The Creative Arts Festival held this Saturday at Hefner VA Medical Center will qualify selected local veterans for competition at the regional level for the National Festival.
The event, which is open to the public, will be held in the social room of building #6 starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
This is an annual competition that provides veterans receiving treatment as an inpatient and/or outpatient at VA facilities the opportunity to participate in creative self-expression in art, creative writing, dance, drama and music as part of their therapy, and to gain recognition for their artistic accomplishments.
All divisions will be judged for a first, second and third place winner. First place winners in the art, creative writing, dance, drama and music categories will advance to the regional level where they will compete with entries submitted by veterans from other VA facilities around the country for advancement to the national finals.
Three local veterans representing the Hefner VA Medical Center won national recognition in the 2011 competition. Hugh Deadwyler took second place nationally for his humorous essay, “My Father’s Folly.” Ronald Conroy secured two second-place national titles for his freestyle dance performance, “Dancing Machine” and inspirational essay, “Building Four Ward Four 87 Paces.” Paul Hill Jr. also won two second-place national titles for his guitar playing of the patriotic solo, “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and religious solo, “He Leadeth Me.”
For more information, visit www.salisbury.va.gov or www.facebook.com/VASalisbury
Avett painting exhibit
CHARLOTTE — An exhibit of the paintings of Scott Avett, artist, musician and founding member of The Avett Brothers, will take place Saturday, Feb. 25 at The Morrison condominiums, 532 Governor Morrison St. in Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood.
Proceeds from the exhibit/ fundraiser will benefit The Educational Center, a Charlotte-based non-profit organization that creates resources and opportunities for people of all ages and faith backgrounds who seek spiritual growth and enrichment.
Saturday’s exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., with opportunities to purchase original artwork and commemorative posters.
For more information about this event, its organizers and sponsors, go to www.artstoryspirit.com
‘Multiplicity’ reception
The opening reception for the Waterworks Visual Art Center exhibit “Multiplicity” is from 6-8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 24.
Informal gallery talks begin at 5 p.m. with light refreshments and piano accompaniment by Caroline Firczak. This event is free and open to the public.
The exhibit features artists Juie Rattley III and David Kessler, along with a group show of 20 artists from Artworks Gallery, exploring multiple connections through works in multiple mediums. The show runs through May 12.
Waterworks is located at 123 E. Liberty St.
‘Dirt! The Movie’
The Center for the Environment at Catawba College and Salisbury’s Bread Riot will host a screening of “Dirt! The Movie” with local food tasting and a panel discussion on Thursday, March 1 at 6 p.m.
The Center for the Environment at Catawba College is located at 2300 W. Innes St.,
“Dirt! The Movie” is an award winning film directed by Bill Benenson and Gene Rosow, inspired by William Bryant Logan’s book “Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth.”
The film looks at the history and current state of soil. The movie’s website notes that dirt “recycles our water, gives us food, provides us shelter and can be used as a source of medicine, beauty and culture.” While destructive methods of agriculture, mining practices and urban development have endangered the natural resource, the film points out that visionaries throughout the world are coming together to repair the soil.
Panelists will discuss the movie after the screening. Those on the panel include Jim Graham, farmer and former Davidson County commissioner; Amy Hoffner of Hoffner Farms, a certified organic dairy in Mount Ulla; Aaron Newton, local food system program coordinator for Cabarrus County; Dennis Testerman, manager of Cabarrus County Soil and Water; Sarah Moore, farmer and student environmental leader at Catawba; and facilitator John Wear, executive director of the Center for the Environment.
Bread Riot, a non-profit food advocacy organization, will offer a tasting of local foods at 6 p.m. The movie will begin at 6:45 p.m.
Register at 704-637-4294, centerforenv@catawba.edu, or https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?llr=6tw6qlcab&oeidk=a07e5kps9dyb38df993&oseq=a021y0fevikqcm
Children’s clay classes
Pottery 101 offers the opportunity for children to experiment and learn new art making skills. Students will create their own art piece based on various themes. Working with clay promotes problem solving, creative expression, and manual dexterity.
Classes, which are small and tend to fill up quickly, must be paid for a minimum of three days in advance in order to hold a space. For ages 6-14. $35 per class includes instruction, materials and firing. Instructor Jessica Buckwalter. Time: 10a.m.-noon.
Schedule • March 3: Mystical Wizards • March 10: Clay Planters • March 24: Gentle Guardian Statues • March 31: Glowing Lantern Houses • April 7: Garden Turtles • April 14: Hanging Bird Baths • April 21: Themed Wind Chimes •April 28: Appalachian Face Jugs • April 5: Animal Banks •April 19: Funny Fish • April 26: Clay Whistles •
Pottery 101, 704) 209-1632, pottery101nc@gmail.com, www.pottery-101.com
Holiday Caravan
A dinner/dance fundraiser to benefit the Holiday Caravan Parade will be held at the F&M Trolley Barn on Saturday, March 17 from 6 p.m. – midnight.
“A Night on the Town” is an evening filled with food, music, and dancing. Dinner at 6 p.m. is by reservation only. The dance begins at 7 p.m. An open bar with assorted beers and a selection of wines from Old Stone Winery will be available throughout the night.
RSVP by March 10 to 704-636-5335 or http://holidaycaravanparade.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2b9a2286a18c739c196489bd7&id=2ab2fa4c2c&e=3f84b1dba9>
Business attire or black tie optional and light jacket or wrap is recommended.
Museum history camp
The Rowan Museum’s 14th annual Summer History Camp for students in rising third through fifth grades (elementary sessions), and rising sixth through eighth grades (one middle school session) provides an insight into Rowan’s history with hands-on activities.
Camp locations involve all museum sites as well as the Old English Cemetery, Freedman’s Cemetery and more.
Staff includes museum personnel, local history teachers and local college history majors. The fee for each camper will be $140 ($120 for museum members). Refreshments will be provided mid-morning. Campers should bring their lunch every day. Camp hours are 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Sessions begin in mid-June.
For information and application, call the museum office at 704-633-5946.
Jersey Boys
CHARLOTTE — The hit show “Jersey Boys,” part of the Broadway Lights Series, is playing now through March 11 at the Belk Theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. in Charlotte.
“Jersey Boys” won a Tony Award in 2006 for Best Musical.
The show is about the musical group The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Mass, who sold 175 million records worldwide before they were 30.
Songs include “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and many more.
For information and tickets, go to www.blumenthalarts.org or call 704.372.1000.
Four Seasons tribute
ALBEMARLE — The RCCA/SCCA reciprocal concert on Sunday, Feb. 26 is a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Tribute.
“Let’s Hang On” pays homage to the 60s icon, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons and includes tight harmonies, that famous falsetto, and classic hits (“Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Stay,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You”).
The concert begins at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. RCCA season ticket holders may attend by showing their ticket at the door.
Stanly Concert events are held at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center, 26032-B Newt Road. Call 704-986-3666 for information or visit www.stanlyconcert.com
Summer theater class
RALEIGH — Burning Coal’s Summer Theatre Conservatory, “for the student who is serious about theater,” is now accepting applications.
STC Jr. is a two-week conservatory for students in grades 6-8 who want to explore all the possibilities the theater offers. It runs June 11-Jun 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. $245 is due on or before the first day of the program.
Students in grades 6-8 will learn techniques of movement, vocal production, and character study in the mornings and apply those techniques in rehearsing an original play in the afternoons, with a culminating production of that play at the end of the session.
STC Sr. is an intensive, three-week conservatory for high school students interested in rigorous, professional training. It runs July 9-27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays. $395 is due at time of audition for the play.
The deadline for students in grades 9-12 is June 22. Students will be contacted regarding auditions for the play following enrollment.
For more information, visit www.burningcoal.org