Triangle ArtWorks Partner Network

Last Year I wrote about a fairly new non-profit in our region called Triangle Artworks. I am on the board with a bunch of talented and dedicated people. Our mission is:

MISSION: The mission of the Organization is to provide the services, support and resources necessary to cultivate and ensure a vibrant creative community in the Triangle region of North Carolina.

To learn more about us and see our directory of the arts resources in the Triangle please visit our website. We have launched a new partner program.

The Partner NetWork program
Triangle Artworks is thrilled to announce that we are officially launching our Partner NetWork program. To support this community as a business group, we need to begin to bring this community together. We need to create a platform and network for our work and programs, and to help the community communicate and work together on issues that benefit the community as a whole, or a particular segment.

Triangle ArtWorks simply cannot build this community network alone. ArtWorks will stand in the center as a clearing house, a convener and a center point. But there need to be "spokes on the wheel" leading out from ArtWorks into the community. When you become an ArtWorks Partner, you are saying "Yes! We support what ArtWorks is building for the Triangle and we are IN!"

For more information about the Partner NetWork click here. To sign up, click here.

The WSJ on the new Tift Merritt cd

The Wall Street Journal has a glowing review of local girl Tift Merritt's new cd Traveling Alone. With help from Andrew Byrd, John Convertino (Calexico), guitarist Marc Ribot, ex-Son Volt guitarist Eric Heywood and others, Tift "put together what's likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime group of musicians that gives her new compositions an undeniable drive and a distinctive personality." You can stream three of the songs from the WSJ article.

There appear to be single night tickets for the YepRoc 15th anniversary celebration (starting tonight through Saturday) for the Saturday show at Cats Cradle that includes Tift along with John Doe, Chatham County Line, Jim White, The Sadies, The Minus 5, and Host John Wesley Harding. A bargain at $40.

Come by tonight to the Century Center during the 2nd Friday Artwalk

Come by the Century Center in Carrboro during the 2nd Friday Artwalk where we'll be showing pieces from Carrboro Community Art Project. The theme is music to go along with the upcoming Carrboro Music Festival. Not everything is music related but....

 ....a real treat will be a series of photos from Jackie Helvey of photos from past music festivals and other events. Below a painting done by Karen Stone while listening to Layla.

Layla - Clapton and Gordon, 2006

Cat's Cradle in the Commons sponsored by Cat's Cradle and the Town of Carrboro

Cat's Cradle & the Town of Carrboro are presenting a free concert at Town Commons featuring Tift Merritt, Megafaun & Mandolin Orange on Friday September 21st from 5:30-9:00

The concert is part of Carrboro's effort to promote the vibrant arts community within our fair town.

While the concert is free to the general public, vouchers guaranteeing entry are available at www.catscradle.com and at local businesses including Tyler’s Taproom. There is a limit of two vouchers per person and the voucher guarantees entry to its holder before 6pm. A little birdie whispered in my ear today that 4,000 of the 6,000 vouchers are already spoken for.

Gates Open at 5 PM/ Music Starts at 5:30

• No coolers/ No backpacks/No lawn chairs, please
• All attendees (adults and children) require vouchers
• Limit two vouchers per person, please. 
• Parking is very limited/ please walk, bike or ride the bus!
• More details on parking and shuttles forthcoming

Carrboro Town Commons is where we hold the Farmer's Market, next to Carrboro Town Hall at 301 West Main St.

Concert vouchers are available through:
- CD Alley
- Schoolkids
- Jessee’s Coffee House
- The Cat’s Cradle
- Online though eTix/Cat’s Cradle Site

Reminder: we're still accepting submissions for the 7th Annual Carrboro Film Fest

Filmmakers, young and old, experienced and rookies, we are accepting entries to the November 18th, 2012 7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival. From the website:

7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival
Date: Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1 – 7 pm.
Location: Century Hall in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 North Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC
We welcome all films and videos less than 20 minutes total running time (including titles and end credits). All filmmakers who have breathed in the good air of North Carolina sometime in their life are eligible to submit.

Entry fee per film is still $10 till August 20th and then $15 till closing date of September 30th. The online submission and payment system is simple and, if your film is online, there is nothing more to do. Entering 1 or 10 films couldn't be easier.

The url to enter is http://tinyurl.com/cff7-entry.

Doc Watson video

Photo by Appalachian Encounters on Flickr

This is the Carrboro Art Scene blog. Doc ain't from Carrboro (though he'd a fit in) but he is from North Carolina. And frankly Doc is a part of all of NC in the same way that Mt. Airy's Andy Griffith and Chapel Hill's James Taylor are.

All of that to let you know that there is a marvelous old BBC video available from the No Depression site on Doc from 1976 which means before Merl died - and Merl's in it some. The early parts are pretty hokey in a John Cleese Monty Python sort of way (and putting Doc in with generic country music is an insult) but after that it is interesting and shows off the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Filmmakers: Entry window open for 7th Carrboro Film Festival

Filmmakers, young and old, experienced and rookies, we are now accepting entries to the November 18th, 2012 7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival. From the website:

7th Annual Carrboro Film Festival – Submission GuidelinesDate: Sunday, November 18, 2012, 1 – 7 pmLocation: Century Hall in the Carrboro Century Center, 100 North Greensboro St., Carrboro, NC 27510
Mission: To support & promote film & video artists

We welcome all films and videos less than 20 minutes total running time (including titles and end credits). All filmmakers who have breathed in the good air of North Carolina sometime in their life are eligible to submit. 

Entry fee per film is still $10 till August 20th and then $15 till closing date of September 30th. The online submission and payment system is simple and, if your film is online, there is nothing more to do. Entering 1 or 10 films couldn't be easier.

The url to enter is http://tinyurl.com/cff7-entry.

Carrack Gallery (Durham) 1st Birthday celebration!

The Carrack Gallery (Facebook page here) in Durham is free flowing, open, interesting, a bit irreverent and full of interesting people and art. They are having a first anniversary event this Saturday, May 26th from 2-11 with art, music, food, conversation and definitely fun. You can check out more info at the Facebook event page.

We've been at this for a year now and would love to celebrate with all of the people who helped make this possible and see some new faces who are sure to add to our story in the future. Join us for a day of art, conversations, music, food and fun. 2 p.m. Carrack Salon - Artists are invited to bring their materials and work in the space, trade ideas and show off their process to the public. 7 p.m- - PARTY! Music and wine and food and art. Come celebrate.

What does Carrboro have in common with NYC, Chicago, SF and Montreal?

Places where Gaslight Anthem will be playing in support of their new album. Way to go Cat's Cradle! More info at the terrific Triangle Music blog including a streaming song off the new album, Handwritten, to be released July 24th, just a few days after the July 19th show at Cat's. Ticket info to follow.

The Gaslight Anthem tour dates

06.23.12 - Atlantic City, NJ - Orion Music & More

07.05.12 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent

07.07.12 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater

07.08.12 - Seattle, WA - Crocodile Cafe

07.11.12 - Minneapolis, MN - Fineline

07.12.12 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck

07.13.12 - Firebird St Louis, MO

07.14.12 - Cincinnati, OH - Bunberry Festival

07.16.12 - Toronto, ON - Opera House

07.18.12 - Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge

07.19.12 - Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle

07.20.12 - Washington, DC - U Street

07.22.12 - Boston, MA - Middle East

07.24.12 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

09.11.12 - Quebec City, QC - Agora Port Of Quebec

09.12.12 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre

09.13.12 - Ottawa, ON - Ce Centre

09.15.12 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest 

YepRoc Records 15th Year 3-day celebration, Oct 11-13 2012

Yep Roc Records, in Haw River a bit west of Carrboro, is one of those record companies (like local Merge Records) that rarely has big platinum sellers but consistently works with new and established musicians who bring honesty and talent to their work. And occasionally they do hit the big(ger) time with bands like Arcade Fire, M. Ward, Josh Rouse and Fountains of Wayne.

Merge Records 20 year celebration back in 2009 was a big success and I'm betting that Yep Roc's 15th coming up in Carrboro and Chapel Hill in October will be too.

Yep Roc Records, the artist-driven label that proudly refuses to be labeled, will celebrate its 15th anniversary with Yep Roc 15, a three-night concert blowout October 11, 12 and 13, at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC, featuring once-in-a-lifetime performances, collaborations, and recording sessions by current and past Yep Roc artists.

Hard to beat the lineup (with more to be added)

Dave Alvin, Chatham County Line, John Doe, Liam Finn, Fountains Of Wayne, Robyn Hitchcock, Los Straitjackets, Nick Lowe, Chuck Prophet, Eleni Mandell, Mayflies USA,Cheyenne Marie Mize, The Sadies, Sloan, Jim White

Plus John Wesley Harding will be the MC. Most of the music will be at Cats Cradle.

For more info and tickets go to the Yep Roc 15 Celebration website. Three-day tickets start at $80 with the Premier Fan Bundle at $170. (Warning, there are only 100 Premier tix and I already splurged for one leaving only 99 other lucky fans.) Here's a Paste online article on the event.

Laura Korch exhibit at the NC Crafts Gallery

Laura Korch -- my friend, colleague on the Carrboro Arts Committee, and wild girl behind the recent Carrboro yarn bombing -- has an exhibit at the NC Crafts Gallery with a reception tonight. Check her out on Facebook or Etsy.Here's what she says:

I'm having a show! 

I'm covering a 4'x 9' wall with bowls. One side is thrown and drawn with my dominate right hand, the other side is thrown and drawn with my left hand. Some 128 porcelain bowls will be on display. Open from May 2-31st 2012

I hope you can all come out for the Opening Reception on May 11th at the NC Crafts Gallery in Carrboro.

Karen's photos in the ArtsCenter Community Photo Contest

Karen was selected to show in this year's Community Photo Contest at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, 300-G East Main St - Carrboro, NC 27510. Three photos, Pink Tulip, Close Up & Tennyson, are up this month and (I think) for sale. There is a reception tonight during the ArtWalk so drop on by! Info below:

2012 Community Photo Contest

The Opening Reception for the 2012 Annual Photo Contest will be held in our Center Gallery on May 11, 6-9pm, in conjunction with the 2nd Friday ArtWalk. Winners will be announced at the opening, and this year's photo contest judge, Bryce Lankard , will be on hand to discuss the show.
The show will run through the end of May. Some photographs are on sale during the exhibition. For more information, please contact Phaedra Kelly at 929-2787 ext. 207, or via email at ArtSchool(at)ArtsCenterLive.org.

Visions of Geometry in Painting: Group Show at Carrboro Town Hall May-June

The Town of Carrboro Arts Committee is sponsoring a tremendous show of top regional artists with paintings that reflect a relationship to geometry, geometric patterns and geometric implications, philosophical and physical, on the modern world.

Installed at Carrboro Town Hall, 301 West Main Street, 27510, the show features Bonnie Melton, Ashlynn Browning, Steve Staresina, John Wendelbo, Thomas Teague and curator Steven Silverleaf.

Stop by Town Hall this Friday during the 2ndFriday ArtWalk from 6 to 9 pm.

Here's a collage of their work.

Mark Scalco Smoke Photography May-June Show at Carrboro Century Center

The Town of Carrboro Arts Committee will have two shows opening in May with receptions during the 2ndFriday ArtWalk May 11th from 6-9pm.

At the Century Center (newly painted with a new hanging system), 100 N. Greensboro, Carrboro 27510 we'll have Mark Scalco showing his "Smoke Photography". Here's an example:

The Light Keeper, copyright Mark Scalco

Mark describes his work as follows (from his Flickr page linked above)

My photography has taken a turn, of late. After reading about several different forms of abstract photography, I became addicted to smoke photography. This is a peculiar little niche in photography circles, but I've always been attracted to the more artsy and abstract photos. I also noticed that many of the creations I was making began to have a Rorschach quality about them, a feature I enjoy as a Psychologist.

I want to thank all of the flickr participants who have commented on my photos or listed me as a contact. It has been a rewarding experience to see that others appreciate what I am doing, and to enjoy and be inspired by their successes as well. Please also check out my group Smoke and Mirrors.

I'll followup with info on an exciting shows of paintings at the Carrboro Town Hall

Google Art Project, V2.0 (not about Carrboro)

You may remember a post of mine on the Google Art Project a repository of images from the great museums of the world and the great artists of history. I was impressed, particularly by the ability to zoom in on some of the paintings. For example you could really see the brushstrokes and the depth in Van Gogh's Sunflowers.

So now we have V2.0 which is reviewed by Roberta Smith of the NYT here. She pretty much nails it so go there for details. There is much to be thrilled about and one big thing and some smaller things worthy of big upgrades.

To be thrilled about:

• The sheer size of the project. It contains 131 museums and 32,000 works. You can spend days and days poking around.
• Incredible depth in 19th Century art: Impressionists like Van Gogh, Pissaro, Degas, Manet, Monet, etc, great American painters like Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent,William Merritt Chase, and Thomas Eakins
• More high resolution images to zoom in on
• Ancient works and works from non-Western traditions
• Real depth and breadth except......

To be sorely disappointed about:

• The 20th Century hardly exists, e.g. nada, nil, naught, nothing by Picasso. Or Pollock. Or Duchamp. One by Joan Mitchell, de Kooning, Clyford Still (and not a very good one), and Diebenkorn (but at least it's a good one). If it weren't for the Todelo (Toledo!) Museum of Art (the only Louis Morris, or de Kooning or Delaunay, one of the few Hoppers and Mondrians) the century would be even more bare. And we can thank the Savannah College of Art & Design Museum for all 7 of the Romare Beardens. It's as if Dada and the Abstract Expressionists never existed. I know there are copyright issues but this is ridiculous!
• Missing some biggie museums. The Louvre anyone?
• Artists are sorted by first name. What is that about?
• The interface still needs improvement

Still it's an art lover's marvel and if V3.0 improves it as much as the jump to v2.0 I'll be one happy camper.

copyright NYT

An interview on the arts in Carrboro

Jeri Lynn Schulke of the ArtsCenter in Carrboro asked me to join her back in March on WCOM 1360 AM on the Arts Spot, a community arts interview program of the ArtsCenter. My interview along with many others can be heard by going here.

 

Saturday and Sunday at 11:30am.
Join Tess Mangum Ocana and other hosts from the Arts Center in Carrboro, North Carolina as they sit down with musicians, actors, actresses, painters, and more from around the Triangle and around the world. The Arts Spot focuses on the cultural enrichment and enhancement of our lives that the arts provide.

We talked mostly about the activities of the Town of Carrboro Arts Committee that I chair but also more generally about the arts in Carrboro, Chapel Hill and the Triangle. We had a fun talk and got into some interesting issues for developing the arts within our area. You can download the interview as a mps or  stream it.

Crafts festival this Saturday April 14 in Carrboro

The newly created Carrboro Crafts Market has its first market this Saturday April 14th from 10am-5pm. Here's a description of the market:

The Carrboro Craft Market is a monthly outdoor event hosting a range of skilled artisans and family friendly activities.  We proudly represent handmade crafts, select antiques and vintage goods, specialty prepared foods and more.  We will have a variety of products for sale, craft demonstrations,  skill shares presented by our talented friends and neighbors, live music, and  a free kids craft project tent each month.   Please come join us in celebrating our local talent and engage with our vendors to learn about what they do and how they do it!

The market will be held on Main Street Carrboro beside the Southern Rail and the Station. I'm assuming that means on the other side from Weaver Street between the railroad tracks and Lloyd Street.

More specifics about the April 14th market including the list of craftspeople and the musical lineup can be found here.

Been away such a long time...but now Mandolin Orange

On the wonderful website (formerly magazine) No Depression comes an article and interview on Chapel Hill's Mandolin Orange. From the article:

Mandolin Orange, a duo consisting of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, is based out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The prolific songwriters have crafted batches of memorable tunes which fuse their infectious harmonies with a wide variety of instrumentation such as acoustic and electric guitars, fiddle, and mandolin.

Copyright No Depression, 2012

The 300 E. Main St Hampton Inn groundbreaking

The long awaited groundbreaking for the much anticipated Carrboro hotel will happen on March 28th at 11am at 300 E. Main St. From my invite:

Main Street Properties of Chapel  Hill LLC and the Atma Hotel Group are partnering on 300 East Main’s first phase, which will include Orange County’s first LEED-certified hotel and 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail/restaurant space facing Main Street, plus a 500-space parking deck with public parking.

So why does the Carrboro Art Scene blog care?  Our hope is that, along with the Town of Carrboro's Arts Committee of which I am the chair, we will be able to gain a commitment that the hotel feature local arts and sculpture. What could be better than a Mike Roig sculpture outside or a large Steven Silverleaf collage in the lobby? Or even a lowly Chris Beacham in one of the cheap rooms? Let's have some of our other Orange and Chatham County, and Chapel Hill artists there too.  Heck let's bring that Triad breath of fresh air Saxapahaw along too.

The conceptual drawing from the groundbreaking invite

Saxapahaw! This is getting old...

New York Times, Washington Post, Carrboro Art Scene blog and now Gourmet magazine.

This time the focus is on the Saxapahaw General Store which I've never eaten at. Oh I've been there hundreds of time but back then they served Hunt's Pizza.

If this leads to a run on the SGS I'm going to be pissed since K and I are going there on Saturday for my birthday (53, hell it's just a number). I better be able to get some braised short ribs or I might go postal.

Copyright Gourmet magazine

A new abstract and a show at Johnny's

I'll hang a show in the back area of Johnny's Gone Fishing on W. Main Carrboro tomorrow, January 29th and it will be up through February. I've decided to show abstracts. Here's a new one. I pulled a failure from who knows when and saw a few glimmers of hope in it. After a couple of days of fooling with it something popped out. Finished and ready to go.

This is Not a Stained Glass Window. Acrylics on canvas. 24 x 30

Saxapahaw is now a des-ti-nation!

First it was the Washington Post, now the New York Times. We really must annex Sax into Orange County!

The General Store where Hunt's Pizza was the best thing available when I lived in Sax

Johnny's tonight during 2nd Friday Artwalk!

Just a reminder that tonight is 2nd Friday Artwalk so bundle up and go see some art in Carrboro and Chapel Hill. As I discussed here Karen has a show of photos at Johnny's Gone Fishing on West Main Carrboro. We won't have an official reception tonight but we will be at Johnny's starting about 7 after going to the Ackland beforehand.

There is nearly always a good and fun crowd at Johnny's and you are likely to see someone you know. We'll be hanging until 8:30 when the lovely folks at Johnny's get to go home.

Hope to see you there!

Great art reading

I subscribe (free) to the daily ARTINFO Daily Arts Digest. Sign up here.

It's fun, entertaining, sometimes catty and very informative....and informed. The Artinfo site is a must read for those interested in keeping up with the art world.

They have a number of good blogs but by far my favorite is Tyler Green's Modern Art Notes. His recent commentary on a show at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo is a great example. Who would have thought that Buffalo had such a museum!? It's now on my list to visit. A wonderful Lee Krasner is below.

Lee Krasner, Milkweed from 1955

Karen's new show at Johnny's Gone Fishing

Two good things have happened lately in Carrboro. First, some wonderful people have taken over Johnny's at 901 W. Main Street, Carrboro. They've got local foods, good coffee, various local crafts and great bread from Bread & Butter, the new bakery/coffee shop at 503 W. Rosemary in Chapel Hill. Oh, I forgot the tamales and various food trucks such as the return of the crepes.

They're also supporting local artists and will be open during the 2nd Friday ArtWalk. The new Johnny's (actually Johnny's Gone Fishing) has a great vibe and really needs community support. If you are a Facebooker go on over and like their group page.

My partner Karen Stone is one of the local artists that Johnny's is supporting. She has a number of beautifully framed photos, many from a recent trip to Savannah to visit her lovely daughter Leah. Go on by, get a cup of joe, chat with the inevitable neighbors hanging out and take a look. Here are two samples.

Pink Anemone, 11 x 14 in 16 x 19 frame

DeSoto St, 11 x 14 in 16 x 19 frame