at TCPA in Carrollton

The 21st holiday season of the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts will begin on Friday, December 11, with the annual Rudolph to the Rescue Toy Drive reception and International Juggling Champion and Comedian of the Year Mark Nizer.

The Rudolph to the Rescue reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and features refreshments, holiday music and a trip to Toy Land in the Dangle Theatre. An unwrapped toy is the ticket to the catered affair.

Creating new ways to delight and entertain his audiences is at the heart of Nizer’s mission. Audiences can don 3D glasses to see the inventions of new juggling tricks and technologies. His unique wit and sense of fun has set the performer apart from his peers in venues around the world including The Improv, The Comedy Store, Walt Disney World, universities and major cruise lines.

Holiday show tickets for Mark Nizer 3D are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children. A season ticket package is available and offers significant discounts for three or more shows with the best seats in the house.

The Townsend Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and one hour before show times. Call 678-839-4722 or go to http://www.townsendcenter.org for information on the 2009-2010 season, educational outreach programs at the TCPA and directions to the theatre.

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‘A Christmas Carol’ returns to The Grand Opera House

Come celebrate the transforming power of the spirit of Christmas as you follow Ebenezer Scrooge on his magical journey in “A Christmas Carol,” when this vibrant production comes to The Grand Opera House in Macon. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18. Tickets are $28 for adults, $22 for students or children and can be purchased through Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470 or online at www.TheGrandMacon.com.

Ever since legendary theatre pioneer Charles Jones adapted the Dickens classic for
Nebraska Theatre Caravan nearly three decades ago, the national touring production of “A Christmas Carol” has delighted audiences across America. By artfully combining elements of spectacle, music and dance, Jones created a stage version that not only delights children, but also transports audiences of all ages on a magical journey right alongside Ebenezer Scrooge.

With all the warmth and comfort of a cup of Christmas cheer, “A Christmas Carol” is
packed with laughter, pageantry and gorgeous costumes. Every memorable detail of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol springs to life, from spine-chilling ghosts to heartfelt renditions of traditional British carols. Crotchety Scrooge, lovable Tiny Tim and all the fascinating characters that audiences have come to love make Charles Dickens’ enchanting story a treasured holiday event.

The Nebraska Theatre Caravan’s national touring production of “A Christmas Carol” has been an American holiday tradition for 28 years, entertaining thousands of families across the country. So join Ebenezer Scrooge on his unforgettable magical journey and his discovery of the true meaning of Christmas in a stage show that has become one of the most treasured family gifts of the season.

The Grand Opera House
A performing arts center of Mercer University, The Grand Opera House is a historic 1,000-seat theatre located at 651 Mulberry St. in downtown Macon, Ga. The Grand brings the very best in live, professional performing arts and entertainment to Central Georgia. In addition to its popular Broadway Series of nationally-touring productions and its GrandKids Arts Education Series for elementary, middle and high school students, The Grand hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. It is also home to the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Central Georgia Opera Guild and The Nutcracker of Middle Georgia. For a complete schedule of upcoming performances, contact Mercer Ticket Sales at (478) 301-5470 or visit www.TheGrandMacon.com.

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"Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan 2010" on UGA campus in January

The University of Georgia Center for Asian Studies, the Japan Foundation and the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta will present “Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan 2010,” at 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, at Ramsey Recital Hall inside the Performing Arts Centerat the University of Georgia in Athens.

The event is free and open to the public.

“Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan 2010” is a trio of performances featuring traditional Japanese music. Each showcase performance will feature a different instrument, performed by Japan’s top young talent in Japanese traditional performing arts.

A pre-concert lecture by Hogaku Journal editor Takafumi Tanaka will be held immediately before the performance in Ramsey Recital Hall, starting at 7 p.m.

The duo Tsugukaji will perform on the koto, a Japanese zither. Formed eight years ago, Tsugukajiis renowned for its special awareness of the koto’s sound. They are known for their blend of vocals with koto music and their collaboration with various composers to produce contemporary works.

Kotoist Ai Kajiganolearned to play the koto as a young child from her mother. She has performed in China, Australia, France, Italy, Germany and South Korea and released her first album in 2001. Tsugumi Yamamotohas performed throughout Japan and was a bronze award recipient at the Kenjun Memorial Concert. Together they perform as Tsugukaji.

The duo Oyama x Nitta will perform on the tsugaru-shamisen, a fretless lute from northern Japan. With both classic and original repertories, they are leading figures in the tsugaru-shamisen scene. Yutaka Oyama began studying the tsugaru-shamisen under his grandfather, Mitsunou Oyama. In 2001 and 2002, he won the Outstanding Player Award at the tsugaru-shamisen competition sponsored by the Japan Folk Association. He has performed widely on Japanese television and has performed in Russia, Morocco, Ghana, France, Madagascar, Uganda, Qatar, Greece, Singapore, Ukraine and Lithuania at performances hosted by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Foundation.

Masahiro Nitta was inspired by his father at the age of 14 to begin playing the tsugaru-shamisen.In 1998, after only playing for seven months, he won the junior high school national championship. In both 2000 and 2001, he was awarded the championship title at a national tournament. In 2004, he starred in the motion picture Overdrive and is currently performing with his father as the team Nitta Oyako as well as in the fusion band Esoragoto.

Drum soloists Hide & Mihowill reunite for this performance. Playing a variety of percussion instruments, the duo explores the possibilities of folkloric performing arts.

Hideyoshi Saito first started studying traditional Japanese instruments in high school, eventually studying the taiko drum, vocals and dance on Sado Island with the renowned drumming group Kodo. In 2004, after 17 years with Kodo, he went solo, releasing his first album in 2005. He is the only soloist in Japan on the chappa (small cymbals).

Miho has been playing the taiko drum since 1990 and has performed throughout Japan, South Korea and France with the taiko ensemble Kodaijin. Since going solo in 1999, she has toured the Middle East with Leonard Eto’s taiko ensemble Leopro and performed on Eto’s 2002 album Duets, 2005 album Blends and 2006 album Ocean. Since 2006, Miho has been touring with the guitar, bass, and drum band WHB by the Powersupreme and has toured Africa, Australia and Japan with the band eno, which features traditional Japanese instruments. She also performs frequently as a soloist.

For further information, contact the Consulate General of Japan in Atlanta at 404/926-3022 or info@cgjapanatlanta.org.

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Perm Ballet Comes to Georgia and South Carolina

/PRNewswire/ -- The world-famous Perm Ballet from Perm, Russia is coming to Savannah, Spartanburg, Charleston, and Charlotte to perform the classical ballet Sleeping Beauty. The Perm Ballet cast members are all graduates of the Perm Vaganova School and are considered to be the third best ballet company in the world. Their connection to the St. Petersburg Vaganova School occurred when the school was evacuated to Perm from Leningrad during the siege during World War II. When the siege was lifted half of the school remained in Perm and the instructors have fiercely maintained the traditions of the famed St. Petersburg institution.

The Artistic Director of the theater is Mr. George Isaakyan and the Artistic Director of the Ballet is Natalia Akhmarova. Both of these outstanding directors have won numerous international awards and are considered to be at the very top of their professions. The Prima Ballerina is Elena Kulagina. Her titles include Honored Artist and Peoples' Artist of Russia. Other featured dancers include Yaroslave Araptanova, Natalia Moiseeva-Poleshchuk, and Robert Gabdullin. There will be a total of 65 dancers on stage to present this timeless ballet.

The unique feature of the Perm Ballet is that the cast has been together for some years as the company strives to maintain continuity of the cast. The result is the most beautifully choreographed ballet performance in the entire ballet world. Leading dancers from the cast include numerous winners of prestigious ballet competitions, and the ballet has performed all over the world in the past 30 years. The artistic director is an Honored Artist of Russia.

The tour that brings the Perm Ballet to the four southern cities is part of a tour that spans California across the country and up into New York and Canada. When the ballet learned that Dr. Mike Donnelly of the Hermitage Ballet of St. Petersburg was free this February they asked him to select four cities and to serve as the impresario for the ballet in those venues. Dr. Donnelly will continue to insist that the ballet provide free master classes for ballet students on point in the cities the ballet will appear.

Discounted tickets for students and military, both active duty and retired, are available.

Contact:

Dr. Mike Donnelly
907 Bradwell Street
Hinesville, GA 31313
Phone: 912 980 0028
Email: info@mmarttravel.com
Web site: http://www.russianseasonsballet.com/

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Popular Art Exhibit, Sale Returns December 3

Art lovers and artists can celebrate the winter holidays at the third annual “Good Things Come in Small Packages” show and sale on the UWG campus.

The popular exhibit will feature a one-day art sale with artwork by UWG faculty, students, alumni and community residents on Thursday, Dec. 3. An Opening Party will celebrate the event that evening from 6 to 8 p.m. The party and art sale are free and the community is invited to attend.

Submissions of art no larger than 12” x 12” x 12” will cover the walls of the Main Gallery in the Humanities Building and will be available for purchase from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Good Things exhibit is an eclectic range of works including oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings, photography, charcoal, pencil and ink drawings, ceramics, mixed media, printmaking and sculpture. Artists and the Department of Art benefit from the sales.

“In these tough economic times, making the choice to support local artists and buying something handmade and unique is a powerful statement,” said Stephanie Smith, instructor of art and coordinator of the Gallery exhibits. “Giving handmade items is a gift from the heart.”

The Good Things show and sale sold out in the last two years. Take the opportunity to own a work of art at reasonable prices and benefit both the artist and the Department of Art. For more information, call 678-839-4950 or e-mail slsmith@westga.edu.

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Main Street Players Presents The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
Main Street Players.
115 North Hill Street, Griffin.
Weekends, December 11th through 20th
770-229-9916 or 770-233-0578

Everyone thinks the Pageant will be a disaster.

But they are pleasantly surprised.

When six menacing kids decide they want to be the leads in the annual Christmas pageant they bully the other kids into letting them steal the principal parts. Everyone is certain it will be a disaster.

The town reacts with horror to the news that the most sinful children will be playing the holiest roles; however, the pageant director is determined to make the annual musical event a success.

Although they look more like trick-or-treaters than Bible figures, the hooligans don’t ruin the pageant; instead, they improve it.

When the curtain finally goes up, a miracle happens and gives the nativity story a surprisingly sentimental ending --- making it the best Christmas pageant ever!

Barbara Robinson’s “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” will be performed at the Main Street Theater, 115 North Hill Street, in historic downtown Griffin, Georgia, fifty miles south of Atlanta, weekends, December 11th through 20th: Fridays at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 3:00PM and 7:30PM and Sundays at 3:00PM.

In celebration of our ninth season, Main Street Players will offer a new Family Package at $50 for four tickets a 38% savings.

Regular Reserved Seat Tickets are $20. Senior Tickets are $15. Student Tickets are $10. Groups of ten or more receive a 10% discount. Enjoy a Teacher/Preacher Preview on Thursday, December 10th for $10 with ID or a toy for a child.

For tickets and information, call 770-229-9916 or 770-233-0578 or visit www.mainstreetplayers.org.

The Ingram Foundation, Griffin and Spalding County patrons as well as the Grassroots Arts Program of the Georgia Council for the Arts support the Main Street Players.

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Holiday Season begins at Townsend

The holiday season is here and there is no better way to celebrate tradition than by attending the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts’ holiday extravaganzas in December.

This season’s entertainment features the exciting International Juggling Champion and Comedy Entertainer of the Year, Mark Nizer, and the traditional “Christmas with the CSO” performed by the regions’ very own community orchestra, the Carroll Symphony Orchestra.

Imagine four lasers juggled at thousands of RPMs with beams dancing just above your head or an orbiting propane tank. It’s time to expect the impossible at the Mark Nizer 3D performance on Friday, Dec. 11, at 7:30 p.m.

The tradition continues with a reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. with an offering of desserts and hors d'oeuvres, holiday music and the annual toy drive, Rudolph to the Rescue. The Rudolph to the Rescue reception is a wonderful event families can enjoy together. An unwrapped toy is the ticket to the catered affair in the Townsend Center lobby and and a trip to the festive toy land in the Dangle Theatre.

Sure to thrill and ring nostalgic, the CSO returns with its gift of Christmas favorites ranging from Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” and the holiday classic “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to sacred Christmas hymns and sing-along songs.

Classical wonders such as “Winter” from The Four Seasons, Bizet’s “L’Arléslienne Suites” and “A Christmas Carol” by Michael Runyan are sure to be delightful treats. Bring the entire family and make Christmas with the CSO part of your holiday tradition.

Sponsors for the exciting shows at the Townsend Center throughout the year are the Dr. Richard L. Dangle family, the Community Foundation of West Georgia, Dr. Chester and Mrs. Faye Gibson and the Carroll Symphony Orchestra Foundation.

Holiday show tickets for Mark Nizer 3D are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children. Tickets for Christmas with the CSO are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $8 for children.
A Townsend Center season ticket package offers significant discounts for three or more shows and the best seats in the house.

The Townsend Center Box Office is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and one hour before show times. Go to http://www.townsendcenter.org for information on the 2009-2010 season, educational outreach programs at the TCPA and directions to the theatre.

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High Hosts 14th Annual High Arts Day

The High Museum of Art will host the 14th Annual High Arts Day on Monday, November 16, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. High Arts Day is a fundraiser presented by Art Partners, the social and volunteer organization at the High. The day’s events will include a reception and private shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, a luncheon at the High, home tours, exhibition tours, a trunk show and a sculpture auction. Tickets are $150 ($80 tax-deductible) and all proceeds benefit the High. For ticketing information please contact the Art Partners Program Officer at 404-733-4429.

Schedule of Events:

Opportunity to meet the honorary chairs of High Arts Day, artist Steve Penley and jewelry designer Gogo Ferguson
Reception and shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue
Charter bus tour of two distinguished Atlanta homes
Elegant luncheon in the Wieland Pavilion Grand Lobby, High Museum of Art
Informal modeling by Saks Fifth Avenue
Raffle of unusual and unique items
Silent Auction of more than 25 sculptures, each designed by a different artist
Trunk Show including jewelry exclusively by Gogo Ferguson, handbags, scarves and other accessories
Private tour of the exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genuis.”

At 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, the Gold Patron event will feature an exhibition tour by top Museum curators followed by an elegant dinner reception in the elegant TVS Design building and a special exhibition by artist Steve Penley and jewelry designer Gogo Ferguson. Gold Patrons make a $500 minimum contribution ($400 tax-deductible) in support of High Arts Day. The contribution includes two tickets to the Gold Patron event and one ticket to High Arts Day.

Organization and Support

The Platinum Sponsor for High Arts Day is Georgia Power and the Premier Event Partner is Saks Fifth Avenue. Additional support is provided by American Coach of Atlanta and Classic Party Rentals. Media sponsors are Flavors magazine and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. The Communication Partner is Spaulding Communications.

High Arts Day chairperson Valerie O'Neal leads a 23-person volunteer committee of Art Partners. Honorary chairs of the Gold Patron event are Marion Ventulett and Anne Sapp. Rosalind Minkhorst is the 2009–2010 Art Partners president.
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Savannah Film Festival Presents Emmy Rossum With the Young Hollywood Award Nov. 2

/PRNewswire/ -- The 12th annual Savannah Film Festival, hosted by the Savannah College of Art and Design, presented Emmy Rossum with the Young Hollywood Award on Nov. 2.

"I'm extremely honored to be given this award," said Rossum. "This award and the incredible student films shown here at the festival show that SCAD has an eye on the future of film, as well as an appreciation of its past. I'm delighted to be here to accept this."

Rossum's starring performance as Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera" in 2004 earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. Her acting performance in "Songcatcher" earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination in the category of Best Debut Performance. Other past film credits include the Clint Eastwood-directed drama "Mystic River," "Poseidon," "The Day After Tomorrow" with Jake Gyllenhaal, "Dragonball" and "Happy Now."

At age 7, Rossum began singing at the Metropolitan Opera, and she has since performed with such musical talents as Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti and Dolly Parton. In 2007, Rossum recorded her first album for Geffen Records, "Inside Out." She wrote and recorded all her own songs. She is currently working on her second album.

Following the presentation, film festival attendees were treated to a late night special screening of the independent drama, "Dare," starring Rossum. "Dare" follows three teenagers through their last semester of school, who make a last-ditch effort to shake things up by taking the biggest risks of their lives before they actually have to start living as adults. "Dare" will be released theatrically by Image Entertainment Nov. 13.

The day began with a special screening of "Valentino: The Last Emperor," the acclaimed portrait of Valentino Garavani, the man behind the legendary couture label Valentino. The film focuses on the period between Valentino's 70th birthday and his final couture show. After the film, director Matt Tyrnauer joined Vogue Editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley for an in-depth look at the making of the film.

Attendees were also treated to a special screening of "The City of Your Final Destination," with an appearance by the multi-Academy Award-nominated director, James Ivory. Directed by Ivory and written by his longtime collaborator Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, "The City of Your Destination" stars Sir Anthony Hopkins and Laura Linney. It tells the story of a young American academic who attempts to persuade the reluctant heirs of a celebrated Uruguayan novelist to allow him to write an authorized biography of the writer, who has recently died.

Throughout the day there were also narrative feature competition screenings. Among those films competing was "Mercy," written and starring Scott Caan, who made a special appearance at the Festival. "Mercy" centers around a successful but cynical young writer who writes about love but does not really believe in it until he meets someone who turns his world upside down. Playing Caan's on-screen father is his real father, Academy Award-nominated actor James Caan.

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