RCCC to host first Literary and Fine Arts festival

By Paula Dibley

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will host its first RCCC Literary & Fine Arts Festival March 25-29.

The festival is a comprehensive effort between the English and fine arts faculty at the college and unites the creativity unique to the literary and fine arts.

The college will host Fred Chappell, former poet laureate of North Carolina and acclaimed author and poet.

“Fred Chappell is immensely talented and we are so excited to host him and the Touring Theater of N.C. for the RCCC Literary & Fine Arts Festival,” said Betty Stack, Liberal Arts division director for the college. “Having such a prominent North Carolina writer perform (for) and speak with our students and members of our community says a lot about how vital the arts are to the college and this area.”

The festival will kick off with “Look Back the Maytime Days” performance by the Touring Theater of N.C. with Chappell playing his part. This event will be held at the Norvell Theater on Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m.

Chappell will also give a keynote address to students and community members on the morning of Monday, March 26. A second performance of the touring theater will take place on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at the Rowan-Cabarrus campus in Salisbury on the final day of the festival.

The college is also proud to host visiting artist Gabriel Bennett. Bennett will collaborate with Rowan-Cabarrus students and the community to procure materials and assistance to produce a sculpture for the North Campus.

“We are thrilled that local, sustainable materials will be procured here in Rowan and Cabarrus counties and will then be developed and transformed into a work of art by Mr. Bennett,” said Jenn Selby, instructor of photography and visual arts for the college. “It is a truly creative way for our students and the community to get involved in creating meaningful art.”

The college’s annual Weaver’s Knot Awards, Writing Awards and Literary Awards will be also be announced and honored during the festival.

While the full schedule of events is still being developed, the festival will include a variety of programs, presentations and workshops at the Salisbury (North) and Concord (South) campuses, and the Dilworth Coffee House at Coddle Creek.

Sunday, March 25

• 1:30-2:30 p.m. – reception and information booth about RCCC Literary & Fine Arts Festival (Norvell Theater)

• 2:30 p.m. – Look Back the Maytime Days performance (Norvell Theater)

Monday, March 26

• 10-10:50 a.m. – Keynote: Fred Chappell (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 12:-12:50 p.m. – Multi-Genre Ideas in the Classroom (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 1-1:50 p.m. – film session led by Rowan-Cabarrus instructor Erin DiCesare (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 1-3 p.m. – Art department open house (North Campus Room 608)

• 2-2:50 p.m. – Local history re-enactor Nancy Brewer (North Campus)

Tuesday, March 27

• 10-10:50 a.m. – lecture on becoming a writer led by Rowan-Cabarrus religious studies instructor Michelle Lyerly (North Campus)

• 11-11:50 a.m. – discussion of poetry and art led by Jonathan K. Rice (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 12-12:50 p.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus English instructor Shauna Moser and librarian Rodney Lippard will lead a discussion on the book, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” from festival keynote speaker Fred Chappell (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 1-1:50 p.m. – Weaver’s Knot Awards (North Campus, Room 4204)

• 2-4:45 p.m. – Sculpture Dedication (North Campus)

Wednesday, March 28

• 10-10:50 a.m. – lecture on science fiction and poetry writing (South Campus, Room 106)

• 11-11:50 a.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus reading center director Teena Boone and librarian Timothy Hunter will lead a discussion on the book, “Brighten the Corner Where You Are,” from festival keynote speaker Chappell (South Campus, Room 106)

• 12-12:50 p.m. – Open Mic (South Campus, Room 106)

• 12 p.m.-1:45 p.m. – Leslie Frontz Watercolor Demo (South Campus Student Center)

• 2-2:50 p.m. – poet and artist Jonathon K. Rice leads an interactive session on the joining of art and poetry (South Campus, Room 106)

• 5:30-8:30 p.m. – Open Mic (Dilworth Coffeehouse)

Thursday, March 29

• 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Reception (North Campus, Auditorium)

• 10:30 a.m.-noon – Look Back the Maytime Days performance (North Campus, Auditorium)

• 12:15-1 p.m. – Call Me M.I.S.T.E.R. Open Mic (North Campus, Auditorium)

• 1:15-2 p.m. – Rowan-Cabarrus Creative Writing Awards (North Campus, Auditorium)

• 2-2:50 p.m. – poet and artist Jonathon K. Rice leads an interactive session on the joining of art and poetry (South Campus, Room 106)

• 6-9:30 p.m. – Poetry Slam (Dilworth Coffeehouse)

The event’s sponsors include Barnes & Noble, KKA Architecture, McGraw-Hill and Blackboard, Bedford/St. Martin’s, Pearson Education, Cengage Learning and the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Foundation.

The festival will be open to the community as well as Rowan-Cabarrus students. For more information about the festival, please contact Betty Stack at 704-216-3846 or 704-904-4763.