Alabama River Region Arts Center Volume 1, Issue 8 June 2011
The ARRAC Update It’s Never Too Late to…
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Board / Officers / Coordinators
2
Paint the Bird’s (Houses)
2
Pump the ‘Tump
2
Brains for Lunch
3
Classes
3
Creative Quilting Art
3
Media Stats
3
Bluegrass Jam
3
About us
4
Learn to paint at age 91? Or, take up the violin after retiring? Three local residents are artistic and musical examples of the importance of lifelong learning in the arts. Bennie Brewer McDonald, who took her first art lesson four years ago at age 91, loves to paint and plans to keep painting as long as she can. She has brought her work into ARRAC’s Gallery to sell, and to inspire us with her passion for paint.
Bennie Brewer McDonald took her first art lesson at age 91.
Mary Wolfe, an ARRAC Bluegrass “jammer,” took up the violin when she retired. She relayed that it was difficult to find a teacher who would take her on, but she
“Everything I’ve learned since has been from playing with other people.” finally found an instructor with whom she studied for three months. “Everything I’ve learned, since then, has come from playing together with other people.”
Mary Wolfe, left, and Mary Long at June’s Bluegrass Jam.
Another “jammer,” is violinnewcomer, Mary Long. She joined in playing “Amazing Grace” recently — after less than a month of lessons. A gifted ear and no stranger to performing in public, Mary enjoys the encouragement of fellow Bennie McDonald’s work musicians at the ARRAC, which after all is why we are here to enhance community life through a supportive arts environment.
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The ARRAC Update/June2011
Board of Directors, and Coordinators
Paint the Bird’s House & Help the HSEC
Our Founding Board has now transitioned to the following Board of Directors.
Julie Andrews sang, “Feed the Birds,” in the Sound of Music. In Elmore County at the ARRAC, we support our neighbors (furry & feathered) by Painting the birds’ houses to help the Humane Society of Elmore County.
BOARD of DIRECTORS Doris Bell – ECAG seat, Painter
Genie Kline, ARRAC member and HSEC thrift store volunteer thought some of our artists could decorate and paint them so they would be extra special to auction at their “Bone-a-fit” silent auction, July 29th.
Rick Bowman – Business owner, Potter Geoff McIntyre – Professor Don Mobley – Business owner, Musician
Plain, hand-made bird houses are awaiting your artistic touch. You may pick one up at the ARRAC. Try to get it done and back to the ARRAC as soon as possible as they are photographing and listing all of their silent auction offerings online. (Free advertising of your talents.) All proceeds will go to the HSEC. We will link the pictures of the bird houses to our web site and Facebook page.
Austin Thompson – Youth Minister, Puppet Troupe Owner/Creative Director Marilyn Winborn – Business owner, Jewelry Artist Registered agent Frank L. Sullivan Coordinators Shirley Esco – Volunteers dsesco9696@dishmail.net
The HSEC also will be allowing us to set up a table to distribute Classes & Workshop information at their Annual Bark in the Park, Sept 25th. Watch for more information as we make plans.
Carol Hickman – Classes/Workshops cdhickman@charter.net
“Pump the Tump”
Promoting businesses in Wetumpka is the goal of the “Pump the ‘Tump” campaign. Last week we saw our numbers jump substantially on the social media Facebook, due largely in part to this campaign. The concept is simple: One business helps promote another. All of Wetumpka benefits if we help each other. How do we do this? When you have an opportunity to say show appreciation for another business here in the river region—just do it! On line, on Facebook, it is easy to say something positive.
Dylan Goodson’s wood carving from the ARRAC Gallery
ARRAC wants to make a difference In our community.
There is a destiny that makes us brothers: none goes his way alone,
All that we send into the lives of others comes back into our own. ~Edwin Markham
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The ARRAC Update/June2011
Creative Quilting Art:
Media Stats: Social Media (a.k.a. Facebook)
Dawn Sullivan is interested in getting a non-traditional art quilts group going. Possible ideas & areas to explore together:
As of 6/28/11
174 monthly active users, 13 since last week
Mixed media Resists Silk tie color transfers Needle-felting
8 wall posts or comments this week, 8 since last week
Most Popular Page Views 50 people “LIKE” this, 9 since last week
Bluegrass Jam 6/4/11 273 page views on June 4
64 visits this week, 32 since last week
Father's Day Gallery Ideas 269 page views June 4
Possibilities are endless! Time: Weeknights or weekends at ARRAC
Y’all are welcome
Contact sullivandawn55@yahoo.com for more information.
Bluegrass Jams!
Brains for Lunch “OH, yuck!” I can hear it now. Just kidding. Thursday, June 30, we started a “Brainstorm Lunch” for our Classes committee group (and interested parties!). We brought our lunch, knitting, notebooks and ideas to the table. It was an encouraging and invigorating time together, sharing our passion for ARRAC’s mission. In attendance were; Mary Wolfe (who also brought her violin), Dawn Sullivan and Marty McIntyre. (Due to technical difficulties, Carol Hickman was unable to attend.) We decided to do it again Thursday, July 14 at noon. It will be a good time to check in together as we make plans and get organized for Fall classes and Community Outreach events. Join us 7/14 @ Noon. Bring your lunch, knitting/crochet/etc., & most importantly ideas & enthusiasm for the ARRAC’s Classes. It’s casual; but it is primarily to work together on organizing the and promoting the classes & workshops.
Upcoming Classes:
July 2 & Aug 6 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All ages & skill levels welcome.
Get your registration in by the date noted (7/#). Forms/information online www.arrac.org.
Contact Carol Hickman for more information. Home 256-596-3959 Cell 335-391-5090
Children’s Classes Wed. 7/13, 20, 27 K – 3rd Gr. 1-2 pm 4th – 5th Gr. 2-3 pm 6th – 8th Gr. 3-4 pm
Wire Wrap Jewelry Sat. 7/16 & 7/30 9-12 pm
Paint Party
Thurs. 7/14 (7/12)
Acrylic on canvas 10-12 pm
Crochet
Fri. 7/22 (7/20) 9-12 pm
Knitting
Clay 1, 2
Hand Piecing
Fri. 7/15 (7/13) Beyond the Basics 9-12 pm
Sat. 7/9 & 16 (7/7) Beg. techniques 9-12 pm
Sat. 7/16 (7/14) Quilting 9-12 pm
Pine Needle Basket
Knitting
Clay 3, 4
Sat. 7/23 (7/21) 9-12 pm
Fri. 7/29 (7/27) Pattern Reading 9-1 pm
Sat. 7/23 & 30 (7/21) Beg. techniques 9-12 pm
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The ARRAC Update/June2011
ARRAC U PDA TE
About Us…
Contact Editor: 195 Blackberry Rd. Deatsville, AL 36022 Phone: (334) 569-3761 E-Mail: Marty195@gmail.com 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.
Volunteer Memberships Special Senior/Student Rate Gallery Inquiries Go to: www.arrac.org
Alabama-RiverRegion-Arts-Center
Editor ARRAC Update 195 Blackberry Rd. Deatsville, AL 36022
MEMBER NAME
STREET ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2 CITY, ST ZIP CODE