early 400 people gathered in the F&M Trolley Barn, decorated New Orleans style, for Waterworks Visual Arts Center’s 9th Annual Oyster Roast on Jan. 25.
Oysters were cooked right out on Liberty Street by a crew from Big Daddy’s of Lake Norman and rushed inside, steaming. Shrimp, grits and Brunswick stew were also on the menu. Dancing to tunes played by a DJ followed the meal.
The evening represented a community that gathered to celebrate and support the visual arts and Waterworks’ educational and outreach programs.
The center’s education programs foster creativity and life-long learning through hands-on studio classes for adults and children, artists’ talks, lectures, workshops, summer ARTventures classes for children, a summer middle school art residency, and the Rowan- Salisbury Schools 5th grade ARTstops.
Outreach programming includes year-round studio classes and special initiatives for the general public, local school system, the developmentally disabled, at-risk children, the severely handicapped, the mentally challenged, the blind and many more.
Organizers said they were grateful to everyone who helped make the event successful – generous sponsors, volunteers, staff, the event committee and everyone who purchased tickets to the event.