The opening reception is tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Waterworks Visual Arts Center to introduce “Spaces Within.”
On exhibit through Jan. 31, 2015: “Spaces Within” includes the work of Maria Michaelson in clay, wood, bronze sculptures, as well as selections from the Sonia and Isaac Luski glass works collection.
In the Young People’s Gallery, see “On The Inside,” exploring personhood and identity and in the Stanback and Cook Gardens, Jeannette Brossart’s mosaic sculptures
An informal gallery talk with the artist begins at 5 p.m.
Gallery hours at 123 E. Liberty St. are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 704-636-1882 or visit www.waterworks.org
The Rowan County Exhibition Show will be held at West Rowan High School on Saturday, for the second year. It has been held at Carson High School in previous years.
This show involves the half-time/competition performances of all Rowan-Salisbury School marching bands — North, South, East and West Rowan, as well as Carson and Salisbury High School. This event is open to the public.
The preview show begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5; RSS employees with name tag, RSS Gold Pass and children five and under all get in free. There will be concessions as well as a bake sale.
High Point — Phyllis Steimel, a member of Plein Air Carolina and a board member and instructor at the Waterworks Visual Arts Center, has been selected as one of 30 artists to participate in the juried Piedmont Paint Out from Sept. 18 to 21.
Five major sites have been designated for the artists. Today the artists will participate in a “Quick Paint” along Main Street in High Point. They are given three hours to start, finish and frame a painting to have ready for judging. Friday and Saturday the artists will disperse to sites and on Sunday submit three paintings, framed for a show, judging and a reception.
More information is available at www.piedmontpaintout.com
Other participating artists from the region include Harold Frontz of Lexington, Cheryl Powell from Kernersville, Amy Queen Chappin of Statesville and Jeremy Sams of Archdale.
Spencer — The N.C. Transportation Museum will begin service to the North Pole onboard The Polar Express™ train ride starting Nov. 28. The magical story comes to life when the train departs the N.C. Transportation Museum for a 90 minute round-trip journey to the North Pole, set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack.
The journey begins Nov. 28 and runs through Dec. 22. Exact dates, fares and excursion times are available at 704-636-2889 ext. 257 or 237, or nctrans.org. Ticket prices for children (ages 2-11) range from $24 – $32 and for adults from $30 – $38 for standard and deluxe coach seating. Two and four person first class table seating ranges from $85 – $170.
Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride.
Concord — The Salisbury Swing Band will appear at The Wine Room at Afton Village, 5901 Village Drive, on Saturday from 4 until 7 p.m. The band is under the direction of Dr. Steven Etters, and features vocalist Laura Millspaugh.
The City of Salisbury is partnering with Livingstone College for The West End Classic on Saturday.
The West End Classic kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade beginning at the intersection of W. Liberty and N. Church streets. It will include marchers from Livingstone College and the community as well as the institution’s marching band. The Mini Funk Factory may also perform during the parade, which will end at Livingstone’s campus.
At 11 a.m., Family Fun Day will be held on the college’s front lawn, where campus employees and members of the community will fellowship before heading down to the football field for the 1 p.m. game. Admission will be free for West End residents and Livingstone College faculty and staff.
The Motorcycle Madness Freestyle Stunt Show returns to the Rowan County Fair, which opens tomorrow and continues through Sept. 27.
The show features three professional riders and elite rising stars in the sport, and features the thrill of seeing a rider launch a 250 pound motorcycle 75 feet through the air while performing tricks like hanging off the back of it by one hand. The autograph and photo session after each show offers fans an opportunity to meet the riders.
Motorcycle Thrill Show opens at 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, at the Rowan County Fairgrounds on Julian Road. For more information, visit www.rowancountyfair.net
Mooresville — The Fourteenth Annual Blues & Burritos will be held on Friday, hosted by the Homesley & Wingo Law Group and takes place at the historic Isaac Harris House, 330 S. Main St.
Pat “Mother Blues” Cohen, Max Drake and Shelia Carlisle are the special guest performers joining the Part Time Blues Band.
There is no admission fee but donations are encouraged. All donations this year will be given to Lake Norman Wildlife Conservationists and HealthReach Community Clinic.
The law firm provides complimentary beverages and a limited supply of burritos. The event is from 6 until 10 p.m. Information at www.lakenormanlaw.com
Mooresville — The Mooresville Arts Depot, 103 West Center Ave., announces a call for artists for its upcoming judged competition and art show, Artoberfest. Cash prizes will be awarded in four categories. Artwork intake is Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 from 1 to 5 p.m. The exhibit runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 31, with the opening reception and awards presentation on Oct. 10. Additional information and a complete show prospectus are available at www.MagArt.org
BADIN — The 20th annual Best of Badin Festival opens tomorrow at 3 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. The festivities gear up again on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There will be live entertainment by the Attractions Band on Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. and a tour of Narrows Dam on the Yadkin River on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Other activities both days include food, arts, crafts, inflatable rides, water rides, a train ride around town, a Native American artifact swap meet and Heritage Days at the Badin Historic Museum Complex. No pets. Visit www.bestofbadinfestival.com for information. Badin is 32 miles from Salisbury, via Stokes Ferry Road.
MOUNT AIRY — A quarter century of bringing Mayberry to life will be celebrated during the 25th annual Mayberry Days festival in Andy Griffith’s hometown.
The festival, Sept. 25-28, pays tribute to Mount Airy’s role as inspiration for the idyllic hamlet of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show.
There will be guest appearances from actors on The Andy Griffith Show and a bluegrass concert featuring Rodney Dillard, who played one of the “Darling Boys” on several episodes.
A highlight this year is Karen Knotts’ show “Tied Up in Knotts” at the Earle Theater, a tribute to her late father, Don Knotts.
There will be 14 actors this year, led by hometown sweetheart Betty Lynn, who played Barney Fife’s girlfriend Thelma Lou.
Also slated to appear are: Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling); James Best (Jim Lindsey); Morgan Brittany (Opie’s girlfriend Mary Alice Carter); Jackie Joseph (Sweet Romena); and George Lindsey Jr. (son of George “Goober” Lindsey).
Other activities include a golf tournament, Colonel Tim’s Talent Time, trivia contests, lectures about the show by professor Neal Brower, and Saturday’s Mayberry Days Parade. Fans also enjoy interacting with tribute artists like Mayberry Deputy David Browning, and going to the annual meeting of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club (TAGSRWC).
Mayberry Days is comprised of free and ticketed events spread over four days. For a complete schedule and details, go to www.mayberrydays.com
Downtown Catawba will be the place to enjoy lectures, conversation and music during fall 2014. Members of the Salisbury-Rowan community are invited to bring their lunch and stop by the college’s downtown storefront as their schedules permit on selected Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays for intellectual stimulation.
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Arts Council will accept applications for the 2014-15 Artist Fellowship awards for songwriters, composers, and writers until Nov. 3.
The fellowship award is $10,000. Fellowship guidelines can be found at www.ncarts.org
North Carolina artists who have been year-round residents of the state for at least a year immediately prior to the application deadline may apply. Students are not eligible.
Applicants will submit the Artist Fellowship application electronically using Arts Grants Online, a comprehensive application web site. Complete details about the fellowship are available on the Arts Council home page at www.ncarts.org
RALEIGH — Nominations for the state’s next poet laureate, the ambassador of North Carolina literature, will be accepted now through Oct. 14, at www.NCDCR.gov/PoetLaureate.
The selection criteria for the poet laureate position include: A North Carolina resident with deep connections to the cultural life of this state, literary excellence of the writer’s work, influence on other writers and appreciation of literature in its diversity throughout the state, ability and willingness to conduct the public engagement duties of the office, statewide, national or international reputation.
Nominations will be accepted through Oct. 14 at www.NCDCR.gov/PoetLaureate.