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One of the Cabarrus Arts Council’s goals is to support outstanding artists and one of the ways we do that is to join with other arts councils in sponsoring the Regional Artist Project Grants.

The deadline to apply for this year’s grants is Wednesday, August 18, at noon. Visual artists and filmmakers may apply for grants this year.

These grants provide funds for artists or groups of artists to pursue projects that enhance their artistic development. Emerging artists may apply for up to $3,000 and established artists for up to $5,000.

The grant program is offered by the arts councils of Cabarrus, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Rutherford, and York, SC, counties. Artists who have lived in these counties for at least one year, are 18 or over and have not received a grant the past three years are eligible to apply. The program alternates disciplines each year; literary and performing artists will have the opportunity in 2011.

Cabarrus artists apply for the grant through the Cabarrus Arts Council. The grants are highly competitive. Applications and guidelines are available on the “grants” page at www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org. Artists are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with Noelle Rhodes Scott, President and CEO, to go over their applications.

Artists have received funding to work with master artists, to support the cost of an exhibition, to upgrade marketing materials, to purchase equipment or to attend conferences or workshops. Several of Cabarrus County’s wonderful artists are past recipients of the Regional Artist Grant, including Walter Stanford, Beth Stafford, Lin Barnhardt, Byron Baldwin, Jeff Pender, Ken Barry and Tomoo Kitamura.

For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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If our record hot temperatures and the state of the economy have put you in the doldrums, here’s the perfect solution: fun and free arts activities! You can go to two free concerts and see a wonderful art exhibition right here in Cabarrus County this week.

Start your weekend on Thursday with Union Street Live, Concord Downtown Development Corporation’s beach music concert series. See, hear and maybe even dance to the music of the Shakers from 6 to 9 p.m. on the lawn of the historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S, in Concord. You may know the venerable band best known for its hit single “Myrtle Beach Days” as the “Fantastic Shakers.” Formed in 1978, the band has played over 6,000 shows and is loved by people of all ages.

Seating is on the lawn or in the street, so bring a chair or blanket. There will be plenty of food available, both from the concert food vendors and at the many wonderful restaurants in downtown Concord. For more information, call 704-784-4208 or visit www.concorddowntown.com. Read more about the Shakers at www.fantasticshakers.com.

Take a rest day Friday then head to Village Park in Kannapolis Saturday at 7 p.m. for a show by local favorite Too Much Sylvia. If you have not seen these wonderful performers, you are in for a real treat – if you are already a fan, then I don’t need to tell you how much fun the band is. Too Much Sylvia plays everything from beach music to R & B to disco, sometimes in unforgettable costumes.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on. Picnics are welcome, and concessions will also be available. For more information, call 704-920-4343 or visit www.cityofkannapolis.com. Read more about Too Much Sylvia at www.toomuchsylvia.com.

Sometime before it closes on July 29, make time to see the Through the Rabbit Hole exhibition at The Galleries in the historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S, Concord. This fun and wonderful show features the art of exaggeration and whimsy. There are paintings, bronze sculpture, ceramics, fiber and mixed media. You may have a tour led by a trained volunteer docent or just enjoy the exhibition at your own pace.

Through the Rabbit Hole is a great exhibition for introducing your children or grandchildren to fine art. Make sure to ask for the scavenger hunt at the docent desk, and enjoy searching the artwork for a piece of pie, a rabbit with carrots, a mouse, a chocolate cake and 20 other items.

The Galleries are open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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Tickets go on sale Thursday for all three of the Davis Theatre’s 2010-11 performing arts series.

Located in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S, Concord, the Davis provides an intimate setting for performing arts with just 227 seats and state-of-the-art sound and lights.

I told you about the outstanding season planned for the flagship On Stage at the Davis earlier this month.  Today, I’m pleased to tell you about the exciting performances planned for the other two series, the Brand New Opry and Footlights.

The Brand New Opry is a bluegrass variety series hosted and organized by Jeff Whittington, a local bluegrass virtuoso who has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and was a staff musician on the syndicated Arthur Smith Show.  Each concert features Whittington, his Brand New Bluegrass Boys house band and a variety of talented guest musicians.  Bank of North Carolina is a Gold Sponsor of the Brand New Opry.

There will be four Brand New Opry concerts:  Thursday, October 7; Thursday, December 16; Thursday, February 17; and Thursday, April 14.  All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.  Reserved seat tickets for each are $10.

The new Footlights series showcases outstanding performers from our region for fun, casual evenings at the Davis.  Marty DeJarnette, a local fingerstyle guitarist, singer and songwriter will celebrate the release of his new CD on Thursday, September 2, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $10.

Up and coming country star Justin David, who is just off a tour with the legendary Roy Clark, will present an acoustic concert Thursday, October 28, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $12.

Carolina Gator Gumbo will close the series Thursday, January 27, at 7:30 p.m. with the festive Cajun and Creole music of southwest Louisiana.  Tickets are $10.

Tickets for all shows are available online at www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org or by phone or in person at the Davis Theatre Box Office, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 704-920-2753.  Read more about all the performances, including On Stage at the Davis, at www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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Artists from Cabarrus, Iredell, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties are eligible to submit works for the Cabarrus Art Guild Juried Exhibition at The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council in downtown Concord.

The exhibition will be on display August 16-October 7 at The Galleries in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S, Concord.  The artwork to be included will be chosen by Robert Tynes, Professor of Art and Director of the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.  He also will choose the winners of a $200 first place award, $150 second place, $100 third place and up to four $50 honorable mentions.

To be considered for the exhibition, artwork must have been created in the past three years and not have been shown previously at The Galleries.  Copies of works and works done in workshops are not eligible.  Two-dimensional works should be no larger than 60 inches in any direction and be ready for display with hanging wire installed and matted or framed.  Three-dimensional works should not exceed 50 pounds, a 24 inches by 24 inches footprint and 48 inches tall.

A non-refundable fee of $20 per art guild member for up to 3 works is to be submitted upon delivery of work to the Galleries.  Non-members may submit up to 3 works for a total entry fee of $30.  Delivery dates for submissions are Friday, July 30, and Monday, August 2, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.  Artists will be notified of acceptance on August 5.

For a complete prospectus and more information about The Galleries, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org or call 704-920-2787.

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Works by almost 100 artists at 11 locations will be featured in the downtown Concord Art Walk Friday, June 25, 6-9 p.m.

The free event, organized by the Cabarrus Arts Council, includes visual art displays on and near Union Street.  There are refreshments and entertainment at many locations, and artists are on hand to talk informally about their work.  A free screening of the film, Rocaterrania, will take place at the Davis Theatre at 9 p.m. following Art Walk.

The Galleries in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S will celebrate the opening of Through the Rabbit Hole, a group exhibition that brings together artwork that features whimsy, fantasy and creative imagery.  It includes paintings, bronze and clay sculptures and photo illustrations by 15 artists:  Linda Luise Brown, Marilee Hall, Jayne Harris, Duy Huynh, Nan Jacobsohn, Murray Johnston, Lesley G. Keeble, Ruth Ava Lyons, Roger Martin, Pat Pilchard, Linda Plaisted, Peggy Rivers, Wanda Steppe, Cynthia Tollefsrud and Ginger J. Williamson.

Two locations will have live music.  Russ McIntire will play at Mullis Music at 31 Union Street S, and Chris English will perform at the Adam Ramsey Miller Gallery at 21 Union Street S.

Also showcasing artwork will be The Peggy, 186 Spring Street NW, new works by Beth Feeback and art by young Concord artists; Mud Slingers Pottery, 9 Union Street N, pottery by Rachel Rogers, Carol Weston, Judy Kendall, Mike O’Brien and Beniko Cadel and paintings by Ronda Morris; Gianni’s Restaurant, 15 Union Street S, photography by Richard Schmidt; Burning Rabbit Studios, 21 Union Street S (downstairs), works by Pete Brown and Michael Gaska; Adam Ramsey Miller Gallery, 21 Union Street S (upstairs), Lineage of NODA show featuring works by Raed Al Rawi, Mike Bozart, Alex Clark, Rebecca Jones Clark, David French, Frank Haas, Jerry Kirk, Ruth Ava Lyons, Rusk Masterson, Isaac Payne and Jenny Payne; Lil Robert’s Place, 25 Union Street S, pottery by Michelle Burrage and art by Thorin Medford, Ben Osborne, Andrew Sedberry, Darrin Scarboro, Joe Hatley, Carolyn Ruth, Adam Ramsey Miller and Charles Mauldin; Antique Market of Concord, 37 Union Street S, sidewalk demonstration by Southern Piedmont Woodturners; Ellie’s Coffee Shoppe, 37 Union Street S, art by Rod Burch, Kelli Horne, Anita Kinnier and Carol Pighin; Little Feather, 42 Union Street S, paintings by Ilisa Howell; and Piedmont Renaissance Center, 51 Union Street S, artwork by Faith Alexander, Randy Calhoun, Bruce Chandler, Nancy Bibby, Charles Farrar, Carolyn Fisher, Stephie Gustavson, Dwight Hartsell, Roland Hege, Carlos Herrera, Kate Highsmith, Donna Kirby, Beth Kluttz, Patricia Lindsey, Sylvia Lower, Donna Maer, Jerry Measimer, Barbara Pavey, Keith Pavey, Bel Ray, Ryan Richie, Barry Russell, Richard Schmidt, Jennie Tomlin, Kim and Chelsey Tyler, Sherry Vechery, Wayne Wrights and Stephanie, Alex and Taylor Jay.

The film Rocaterrania is presented by Modern Film Fest.  It follows the life of Renaldo Kuhler, a nature illustrator, who created the fictional country of Rocaterrania.  When his family moved from upstate New York to a remote Colorado cattle ranch in 1948, teenaged Renaldo found the isolation unbearable and escaped to the private fantasy world of his notebooks.  What began as the illustrated history of an imaginary country called Rocaterrania became Renaldo’s lifelong obsession – the forging of a secret and satirically coded version of his own life.  The director, Brett Ingram of Greensboro, will be at the screening to talk about the film afterwards.

To download an Art Walk map, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.  For more information, call 704-920-2787.

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On Stage at the Davis will once again bring outstanding professional touring performances to the stage in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse at 65 Union Street S, Concord.

The third season will kick off with It Takes Two: An Evening with Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell, a Broadway revue performed by two critically acclaimed Broadway, film and television stars, on September 25.  The season also includes Pianafiddle, an improvisational all-musical-genres piano and fiddle duo, on November 12; Galumpha, which combines stunning acrobatics, striking visual effects, physical comedy and inventive choreography, on March 5; Carrie Newcomer, a singer-songwriter who has toured with Alison Krauss, on April 9; and Blood Done Sign My Name, a moving theatrical adaptation of the book about the murder of a young black man in Oxford, NC, in 1970, on May 6.

Operated by the Cabarrus Arts Council, the Davis Theatre’s 227 seats provide an intimate setting for performances with every person close to the stage.  Performers also sign autographs, pose for photos and greet audience members in the The Galleries after each show.

Each of this year’s performers is critically acclaimed and known for outstanding performances:

Saturday, September 25, 2010, 8 p.m., $42
It Takes Two:  An Evening with Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell
This sizzling evening of music includes showstoppers from Broadway, standards from the great American songbook, swing numbers, country classics and rock ‘n’ roll!  Kennedy’s roles have included Lady of the Lake in Broadway’s Spamalot, Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard, Daisy Hilton in Side Show, and the final Fantine in the history-making run of Les Miserables.  Campbell originated the role of Joe Gillis in his Tony-nominated performance in Sunset Boulevard and starred in Susan Stroman’s Tony Award-winning Contact at Lincoln Center.  He also has a long list of television credits, including five seasons on Jake and the Fat Man and roles on Three’s a Crowd, Another World and All My Children.

Friday, November 12, 2010, 8 p.m., $35
Pianafiddle
Is it bluegrass? Is it jazz?  Is it classical, old time, ragtime, or blues?  If Pianafiddle is performing, the answer is YES!  Beginning only with a familiar tune, violinist/fiddler Adam DeGraff and pianist Randy Morris improvise as they go, blending the traditional, the unwritten and the spontaneous.  Morris has enjoyed a long career as a jazz and ragtime pianist, including 38-years with Disney where he wrote, directed and performed in thousands of shows.  He has toured with Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Marvin Hamlisch and, perhaps the most famous of all, Kermit the Frog.  DeGraff is a classically trained concert violinist turned fiddler who has performed with a number of professional orchestras, most recently the Richmond Symphony.

Saturday, March 5, 2011, 8 p.m., $33
Galumpha
Galumpha brings to life a world of imagination, beauty, muscle and merriment.  Its sensory feast of images ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, drawn together into a seamless whole, consistently brings audiences to their feet.  Galumpha delivers a fast-paced, athletic brand of movement, distinctive for its ingenuity.  Highlights include “Velcro” as seen on The Late Show with David Letterman, Crook and Chase and the MDA Jerry Lewis Telethon and “Clackers,” which has been seen on MTV, Showtime, A&E, Just for Laughs in Montreal and by over one billion television viewers around the globe.

Saturday, April 9, 2011, 8 p.m., $32
Carrie Newcomer
Describing Carrie Newcomer as a singer-songwriter is a little like saying Noah was a boat-builder.  The Indiana native sings of the small joys and pains in life, emphasizing the little moments that are often taken for granted as she illuminates life with startling depth, humor and clarity.  Her music has been praised in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Acoustic Guitar.   She has toured with Alison Krauss and Union Station in Europe and the United States and recorded the title track of her 2002 The Gathering of Spirits album with Krauss.

Friday, May 6, 2011, 8 p.m., $30
Blood Done Sign My Name
Based on Tim Tyson’s award-winning memoir, Blood Done Sign My Name recounts the murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in view of multiple witnesses, the subsequent acquittal of the murderers by an all-white jury and the reaction of Oxford’s black community.  Performed by gifted playwright and actor Mike Wiley accompanied by powerful gospel singer Mary D. Williams, the drama, like the memoir, offers all of us the opportunity to examine our own roles in the complex and often confusing racial fabric of America.  Wiley is known throughout the United States for his portrayals of key figures and events in African American history.  With a voice reminiscent of Mahalia Jackson, Williams is winner of the gospel music Female Vocalist of the Year.

Tickets for all shows go on sale July 1 and will be available online at www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org or by phone or in person at the Davis Theatre Box Office, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 704-920-2753.

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A wonderful selection of fun and amazing artwork is featured in The Galleries’ new exhibition, Through the Rabbit Hole.

The show will be on display through July 29.  The Galleries are located at 65 Union Street S, Concord, in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse.

The Galleries are a great place to bring your out-of-town visitors when you’re showing off the wonderful place you live.  They’ll see beautiful artwork in a majestic and historic building in the middle of picturesque downtown Concord.

The Galleries also are outstanding for introducing your children or grandchildren to art.  Children – and adults – enjoy participating in our scavenger hunt in which they search for items contained in the works of art.

Through the Rabbit Hole includes paintings, bronze sculptures, ceramics, fiber and photo illustrations by 15 artists: 

Linda Luise Brown, who uses color in her paintings to explore the subconscious and the subliminal;

Marilee Hall, who wants her whimsical clay creations “to bring a sense of joy and hint at the mystery of life;”

Jayne Harris, who incorporates animals, people and the forest into her wood and clay works;

Duy Huynh, a Vietnam native whose paintings reflect geographical and cultural displacement;

Nan Jacobsohn, who captures the gesture, movement and fluid grace of horses in her sculptures and figures;

Murray Johnston, who creates quilts that are a combination of fabric collage and machine piecing;

 Lesley G. Keeble, who makes meticulously crafted art dolls using fashions she sees on the streets of Asheville as inspiration;

Ruth Ava Lyons, whose paintings communicate a sense of mystery as they explore ideas of beauty and decay, loss and redemption;

Roger Martin, a taxidermist and sculptor who worked with the Smithsonian Institution on the renovation of the Natural History Museum’s Hall of Mammals;

Pat Pilchard, whose manipulated digital images of animals and plants are metaphors for life;

Linda Plaisted, a pioneer in contemporary photo montage and photo illustration;

Peggy Rivers, a native of Iceland who calls herself an “honest painter” because she paints for herself, from her point of view and from her experiences;

Wanda Steppe, who paints imaginary landscapes that are metaphors for the passage of time;

Cynthia Tollefsrud, whose playful, whimsical and fun paintings’ personalities emerge through color, animals and clothing; and

Ginger J. Williamson, whose photo montages involve the layering and overlapping of two or more photographs.

Sculptor and taxidermist Martin will give a free talk about his work Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m.  Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The Galleries also will be open regular hours on Saturday, June 12.  Group tours can be arranged at other times by appointment.  For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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Roger Martin has been creating wildlife sculpture in one form or another for over 30 years.  He began as a self-taught taxidermist at 12 and has built a career that has led him to taxidermy work for the Smithsonian Institution and acclaim as a bronze sculptor.

Martin will talk about how he approaches his work at a free gallery talk on Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council, located at 65 Union Street S, Concord, in Cabarrus County’s historic courthouse.  The talk is co-sponsored by the Cabarrus Art Guild.

Martin created Martin Industries to manufacture life-size mammal forms for the taxidermy industry.  He has sculpted over 300 animal mannequins, from deer mice to cape buffalo.  He shares his knowledge by writing regular articles for Taxidermy Today magazine and teaching at state, regional and national shows.  He has won several awards for taxidermy.

He worked with the Smithsonian Institution on the 2003 Natural History Museum’s Mammal Hall renovation, creating a number of the taxidermy pieces.  He has an insatiable desire to learn about wildlife and has traveled the world, studying animals in the wild from the goats and sheep of Alaska to the birds and mammals of Africa, Asia and the South Pacific.

After 20 years of taxidermy, he decided to try bronze sculptures.  The understanding of anatomy and motion he learned through taxidermy is essential to his work.  He says that people are sometimes surprised to hear that he follows the same basic process to shape the animals with both his taxidermy models and his sculptures.

A lifetime North Carolina resident, Martin operates a studio in downtown Albemarle.  He is currently working on a bust of the Duke of Albemarle for the city.  For more information about Martin, visit www.rogermartin.com.

Five of Martin’s sculptures are included in The Galleries next exhibition, Through the Rabbit Hole, which opens June 7:  a rabbit, a turtle and frog, a sheep and fox, an owl and a jackalope.  For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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Three members of the Cabarrus Arts Council staff joined more than 300 other arts advocates from across North Carolina in Raleigh Wednesday for Arts Day.

Noelle Rhodes Scott, president and CEO; Pat Verner, communications director; and Sara Heiser, theatre manager visited the North Carolina legislative office building where they met with Cabarrus representatives Jeff Barnhart and Linda Johnson, Rowan representative Fred Steen and Rockingham representative Nelson Cole to talk about the importance of the arts in North Carolina. They encouraged the representatives to retain the governor’s recommended Grassroots and arts program grant levels as well as to encourage an arts requirement for high school graduation.

“The creative industries employ almost 300,000 North Carolinians and contribute $41.4 billion in products and services,” said Noelle Rhodes Scott, quoting statistics from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources.  “The presence of creative professionals in a given county is the single most important factor associated with the amount that visitors will spend, and counties with higher proportions of works in arts-related occupations are more likely to retain current residents and attract new ones.  The presence of creative works is also strongly associated with rising household income.”

The state senate’s general budget committee recommended a 5% cut in Grassroots funds, which local arts councils distribute to community organizations like the Old Courthouse Theatre and Southern Piedmont Woodturners, and a 7% cut in other arts grants. The arts advocates asked legislators to sustain the funds recommended in Gov. Beverly Purdue’s budget:  $2,710,245 in Grassroots funds and $3,873, 320 in program grants to nonprofit arts groups.

“Reducing these funds undercuts an industry that is the cornerstone of tourism, economic development, revitalization of downtowns and economic vitality,” Scott said.  “Nonprofit arts organizations are members of the business community, and increased support generates tax revenues and jobs.  Every $1 invested generates an incredible $17 in matching funds.”

Scott noted that all our local representatives, including Sen. Fletcher Hartsell, are extremely supportive and understand the importance of the arts to our community and state.

The Cabarrus Arts Council is dedicated to providing a wide variety of cultural arts programs that benefit the citizens of Cabarrus County.  The arts council programs and operates the Davis Theatre and The Galleries in the historic county courthouse in downtown Concord where its offices are located.  It also conducts one of the largest arts-in-education programs in North Carolina for the Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City Schools, supports arts organizations and artists through grants and workshops and serves as a catalyst and consultant for public and corporate art.  For more information, visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org or call 704-920-ARTS (2787).

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A new group exhibition, Through the Rabbit Hole,, will be on display June 7-July 29  at The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council.

The Galleries are located at 65 Union Street S in Cabarrus County’s 1876 historic courthouse.

The exhibition brings together artwork that features whimsy, fantasy and creative imagery.  It includes paintings, bronze and clay sculptures and photo illustrations by 15 artists:  Linda Luise Brown, Marilee Hall, Jayne Harris, Duy Huynh, Nan Jacobsohn, Murray Johnston, Lesley Keeble, Ruth Ava Lyons, Roger Martin, Pat Pilchard, Linda Plaisted, Peggy Rivers, Wanda Steppe, Cynthia Tollefsrud and Ginger J. Williamson. 

An Art Walk and a Gallery Talk will be held in conjunction with the exhibition.  The Art Walk in downtown Concord, which will feature visual art at approximately 20 locations and entertainment, will take place on Friday, June 25, 6-9 p.m.  Exhibiting artist Roger Martin, who will have two bronze rabbit sculptures in the show, will talk about his work on Thursday, June 10, at 7 p.m.  The free talk is co-sponsored by the Cabarrus Art Guild.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.  The Galleries also will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 12.  Group tours can be arranged at other times by appointment.  For more information, call 704-920-ARTS (2787) or visit www.CabarrusArtsCouncil.org.

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