Arts & entertainment news Aug. 18-24
Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 18, 2016
Tonight: The Carolina Artists Guild hosts an open reception at 6 p.m. for its annual judged show of original works by local artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public through Friday at 4 p.m., at the Salisbury Civic Center, 315 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. South. For information, call 704-633-2852.
Big Muddy Challenge at Patterson Farm
MT. ULLA — Big Muddy Challenge, a back-to-school event for families, is Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Patterson Farm Market & Tours, 10390 Caldwell Road. The obstacle race is team-based, and participants must be six or older. Teams will be assigned a start time prior to the event. More than 1,300 participated in last year’s Challenge, where the emphasis is on fun, not competition. Register at bigmuddychallenge.com
Faith Fun Day
FAITH — 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Faith Legion Park. Bounce house, slide, tire relay game, food for purchase, Touch-A-Truck with police, fire, EMS. Cheerwine donated drinks, Chick-fil-A Cow, Sweet Frog, mechanical bull, donation site for school supplies and for teachers.
Phoenix Readers to present ‘Bless Me, Father’
7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 26-27. Center for Faith & the Arts and the Phoenix Readers present an original play by local playwright Andy Rassler. Suspicions and innuendo reign as a new parishioner joins the parish quilting group. Who is the new woman? What is her agenda? And what is going on between her and the parish priest? $10 admission. Held at Lee Street theatre, 329 N. Lee St. See www.faithart.org or www.leestreet.org
Juneteenth: A Black Family Reunion
10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 20: 21st annual Juneteenth Celebration at Kelsey Park, 1920 Old Wilkesboro Road. Free to the public. The Juneteenth Celebration theme for this year is “A Black Family Reunion.” The oldest African American holiday in the US, the celebration was first recognized on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States by celebrating the joys of liberty, educating the community about our heritage and by promoting positive cultural interaction. A fun-filled day of outdoor games, music, food and fellowship. Bring your lawn chair. Info: Gretchen Dunlap 704-762-6971.
‘Sorrow: The Art of Dying, Death and Grief’ deadline
Center for Faith & the Arts’ themed gallery exhibit titled “Sorrow: The Art of Dying, Death, and Grief” is planned in conjunction with the annual Sacred Spaces Tour of area cemeteries. Artists may submit works on this theme for inclusion in the exhibit. Deadline is Friday, Aug. 19. Exhibit dates are Sept. 22-Nov. 11. Find details and submission guidelines at Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W. Harrison St. or info@faithart.org
Rail Walk Studios & Gallery introduces Isabel Hartsell
At only 19 years old, Isabel Hartsell, an art major at RCCC, is the youngest artist at Rail Walk Studios & Gallery. Her show “The Sacred Lotus” is currently on exhibit in the main gallery at 409-413 N. Lee St. Her exhibit will run through Aug. 27. For more information visit www.railwalkgallery.com or call 704-431-8964.
Annual train show at the NC Transportation Museum
SPENCER — The N.C. Transportation Museum hosts the annual Historic Spencer Shops Train Show Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20-21.
Multiple train rides will be offered, along with railroad memorabilia, great model train layouts, an up-close look at the Civil-War era Texas locomotive, special tours, visiting rail equipment from Norfolk Southern, motor car and turntable rides, hobby experts, authors, and more.
Event vendors will cover more than 100 tables with railroad memorabilia of all types.
Visitors can take a spin on the roundhouse turntable rides and ride along in track repair motor cars from Red Springs and Northern Railroad.
Model railroad enthusiasts will have lots to see with HO, N, S, and G scale layouts and will be able to practice their skills switching freight cars on several small layouts, courtesy of the Carolina Southern Division of the National Model Railroad Association.
There are restoration tours with the Civil War era Texas locomotive, now visiting from Atlanta. This participant in the Great Locomotive Chase of the Civil War ran down the stolen General locomotive, and later became an icon of the rebuilding of the city of Atlanta during Reconstruction.
Also visiting will be the Norfolk Southern hazmat safety train. The 2,000-horsepower, 273-ton locomotive at the head of this train features a paint scheme honoring emergency responders with insignia recognizing police, fire, and emergency services.
Railroad author and NC historian Matthew Bumgarner will discuss his book, “Saluda: From Top to Bottom,” detailing the 66 miles of dangerous track that includes the Saluda grade.
Tony Reevy will present his publication, “The Railroad Photography of Jack Delano,” Reey details the stunning photographs created by the Ukrainian immigrant. Best known for his work for the Office of War Information during 1940–1943, Delano is said to have captured the face of American Railroading.
A full listing of ticket options is available at www.nctrans.org
Art Walk tomorrow night in Concord
CONCORD — The Cabarrus Arts Council organizes Art Walks in Downtown Concord in conjunction with their exhibitions. Galleries and shops display visual art and host artists’ demonstrations. The next Art Walk is Friday from 6-9 p.m. in Downtown Concord. Details at www.concorddowntown.com