Green Goat bazaar
SPENCER ó The Green Goat Gallery will host a Christmas Bazaar showcasing more than a dozen of its local artisans 1-5 p.m., Dec. 6.
Featuring everything from hand-forged knives and recycled fire pits to handcrafted jewelry and heirloom quality pottery and glass, the bazaar is intended to provide a festive environment for customers to meet and visit with the artists in person.
On hand will be Capri Brixey (fiber arts), Sue Davis (glass), Kathryn Dews (jewelry), Sandy Fisher (fiber arts), Erin Hinckley (jewelry and children’s fiber arts), Lisa and Tim Kluttz (painting), Denny Maloney (enamel), Cory Owens (metal), Jason Ritchie (handcrafted pens), Brent Smith (pottery), and Barry Thomas (woodworking). Additionally, craftsman Cory Owens will demonstrate metal forging and knife-making.
The Green Goat Gallery is located at 516 S. Salisbury Ave. in Spencer.
For additional information call 704-639-0606.
Dennis the Menace illustratorMISENHEIMER ó An exhibit of works by illustrator Marcus Hamilton, one of the latest artists behind the character “Dennis the Menace,” will be on display now through Dec. 21 at Pfeiffer University in the Grace and Cameron West Art Gallery on the Misenheimer campus.
Sponsored by the Department of Music and Fine Arts at Pfeiffer, the exhibit “Marcus Hamilton…illustrating, a career” features various works by the artist. A reception with Hamilton will be held from 6-8 p.m. today in the gallery. The event and exhibit are free and open to the public. The Grace and Cameron West Art Gallery, which is located in Goode Hall, is open 10 a.m. ń 4 p.m. weekdays.
A native of Lexington, N.C., Hamilton’s life changed in 1993 after watching a TV interview featuring Hank Ketchum, creator of “Dennis the Menace.” Ketchum wanted to retire and was in search of an artist to take over the celebrated cartoon. Hamilton responded to Ketchum’s appeal and spent three years working alongside the well-known illustrator who trained him to draw the Monday through Saturday “Dennis the Menace” cartoon panel, which is syndicated worldwide.
Hamilton is no stranger to Pfeiffer and has been a friend to the university for several years. For the last three years, the illustrator has created Pfeiffer-specific sketches of Dennis for the annual Alumni Association Silent Auction held during homecoming. Proceeds from the auction benefit student scholarships.
Hamilton is the recipient of the 2004 National Cartoonists Society’s Annual Award for Best Newspaper Panel.
For more information, contact Joshua Cross, director of the art gallery at Pfeiffer and assistant professor of art, at 704-463-3160 or joshua.cross@pfeiffer.edu.
Bob Timberlake Studio
LEXINGTON ó The Charity League of Lexington and Bob Timberlake are celebrating the 50th Annual Charity League Holiday House and the 200th anniversary of the Timberlake Studio, located at NC Highway 47. The celebration takes place 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 5, and 1-6 p.m. Dec. 6.
This special event will include a tour of the main studio facility decorated for the holidays, as well as several other unique and interesting structures located on the grounds. The Studio, built in 1809 by Henry Shoaf, sits on a 128-acre working farm open for the first time to the public.
Tickets for the tour are $10 each and may be purchased through League members, at The Timberlake Gallery, and at the door.In addition to the tour of the Timberlake studio, the event will offer The Shoppes of Holiday House located nearby at the American Children’s Home Gymnasium on NC Highway 8 in Lexington. The Shoppes will offer guests the chance to purchase handcrafted gift items and baked goods, while showcasing the talents of the community. A wide selection of items for holiday gift giving, decorating, and entertaining will be available.
For more information, call 336-956-1880.
Country Christmas
GOLD HILL ó Historic Gold Hill celebrates Country Christmas in the Village hosted by the village merchants this weekend.
The shops will be open extended hours, from 5-9 p.m. this Friday and Saturday night, to celebrate the customer appreciation event. The E.H. Montgomery General Store will have a bluegrass jam on Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Lulu’s Gold Miner’s Cafe will provide music on Saturday evening.
Carolers in period costume will be performing at The Village Shoppe alcove on Main Street Saturday evening and will also offer the carols in sign language.
The troupe from the Christian Praise and Worship Club of Mt. Pleasant, which was a hit with visitors during Lighting of the Fall Fires, will be back by popular demand for Country Christmas.
Santa will greet visitors on the restaurant porch both evenings and photographers will be on hand to catch the special moment with little ones. The whole town is decorated for Christmas with white lights, greenery and red bows.
For more information call Vivian Hopkins, 704-267-9439, or visit www.HistoricGoldHill.com.
Gingerbread contest
SPENCER ó As part of the Spencer Hometown Holidays, the public is invited to enter the second annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest. Entries will be accepted for teams or individuals.
Entries with forms will be accepted at First Baptist Church in Spencer, located on Fifth Street. Drop-off time will be between 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Houses will be numbered when submitted and held for judging. All entries will be on display until Dec. 20.
Categories are: Families with children up to age 12; Children ages 7-12; Teens 13-17; Adults 18 and up.
The entire house must be edible and affixed to a base no bigger than 12-inch by 8-inch or an 18-inch circle. Houses must be free-standing with no use of running water or electricity requirements.
Winners will be announced on Friday, Dec. 18. Judges will award points for presentation, quality of construction, detail and design, and originality. The public is invited to vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Contact Beth Nance at 704-239-3729 or bethmnance@gmail.com for more information. You may also visit www.spencerhometownholidays.com for details.
RoBoJo Holiday
RoBoJo Theatre Troupe returns to Rowan Public Library at 2 p.m. on Dec. 12, for the 12th annual presentation of their Holiday Theater.
The show has grown from that initial benefit performance where there were more actors than audience members, to the standing room only crowd last year. A group of talented local actors will perform an hour-long variety show of skits, songs, readers theater, and audience participation.
Favorite children’s books such as “Angel Pig,” “The Christmas Crocodile,” and “Wombat Divine” come to life in a hilarious and often spontaneous fashion. The skit “Santa Visits the Moes” had everyone laughing in the aisles last year. Corny jokes, funny limericks, and adorable puppets add to the show. Adults as well as children are encouraged to attend, as the program is a celebration of all that is good during this holiday season.
The one-time-only show begins at 2 p.m. in the Stanback Auditorium at RPL’s Headquarters location, 201 W. Fisher St..
For more information call 704-216-8234.
The New Familiars
Charlotte-based band The New Familiars will be performing in Salisbury on Dec. 11, with part of the proceeds for the event being donated toward funding of construction of the new Piedmont Players’ Youth Theater on East Fisher Street.
The show starts at 8 p.m. with the opening act, one-man band David Lamanno, and will be held in the Looking Glass Artist Collective’s Black Box Theater, 405 N. Lee St.
“It’s Americana with a grand heartbeat,” says Charlotte Creative Loafing writer Jeff Hahne, describing The New Familiars acoustic thrash-folk-rock performances. The group was selected as “Best Local Band” by Creative Loafing in 2008.
You can see and hear the band at www.myspace. com/thenewfamiliars.
The building at 135 E. Fisher St. is being renovated into theatre space, where Piedmont Players can expand their youth theatre offerings. Information about the project, including artists renderings and video, can be found at www.piedmontplayers.com.
Tickets to the Dec. 11 show are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets are available at Tastebuds Coffee and Tea and at the Looking Glass Shop.
For more information, call 704-633-2787 or contact salisburyartists@gmail.com.
Organist releases CD
Matthew Michael Brown, organist and director of music at First United Methodist Church in Salisbury announces the release of his new compact disc recording titled “Collage,” featuring the recently refurbished pipe organ in the church’s sanctuary.
Recorded this past summer, the disc features music from a French baroque suite of Nicolas deGrigny to hymn improvisations by legendary jazz musician, Sir George Shearing.
Brown joined the staff of First Church in June of 2008.
This recording marks Brown’s first solo album.
The cost of the disc is $20 and may be purchased through the church office, 704-636-3121 or at other music-related events at the church, including all firstARTS performances.
Brown will be featured on this week’s Fridays@First Advent ConcertSeries performance at First UMC, 217 S. Church St. The concerts, presented at noon each Friday in December, are free and open to public. Soup and sandwich lunch served after each performance with donations accepted. For more information call 704-636-3121.