Alabama River Region Arts Center Volume 1, Issue 7 May 2011
The ARRAC Update ARRAC GRAND OPENING Held April 9th
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Board / Officers / Coordinators
2
Timeline
2
Volunteer Stats
3
Classes
3
Newsletter News
3
Bluegrass Jam Coming!
3
About us
4
Dawn Sullivan showed a visitor piecing techniques.
ARRAC celebrated its new home by opening its doors to the community Sat. April 9, from 9 to 3. Artists and craft stations were ready in all of the classrooms, welcoming the community and demonstrating everything from watercolors to wood-carving. Forge workers set up in the shade on the front lawn, greeting over 75 visitors who followed the sidewalk chalk art into the Center. Once inside the Gallery, friends found themselves not only surrounded by walls of art created by River Region-area artists, but also by guitar music.
Carol Barksdale’s watercolor station had diligent artists.
Artists in the classrooms (named after famous artists) hosted clay and woodworking; weaving, spinning, and quilting; and watercolors, finger weaving, and jewelry beading. Many visitors made their way from one station to another learning a new skill along the way.
A father with his two daughters even came back after their lunchbreak just to continue their art “projects.”
Guitar playing by John_________ Marilyn Winborn helps visitors make a beaded bracelet
Dylan Goodsen demonstrated woodcarving.
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Board of Directors, and Coordinators Our Founding Board has now transitioned to the following Board of Directors. BOARD of DIRECTORS Don Mobley – Business owner, Musician Doris Bell – ECAG seat, Painter Marilyn Winborn – Business owner, Jewelery Artist Rick Bowman – Business owner, Potter
Coordinators Shirley Esco – Volunteers dsesco9696@dishmail.net Carol Hickman – Classes/Workshops hickman623@charter.net
The ARRAC Update/May 2011 ARRAC Timeline: From a Dream to Reality Sometimes a dream is given to one, but usually we find many share the same dream. Such is the strength of dreams that rise to become reality. It takes work. It takes patience. It takes persistence. It may take money. Surely it takes Community. Many total hours were required to bring the Alabama River Region Arts Center to the point it is today. But this is only the beginning of our involvement with the community as an arts center for the entire community. By its very name, we state our mission and our focus. The “C” in ARRAC stands for “Center,” in this River Region Community. We have seen growth in all areas from number of members to attendees at our Bluegrass jams. May we continue to strive to encourage each other as we work toward our mission:
Toska Courbron (right) volunteered to conduct an internal audit with Dawn Sullivan, interim treasurer.
The Alabama River Region Arts Center is committed to stimulating individual expression and appreciation of the visual and performing arts by providing high quality, affordable programming. The Center is a supportive environment where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can study, create and present art.
It will take all to make the Center a success!
10/1/10 10/30/10 11/1/10 11/1/10 11/1/10 11/6/10 12/1/10 12/1/10 12/1/10 12/1/10 12/1/10 12/18/10 12/18/10 1/1/11 1/5/11 1/7/11 1/23/11 2/1/11 2/1/11 2/1/11 2/28/11 3/1/11 3/5/11 3/10/11 3/13/11 3/14/11 3/24/11 3/31/11 4/2/11 4/9/11 5/7/11 5/7/11 5/15/11 5/19/11 5/19/11 5/21/11
Search for ARRAC location ARRAC Facebook page launched Awaiting to hear on former Wetumpka High School site Classes/syllabi developed for core group of 6-8 classes 14 Members First Bluegrass Jam held at Bath Builders; 17 musicians former Wetumpka High School site selected 22 Members New Founding Officers appointed Classes first published on web site (for Feb.) ARRAC website up & running first Workday at ARRAC: walls scraped, primed, etc. Coosa on the River Silent Auction raises $840 28 Members Start up grant $1000 rec'd from: Mildred Weedon Blount Education and Charitable Foundation of Tallassee $2500 program grant rec'd from: Alabama State Council on the Arts Workday: painting of the ARRAC (10 gallons of paint) ARRAC insurance obtained Lease finalized with ECSS 40 Members Hallway 3/4 painted; 2 classrooms ready for painting Final layour of Handrail confirmed; Alabama Forge Council to commence fabrication Bluegrass Jam held at ARRAC Call for entries to area artists for ARRAC Gallery 2 Classrooms finished; ready for use Membership meeting held Gallery opening Ribbon Cutting with Elmore County School Systems & City of Wetumpka Bluegrass Jam held at ARRAC Community Open House at ARRAC: Artist & Craftsmen demonstrations Bluegrass Jam held outdoors at ARRAC First Class held: Drawing Membership meeting held Second Class held: Beginning Digital Photography Internal audit conducted by Toska Courbron 4 Gallery sales as of this date
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News for the Newsletter Laying out a national quarterly magazine for over 10 years is quite different from writing this newsletter, I’ll admit. You can help by your contribution to the information, observations, ideas and stories we include in this publication, the goal of which is to relay news about how the arts are impacting the River Region community. Any of your contributions are welcome and will be used to generate information we send out in our newsletter and post online.
The ARRAC Update/May 2011 Stats: Volunteers March
April
May
Total Individual Volunteers
15 individuals
7 individuals
11 individuals
Days worked
54 days
19 days
14 days
First-time Volunteers
4 individuals
1 individual
4 individuals
Send your ideas to Marty McIntyre, marty195@gmail.com to get them included in the next issue or online.
Classes & Recruiters
Join Our Next
Bluegrass Jam!
Two different classes have met to date: Drawing and a Digital Photography for Beginners. Doris Bell, instructor for the 6-class Drawing series, says the goal of the class, “Is to draw what you see, not what you know.” Doris’ class series starts with “baby steps” as she trains her students to see. Marty McIntyre teaches the beginning Digital Photography class, which is really more of a personalized tutoring session. “The goal is to move beyond the “Auto” button,” Marty says. Many other classes are offered besides these. Our classes will continue to meet, thrive and serve the needs and wants of this community if each of us is promoting the Center, not just our own classes. Once someone hears about your volunteer efforts to help bring the Arts Center into being, many want to get involved. You can tell them how to do that. Tell your friends and co-workers how to find us online. Many have come through our doors because of our online presence. Carry a class schedule with you in your purse or backpack. A file will be uploaded with basic contact information and web site address. Check our web site for this file, which you can download, print up and artistically embellish to make it uniquely “your art.” Give this out. Make more to distribute. Ask what classes your friends, family might be interested in. Let Carol Hickman, classes coordinator, know. Check out the huge bulletin board in the hallway that contains all the information on each individual class.
June 4
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Place: On the ARRAC lawn! Bring a chair or two.
Get Involved! The ARRAC is looking for persons interested in filling Committee positions including; Marketing, Fund Raising, Curriculum/Programs, Gallery design. Contact any Officers or Board Members for more information.
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The ARRAC Update/May 2011
ARRAC U PDA TE
About Us…
Contact Editor: 195 Blackberry Rd. Deatsville, AL 36022 Phone: (334) 578-9485 E-Mail: director@arrac.org We’re on the Web! See us at:
www.arrac.org Join our Facebook site:
The Founding members are composed of local Artist from varied disciplines that have a common goal to create a public non-profit organization based in Wetumpka, Alabama focusing on nurturing all categories of arts in the River Region. The Arts Center is a volunteer based, community supported organization that will derive it’s funding from public and private donations, contributions, grants benefactors and the proceeds from memberships, Artist Space, Rentals, Gallery Art Sales and special events.
As stated in our Articles of Incorporation: - Purpose of Corporation Section 3.01 The Alabama River Region Arts Center is a not for profit corporation whose mission is to bring the People of the River Region together and enhance community life through a supportive environment where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can study, create and present art. The Center is committed to stimulating individual creative expression and appreciation of the visual, performing and culinary arts by providing high quality, affordable programs. To this end, the corporation shall at all times be operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. All funds, whether income or principal, and whether acquired by gift or contribution or otherwise, shall be devoted to said purposes.
Alabama-RiverRegion-ArtsCenter
Volunteer Memberships Gallery Inquiries
Go to:
www.arrac.org
Editor ARRAC Update 195 Blackberry Rd. Deatsville, AL 36022
MEMBER NAME
STREET ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2 CITY, ST ZIP CODE