Art Talk Monday

NCLAC Exhibitions... Art Talk Monday

photograph by Shawn Hood, on display at Parish Press
photograph by Shawn Hood, on display at Parish Press

NCLAC is so pleased that we are able to serve visual artists by presenting art exhibitions in two spaces in Lincoln Parish.

Through a partnership with Parish Press, Ruston’s locally owned coffee shop located at 1007 N Trenton, we display six-week exhibitions. Since the shop’s opening in August 2014, we’ve exhibited paintings by Maggie Jones Boudreaux, and photography by Whitney Caskey and Shawn Hood. Hood’s show is currently on display, and her lovely landscapes are a treat on the walls during this dreary winter weather. Her images of southern flora and fauna are available for purchase and will be on display until January 18th. Next at Parish Press will be photographs by Sonny Monteleone of Breaux Bridge. We normally exhibit work by regional artists only, but Monteleone is a NCLAC member artist who has participated for two years with Holiday Arts Tour. He’ll be exhibiting Mardi Gras-themed works, which is perfect for his exhibition schedule of January 19 through March 1.

Our other location for exhibiting artwork is in collaboration with the Dixie Center for the Arts. The lobby in the historic Dixie Center for the Arts, at 212 N Vienna, is used to display works by a variety of artists. Beginning Tuesday, visitors will see an exhibition of playful watercolor animals by Sheila Jennings of Jackson Parish. These will be on display from January 6 through March 30. Other shows held in 2014 include works by Louisiana Tech’s Artist Alliance, a group of student artists who reach into the community. In the summer there was an exhibition by the Dugdemona Woodcarvers Guild of Jackson Parish, who filled the space with beautiful wooden creations including bowls, gnomes and animals. Late summer featured oil paintings by Nina Stephens of Dubach. In early fall we displayed Matisse master studies by students of Renee Hunt at the Art House, and followed that with a group exhibition by participating Holiday Arts Tour artists.

Some of the Wood Guild works displayed in the Dixie Center Lobby.
Some of the Wood Guild works displayed in the Dixie Center Lobby.

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watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January
watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January

We enjoy scheduling these shows in order to give the public a unique viewing experience. There are so many artists with stories to share in our area, and these are two places in which NCLAC can help share them. Works are generally for sell in the exhibitions, and inquiries about purchases should be made to our office at (318)255-1450.

By Art House student Lyla, age 8.
By Art House student Lyla, age 8.

We are beginning our Call for Artists for the upcoming year. If you are an artist interested in showing your works at Parish Press or the Dixie Center Lobby, email us at nclac5@gmail.com and we’ll give you the details on how to apply.

Art Talk Monday: Join NCLAC for our Annual Meeting

NCLAC staff and Board President with 2013 President's Award Winners
NCLAC staff and Board President with 2013 President's Award Winners
AnnualMeeting2014-15_Notice
AnnualMeeting2014-15_Notice

The North Central Louisiana Arts Council invites you to our Annual Meeting and Holiday Party on Tuesday, January 13 at 6pm at the Dixie Center for the Arts (212 N Vienna, Ruston.) This annual gathering will include a report on 2014 activities as well as plans and projections for 2015. In addition, President’s Awards will be presented to community members in categories that include Patron of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Board Member of the Year and Artist of the Year. If you’re curious about the work that NCLAC does throughout the year, the Annual Meeting is a great opportunity to check it out first hand… and to celebrate another year with arts enthusiasts.

watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January
watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January

The event is also a perfect opportunity to view the new Dixie Center Lobby exhibition: works by Sheila Trevillion Jennings of Jackson Parish. Sheila will be displaying her watercolor animal works until March 30.

NCLAC re-evaluated our membership campaign this year, and we are pleased to announce that we have 40 more members than we had last year. This is great news, as we view membership as a reflection of the community’s confidence in our programming, as well as a source of funding that helps continue our mission. If you would like to become a NCLAC member, it’s not too late! Visit us here and you can find our membership form and a paypal link to donate online. Of course you’re always welcome to stop by our office at the Dixie Center for the Arts to fill out a form in person.

In addition to membership, we always welcome donations of time, as volunteers are essential to the workings of any nonprofit. Sign up to be a volunteer and we’ll notify you via email when opportunities arise. Volunteer jobs can include phone calls, mailing, special events, filing, etc.

volunteers working on Holiday Arts Tour mailing
volunteers working on Holiday Arts Tour mailing

Many of you are interested in tax-deductible donations at the year’s end, and donations to NCLAC are included in this category. Individuals and businesses can donate to specific programs, or to our organization in general. We appreciate the help of donors, as we do not receive monetary support from the city, and our state support is very limited. Donations can be mailed to our post office box, dropped off through the mail slot at the Dixie Center, or made online here.

Our office wishes you all a joyous holiday season. It’s our wish that you’re able to celebrate this time of year with those you love. We thank you for your continued support and interest in our work.

How to contact NCLAC: phone (318)255-1450; email nclac5@gmail.com; office 212 N Vienna, Ruston; mail Po Box 911 Ruston 71273.

Art Talk Monday: Closing out the year

students from IA Lewis
students from IA Lewis

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director. Here we are nearing the end of 2014. At this time of year, the NCLAC office looks at our year in review, and we’d like to share with our readers the programs that we’ve finished the last few months, as well as look forward into the beginning of 2015. We are always evaluating our programs, considering our successes and failures, and looking for better ways to serve the community through the arts.

We began the Fall with our annual School Show Performance. A day before ARToberfest kicked off, we were busy at the Dixie Center for the Arts hosting Shreveport born soprano opera singer Brenda Wimberly for this year’s show. Each year NCLAC hosts a different genre of music performance for Lincoln Parish’s 6th graders, and this year there were 237 students and chaperones, including participants from: Montessori School of Ruston, Christian Homeschool Group, IA Lewis, and Simsboro High School. Thank you Ruston Civic Symphony Society for sponsoring this great educational experience for our local 6th graders. In addition to hearing international art songs and arias, they all had a great time learning to sing “pizza” like an opera star!

Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC; Jean Gourd, Brewer's Choice Winner; Hayden Legg, People's Choice Winner
Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC; Jean Gourd, Brewer's Choice Winner; Hayden Legg, People's Choice Winner

The next day was our fifth annual ARToberfest, which was better than ever this October at The Norton Building in downtown Ruston! About 450 attendees sampled the brews of seven different home brewers and the many other beers supplied by Marsala Beverage. There were also tasty foods to try with food truck vendors Wild Thang Meats, PowWow Cuban Sandwiches, and Taco de Güero on site for the first time this year. Congratulations to Jean Gourd, winner of the Devine Home Brewer Brewer’s Choice Award for his Voodoo Pumpkin Ale, and to Hayden Legg and Brandy Winfree, winners of the Devine Home Brewer People’s Choice Award for their Ruston Peach Hefeweizen. This fundraising event has gained popularity each year, and we look forward to seeing the wonderful mix of people who attend.

Viaggio Italiano, group exhibition at Studio 301 as part of Holiday Arts Tour 2014
Viaggio Italiano, group exhibition at Studio 301 as part of Holiday Arts Tour 2014

One month after ARToberfest was our 17th annual Holiday Arts Tour. Over four days, an estimated 500 local shoppers and traveling visitors took part in the Tour. With over 50 participating visual artists and 35 vendor locations, shoppers had plenty to do, including twelve musical performances, on-site art demonstrations, children’s art activities, and the free Community Variety Show on Sunday. The Decentralized Art Funding Grant that NCLAC writes each year makes it possible to pay our performing artists, but this year the Tour was also sponsored by Fine Line Art Supply, making it possible to generate more advertising and excitement for this event.

Currently we have an art exhibition on display at Parish Press (formerly Crescent City Coffee) by Shawn Hood. Shawn’s beautiful show of naturalistic photographic works will be on display till January 19, 2015. Works are for sale, and would make wonderful Christmas gifts. Call our office for purchase details.

photograph by Shawn Hood, on display at Parish Press
photograph by Shawn Hood, on display at Parish Press

For the Dixie Center Lobby, we have a new exhibition that will begin January 6. Sheila Trevillion Jennings of Jackson Parish will be exhibiting her colorful watercolor animal paintings. These works will be on display through March 27.

watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January
watercolor by Sheila Jennings, whose work will be displayed at the Dixie Center for the Arts in January
MardiGrasBall2015_SavetheDate
MardiGrasBall2015_SavetheDate

Lastly, I must mention our upcoming Silent Auction, which will take place at the Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball. This is one of NCLAC’s primary fundraising events, and we always have wonderful items for bid. Home décor, original artworks, jewelry, antiques and more will be on display February 7 at the Ruston Civic Center. Ball tickets are available now by calling the Dixie Center Box Office at (318)255-1450). 

If you’d like to help us continue our work in the region, we always appreciate volunteers and donations of any size. Give us a call or email; we’d love to speak with you. NCLAC office, (318)255-1450; nclac5@gmail.com

Art Talk Monday: Don't be late for the Ball!

MardiGrasBall2015_SavetheDate_v2
MardiGrasBall2015_SavetheDate_v2

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director. Mardi Gras Ball Tickets are now available at the Dixie Center Box Office. Call Libby to reserve your seat for the Ball at (318)255-1450 Come dine, dance, and support the arts with us this February!

It’s time to mark your calendars for the upcoming Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball and Silent Auction. Ruston’s “party of the year” will be February 7, which will be here before we know it. This annual event, whose theme this year is “the Arts,” has been a highlight of the Mardi Gras season in Lincoln Parish for many years; 2015 will be the 16th year!

Last year the Ball was given a facelift: a new floorplan; a new Ball Committee; larger attendance, many of whom were new to the event; new tiered ticket prices; and a new purpose: to support the Dixie Center for the Arts’ Sustaining Building Fund.

The historic Dixie Theatre, built in 1928, is home to the Dixie Center itself, as well as other arts nonprofits: Ruston Community Theatre, the North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Troupe Dixie, and the Ruston Civic Symphony Society. Each of these groups pooled our efforts last year to make the Mardi Gras Ball bigger and better, and it was a lovely success. We are all working together again this year, and we hope you will join us!

Angie Biscomb, Ball Committee Chair, says “This is a great time of year for the community to get together and have a good time, while recognizing how fortunate we are to have so many avenues for the arts in our community.”

The King this year will be David Hedgepeth, and he has chosen as his queen Melinda Maxwell. David has been a supporter of the arts community for years, and we are pleased to honor him in this way. We will be announcing the Royal Court after the holidays. These individuals are chosen by each of the nonprofits at the Dixie, as a way to recognize and honor people who have made a difference to the respective organizations.

This year’s Ball, sponsored by Bank of Ruston, will be held February 7, from 7pm until midnight, at the Ruston Civic Center. Tickets may be purchased in person, or over the phone, at 318-255-1450, Mon.-Fri. from 9am-2pm, through the Dixie Center Box Office. Lord & Lady tickets are $40, for persons ages 40 and under, and Baron & Baroness tickets are $60, for persons 41 and over.

Individuals may reserve round tables that seat 8 persons when they purchase their ticket at the Dixie Center for the Arts. Each ticket grants two complimentary drink tokens for a beer or wine beverage from the bar. A cash bar is available, and no outside drinks are permitted.

There will be a table decorating contest this year, with a cash prize for the winning table. Be sure to ask Libby in the Box Office about this fun opportunity when you come in for your ticket.

One highlight of the Ball each year is NCLAC’s Silent Auction. This is a wonderful way to “win” treasures, such as trips and casino stays, one-of-a-kind artworks, and antiques. Details about some of the available auction items will be given in early January.

If you have any questions, please call the Dixie Center Box office at (318)255-1450. Follow the Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball on facebook to stay in the loop about the event.

2nd line at the 2014 Mardi Gras Ball
2nd line at the 2014 Mardi Gras Ball
2015 King David Hedgepeth, at the 2014 Krewe of Allegro Ball
2015 King David Hedgepeth, at the 2014 Krewe of Allegro Ball

Art Talk Monday: Holiday Happenings

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director The annual flurry of holiday activities blew in with December 1. Be sure to mark the following programs on your calendar in order to create a most “feel-good” season for you and your family. kids-singing-christmas-carols

This Thursday, December 11, will be Ruston’s Christmas Parade, which will leave from the LA Tech football stadium parking lot at 6pm, head onto Alabama Avenue, and make a loop around downtown Ruston. Last year my children were on two separate floats, so my husband and I enjoyed riding, each of us with a child. It was lots of fun seeing the cheering crowd as a float rider….oh the joy on so many faces! This year, however, we’ll be enjoying the event from the other side again, with arms loaded with the treats they catch.

The following evening, on Friday, December 12, a favorite part of the Main Street Winterfest activities will be held at the Ruston Civic Center: Children’s Choirs. The evening, beginning at 6pm, will feature local schools singing Christmas carols. There is little sweeter than the voices of children singing in unison, particularly at such a special time of year when unity, family and giving are forefront in our thoughts. Schools that will be performing are Lincoln Parish Early Childhood Center, Cedar Creek, Hillcrest Elementary, Glen View Elementary and AE Phillips Lab School.

When the Winterfest singing concludes, walk a couple of blocks to the Dixie Center for the Arts for the annual Russtown Band Christmas Concert. The show begins at 7:30pm. The admission fee is a non-perishable food item or a new toy. These will be donated to Christian Community Action and Toys for Tots. The band will play familiar holiday favorites, as well as unfamiliar holiday tunes to expand your repertoire. I’m a Christmas music fan, as well as a former “band nerd,” and I always really enjoy this concert. It’s beautiful to hear familiar music performed live in such a lovely space.

Still want more holiday festivities next week? On Saturday, December 13, head down I-20 to Grambling. Their day-time Christmas parade will begin at 10am. It will be full of floats and candy, providing fun for the family.

This is a time of year when magical memories are made. Take advantage of our close-knit community and check out some of these activities.

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As an aside, I want to remind you as you do your Christmas shopping to keep nonprofits on your gift list. Donations of time, as well as monetary donations of any amount, make a huge difference in our efforts. As a return-gift to you, you can feel good knowing you’re helping the community. (And monetary donations are tax-deductible!)

 

 

Art Talk Monday...on Tuesday

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Opens December Fourth

This week's Art Talk Monday is by Hilary Hileman of Ruston Community Theatre. Don't miss this production-- it's a wonderful way to kick off your holiday season! Call the Box Office at a (318)255-1450 to purchase your tickets.  10407583_10152517084258325_7886323627448344766_nRuston Community Theatre’s next production is the popular holiday play The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,  written by Barbara Robinson. It is sponsored by The Lewis Family (of Lewis’ Boutique), opens December 4th at The Dixie Center for the Arts and is being directed by Mitch Dufour.

The young Herdman clan, savvy connoisseurs of juvenile delinquency, show up at church for the first time after hearing that there is a free all-you-can-eat snack buffet. Grace and Bob Bradley are simultaneously attempting to produce the Christmas pageant after the director breaks her leg. In desperation, and despite protests from other church members, they cast the hardened hooligans in starring roles. As a result, the Herdmans reenact the traditional Christmas tale in a rather unconventional fashion.

Director Mitch Dufour says, “Once again, I’ve had the pleasure of being involved with the some of the most wonderful people in North Louisiana. It is always enchanting to watch a script come to life as actors, technicians, costumers, backstage workers and many others lend their talent to a production. The magic of this particular production has been especially sweet. Please come out and see this fun family show. You don’t want to miss the best Christmas pageant ever!”

Ruston Community Theatre is posting individual videos from cast and crew members on Facebook.  Be sure to check out our Facebook page at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre.

The dates for The Best Christmas Pageant Ever are Thursday, December 4th through Saturday the 6th at 7:00 p.m. and a Sunday December 7th matinee at 2:00 p.m. at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $6 for students/children. Additionally, Ruston Community Theatre and The Lewis Family are proud to sponsor two sold-out school performances of this play. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org and Twitter page at Twitter@RustonCoTheatre.

 

Art Talk Monday....NCLAC's "thankful" list

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC's Executive Director. Let’s use this week to share some of our “thankful list” from the NCLAC office.

Work by Hooshang Khorasani

First, I am thankful for dedicated community partners who support the arts in our region. One of these is Bank of Ruston, who holds an annual art exhibition each December featuring regional artists. This year’s show will feature Hooshang Khorasani and Dianne Springer. Hooshang is a painter. Whether viewing his romantic florals, or his racing horse images that he’s nationally known for, all of his work vibrates with his dynamic color palette and mark making. Dianne Springer is a quilter-extraordinaire. In addition to making quilts, teaching and traveling with quilts, she also has her own line of quilting fabrics. Bank of Ruston will hold a reception for these artists on Tuesday, December 2, from 5-7pm.

 

 

Whitney Caskey's photo, Conversation

Another of our community partners who support the arts is Parish Press. NCLAC displays artwork in Parish Press, creating a rotating exhibition that coordinates well with the vibe in this great new coffee shop. I am also thankful for hardworking, talented local artists like the one currently exhibiting at Parish Press: Whitney Caskey. Whitney is from Jackson Parish, and is a multi-facted artist. Using the theme of fairytales, Whitney uses drawing, painting and photography to convey her story. In 2014 she had a one-person exhibition with the Bossier Parish Arts Council, and last month she had a solo-show at the Jackson Parish Museum. There will be a closing reception for Whitney at Parish Press on Wednesday, Dec. 3, from 5-7pm.

 

Finally, I’m thankful for other regional arts organizations. We are all working together to cultivate and promote the arts in our unique state. One of these organizations is the Piney Hills Harmony Chorus. This group will join with Noteorious men's chorus from Monroe to present "An A Cappella Christmas" in Monroe's Strauss Theatre on Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.  The concert is a benefit for Angel Ministries, a non-profit organization that cares for those unable to care for themselves and also teaches them to help themselves. $15 tickets are for sale at the Strauss, with Piney Hills Harmony members, and at the door.

 

REMINDERS:

1) Thursday evening from 5-9pm is the Downtown Gallery Crawl in Monroe/West Monroe. Several NCLAC-member artists will be featured in this exhibition that includes 11 galleries.

2) This weekend is Ruston Community Theatre's Christmas play. This year's show is The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by Mitch Dufour. The show runs Thursday-Saturday at 7pm, and Sunday at 2pm, at the Dixie Center for the Arts. More details will follow in tomorrow'w post.

Art Talk Monday: Holiday Arts Tour This Weekend!

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director. NCLAC is pleased to present its 17th annual Holiday Arts Tour in downtown Ruston, this weekend, November 20-23. Holiday Arts Tour is “all about the arts,” with music, visual artists, writers, dance and theatre.

Beginning on Thursday, November 20th, there will be live music each day, including jazz, bluegrass, country, barbershop harmony, classical, blues, Chinese harp, reggae and body percussion. Some of the participating musicians include Monty Russell, Elizabeth Vidos and Rhapsody Quartet.

Thirty-five downtown Ruston locations will play host to artwork by regional artists, as part of Ruston’s Main Street Christmas Open House. On Friday, artists will be on site in these shops selling their works from 5 till 9pm. One of the special parts of the Arts Tour is the artist-viewer dynamic; it’s an interactive weekend. Shoppers are encouraged to speak with the creators about their works and to get the inside scoop on these one-of-a-kind items.

Saturday’s hours are noon till 6pm and will expand to include artists’ demonstrations, such as oil painting, printmaking, and quilting. In the afternoon there will be a round-robin poetry reading featuring four regional poets: Genaro Ky Ly Smith, April Honaker, Veronica Schuder and Errol Miller. The poetry reading was added to last year’s Tour and was a great success.

On Sunday, from 1:30 till 3:30, will be Sprout Sunday, art projects for children with five of the participating Arts Tour artists. A book reading by a local children’s author, a fiber-based ornament and a paper-folded puppet are included in the roster. These activities will take place at 202 N Vienna.

A perfect ending is the Community Variety Show at 4:00pm on Sunday at the Dixie Center for the Arts. This show will include ball room dancing, vocal and instrumental music, ballet dancing, theatre and more. Joel Sharpton of Red Peach Media will emcee the event. It’s an entertaining line-up! Program sponsor for this year's Community Variety Show is Kim Dupree, State Farm Agent. Thank you, Mrs. Kim!

All of the performances and activities in Holiday Arts Tour are free to the public as part of NCLAC’s mission to foster opportunities for creative expression and build a region where the arts can thrive. If you'd like to see photos from last year's Holiday Arts Tour, visit our Facebook page here.

For a complete schedule, map and listing of artists and sites, please visit this page. Call our office with questions at (318)255-1450.

NCLAC would like to thank Patricia Willis of The Children’s Shoppe for the generous use of her space at 202 N Vienna. We will be using this storefront for artists, demonstrations, the poetry reading, as well as Sprout activities.

Thanks also to Fine Line Art Supply, our title sponsor for this year’s Holiday Arts Tour. HAT is supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council and administered by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council.

HAT2014_BayouLifeAD

 

Jason Coleman....Tickling the Ivories this Saturday

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Ashley James. Ashley is a past Dixie Board member and founding member of Troupe Dixie. She is passionate about supporting and serving all arts and cultural organizations in North Central Louisiana. Jason Coleman Returns to Ruston for his Third Performance at the Dixie

Jason Coleman

The Dixie Center for the Arts is thrilled to bring back by popular demand Jason Coleman, grandson of the late Floyd Cramer, featuring Meagan Taylor on guitar. The show will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., and is sponsored by Bobby Conville, Ron Deal, Earl Smith, Financial Advisors & Wells Fargo Advisors.

After more than 140 performances of Jason’s Legacy of Floyd Cramer concert since 2010, Jason is excited to present The Piano Magic of Floyd Cramer. In addition to the new name, the concert will feature some new songs and a few special surprises alongside the Floyd Cramer classics that he has been performing for years.

Jason performed on TV twice with his grandfather; once in 1989 on Nashville Now and once in 1994 on Music City Tonight. He also treasures the memories of playing the piano on occasion with his grandfather at his live shows. A very special moment for Jason was being asked by Hank Locklin to play the piano with him at the Grand Old Opry in 2002. They performed “Please Help Me, I’m Falling”, which his grandfather originally recorded with Hank nearly 50 years prior.

Performing with Jason at the Dixie will be Meagan Taylor, the great-niece of famed guitarist and producer Chet Atkins. Meagan began learning from Chet his unique style of guitar playing in 1999, and since his death, she has been privileged to continue learning from many of his close friends and fans.

Meagan Taylor and Jason Coleman’s paths first crossed only in recent years, but their musical styles were compatible from the very beginning. The two currently play together in venues both large and small, reviving the beloved sound left behind by Floyd and Chet, and we are delighted to have them back at the Dixie this season.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Dixie Box Office at 318-255-1450. Season ticket packages are also still available for purchase. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that works in partnership with North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston Community Theater and Ruston Civic Symphony Society. For more information, visit www.dixiecenter.org.

 

Art Talk Monday: The Classical Singer

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director. NCLAC had an exciting week last week, as we held our beer-tasting fundraiser, ARToberfest, as well as our annual School Show Presentation.

Opera soprano Brenda Wimberly presented her show, The Classical Singer, to 232 students and chaperones at the Dixie Center for the Arts.

Brenda warming up before the performance

NCLAC holds a musical presentation for Lincoln Parish middle school students each year at the Dixie Center. This year’s participants included students from IA Lewis, Simsboro High School, Ruston Christian Homeschoolers, and Montessori School of Ruston. Her stage show included a portion of Puccini’s Vissi d’arte from Tosca, which brought tears to my eyes. It was breathtaking. Ms. Wimberly sang works in English, as well as Italian, French and German. The performance included arias, art songs and musical theatre. The students were a very respectful audience, and Brenda says she was “amazed” at the experience and “the way that I (she) was received by the students.”

Ms. Wimberly offered an interactive element to the show with a student sing-a-long and a question and answer session. She led the audience in a vocal exercise using the word pizza. Their 200+ voices singing together sounded angelic. Brenda walked around and answered questions offered by the students, such as how long she had been singing, what inspired her to sing opera, and “Are you famous?!”

This unique, private educational performance was made possible through sponsorship by Ruston Civic Symphony Society and NCLAC’s partnership with the Dixie Center for the Arts. In addition, Lincoln Parish Achieve provided bussing for the public schools, making this educational field trip free for each of the schools and students. Thank you so much to these wonderful sponsors who help NCLAC in our art education programs.

Wimberly is a Louisiana native who has studied opera around the globe. She holds degrees in vocal performance from Prairie View A&M University, where she received the Presidential Citation in Performing Arts from NAFEO, and the University of Michigan. She has also studied with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, and the San Francisco Opera. She was accompanied by pianist LaDonald Ensley from Monroe.

It is proving more difficult each year to secure student attendance for this annual performance. Perhaps it’s testing, changing school policies, a tighter academic timeline … I’m sure there are many reasons for the change. The NCLAC office has pondered if perhaps bringing performers to the schools, rather than bringing schools to the theatre, would be a better plan. However, as I was sitting in this historic theatre experiencing Ms. Wimberly’s program, I decided that it is necessary to continue to bring students to this space.  There is definitely a time and place for bringing artists to schools – it is essential as well! – but there is also something incredibly magical about seeing an artist in an environment dedicated to his/her craft. So as long as we’re able to coordinate these shows and bring students on site, we will continue to plant the seeds and cultivate an appreciation for the arts.

If you would like to see more photos from this performance, visit our facebook page.

 

Brenda Wimberly with accompanist LaDonald Ensley

SSP2014_ 43

Troupe Dixie Gearing up for Halloween Movie Night at the Dixie

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Elizabeth Lewis, Troupe Dixie member. Elizabeth has over 15 years of experience in marketing and advertising. She currently splits her creative time by passionately working at two local companies: Innesto Marketing and McKinney Honda. What to do? Where to go? Where’s the fun? We all find ourselves asking these questions. It’s human Troupe Dixie Spooktacular 2014_FINALnature for us to yearn for something new and different yet to stick with what we know… same events, same food, same people, same time, same place. However, that same-ole-same-ole routine can certainly get boring. Luckily for us here in Ruston, we have many local organizations that host unique cultural events throughout the year which entice us to step out of our comfort zone. The Dixie Center for the Arts is home to a vibrant and energetic network of young volunteers who work hard to continue to offer fresh, new events that appeal to the whole community.

On Thursday, October 30, Troupe Dixie will host its 4th annual Spooktacular Night at the Dixie featuring the 1989 film The 'Burbs. The pre-party for the event will kick-off at 6:00 p.m. with the show starting at 7:00 p.m.  Come early to enjoy light fare and brews followed by plenty of popcorn for movie time. Patrons are encouraged to come dressed in their best costume and enter the costume contest. There will be lots of fun to be had, plus a few tricks and treats at this year’s festivities.

”This is a great, inexpensive opportunity to gather with friends, enjoy food and drinks, and watch a fun Halloween movie” says Kristi Lumpkin, the Economic Development Administrator for the City of Ruston and Troupe Dixie Chairperson. Lumpkin added, “The Dixie Theatre is a historic building located in downtown Ruston.  It is a great location to watch all types of shows and there is not a bad seat in the house.  The Dixie is an important piece of Ruston's history and should be valued for generations to come”.

General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at the Dixie Theatre and at Fine Line Art Supply in downtown Ruston. Tickets will also be available at the door. The event is sponsored by Marsala Beverage, Sundown Tavern, and Celebrity Theaters.

Troupe Dixie, founded in 2010, is a group of young professionals who support Ruston's Dixie Center for the Arts and are dedicated to generating awareness and involvement at the Dixie among Ruston's forty-, thirty- and twenty-somethings. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that works in partnership with The North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston Community Theater and Ruston Civic Symphony Society.  Learn more about Troupe Dixie hosted events at www.facebook.com/TroupeDixie.

Enterprise Center Features Damon Caldwell

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Hannah Bustamante, Administrator/Gallery Director for the LA Tech Enterprise Center. The Enterprise Center Gallery Presents a New Exhibition:

I’m Planning to be Spontaneous… Tomorrow

The Louisiana Tech Enterprise Center Gallery is pleased to showcase a series of new quilted works by Damon Caldwell titled I’m Planning to be Spontaneous... Tomorrow. Within these works Caldwell explores the parallels between the layered constructions of quilts to the layered construction of walls.  Much like the designing of a structure, one must plan and consider all the materials, patterns and inner workings of the design before that actual process of constructing the quilt.  This process leaves very little room for spontaneity, and through this series Caldwell attempts to find ways for ‘planned spontaneity’. He jettisons the use of traditional block assembly in favor of subtractive and reactive interplay on the studio wall with the hope that in all cases, each piece will embody and evoke a sense of emotion, landscape, dance, depth, surface, and movement.

Damon Caldwell currently teaches architecture and interior design in the School of Design at Louisiana Tech University, where he is a tenured Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator for the Master of Architecture program.

We invite everyone to join us for the opening reception Thursday, October 23rd from 6 pm – 8 pm.  The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. The exhibition runs October 23rd –November 14, 2014, and is open Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.

For more information about the Enterprise Center’s  programs and exhibitions, please contact Hannah Bustamante by email at hannahb@latech.edu or call her at (318)257-5281. The Rawle Enterprise Center is located at 509 West Alabama Avenue in Ruston.

 

 

From the NCLAC office: We are looking forward to this week’s ARToberfest! Make sure you get your tickets to this beer-tasting fundraiser that will be held Friday, October 24 at the Norton

Lyla, age 8

Building in downtown Ruston. Tickets, both $30 Early Bird and $20 General Admission, are available at Fine Line Art Supply as well as the Dixie Center for the Arts. When you stop into the Dixie, be sure to notice the paintings on display. We are showcasing work by students of Renee Hunt at The Art House. These elementary-aged students have painted their interpretations of a Matisse work titled The Roofs of Collioure. These will be on display till November 10th.

 

 

 

Art Talk Monday: ARToberfest Is Almost Here!

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC's Executive Director 2014 logo designed by Rosalynne Fluty

The countdown is on to this year’s ARToberfest, which will be NCLAC’s 5th annual beer-tasting fundraiser. This tasty evening will be Friday, October 24, from 5-10pm, at the Norton Building in downtown Ruston, giving us more room than ever to showcase the region’s home brews, a variety of commercial beers, and to provide hours of musical entertainment. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Fine Line Art Supply and the Dixie Center for the Arts. Two options are available. Early Bird tickets, at $30 each, provide 5pm entry, a commemorative pint glass, and a pretzel necklace. Only 100 of these are available, and they’re going quickly. General Admission tickets, at $20 each, provide 6:30pm entry. Each option offers the ticket holder tastings of beers until 10pm and access to live music. Pint glasses will be for sale, as well as pretzel necklaces and raffle items. New this year will be food trucks, offering sales of food that pair well with beer, so be sure to bring cash for dinner. The music line-up for this year includes Ken Carter; Bethany Raybourn and the Goodness Gracious; Danny Lee and Dave; and the Swinging Richards.

Let’s talk about who is making this event possible. First of all we have Marsala Beverage as Grand Title Sponsor, providing 70 commercial beer varieties. These give attendees the opportunity to try many new beers that are available for purchase in our area without committing to an entire six pack at the store. Next, Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living is our Title Sponsor, providing clean, smoke-free air for this indoor/outdoor event. For our dedicated home brewers, Devine Wines and Spirits Plus is once again offering the Devine Home Brewer Awards, with handsome trophies for our People’s Choice and Brewers’ Choice winners. The Norton Building itself is our Site Sponsor, assisting with our new, larger venue. Sundown Tavern is the After Party Sponsor, so be sure to head over to Sundown when ARToberfest ends to finish your night right. For our hardworking volunteers, including brewers and musicians, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is providing dinner, and Super One Foods, our Snack Table Sponsor, is providing bar snacks for ticket holders. Behind the scenes we have our fabulous ARToberfest Committee who has been working for months to make this night the best it can be: Meg Waters Allen, Allie Bennett, Cain Budds, Nicole Duet, Amanda McCoy and Elaine Thompson.

 

Steve Parks, Brewer's Choice 2013; Ryan Nestrud, People's Choice 2013; Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director

We are grateful for the support of so many people with this event because it raises funds for Holiday Arts Tour, scheduled for November 20-23. This year’s Tour, the 17th annual, is the largest in memory, with 35 downtown locations participating. Our roster of artists this year includes 60+ visual and literary artists, and 15+ musical performances, including a Community Variety Show on Sunday, Nov. 23, that will feature ballroom dancing, singing, international music and more. We will again offer Sprout Sunday activities for children, artists’ demonstrations, a poetry reading, and artists who are ready to share insight into their works with you. Mark your calendars for Holiday Arts Tour next month, and visit nclarts.org to get more details about the weekend.

So, now that you’re in the know about all-things-ARToberfest, be sure to get your tickets! Once again, they’re available at Fine Line Arts Supply and the Dixie Center for the Arts. No one under 21 will be allowed at the event. For more information, visit our ARToberfest facebook page, or our ARToberfest page on our official site .

 

'Til Beth Do Us Part - Opening Thursday

Art Talk Monday this week is by Hilary Hileman-Hyacinth of Ruston Community Theatre. Call the Box Office at (318)255-1450 to get your tickets to this week's performance. Ruston Community Theatre’s next production is a two-act comedic play titled ‘Til Beth Do Us Part, a Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy.  The play is sponsored by Northwood RCT_TilBethDoUsPartMedical Center and opens October 9th at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston.  The director is Satish Bharadvaj.

Bharadvaj says, “'Til Beth Do Us Part is a comedy play. The cast is great! Some cast members are born comedians while others fall in situation where they become funny for the viewers just to be in such situation. The cast of six characters create a hilarious synergistic results. I enjoy every moment of being part of the production.”

The protagonist, Suzannah, is a frazzled career woman climbing the corporate track at her dream job but she gets no help from Gibby, her slothful spouse whose glory days are long past. Enter Beth, a southern belle on steroids who promises to whip Suzannah’s life into shape as her new personal assistant. Everything goes smoothly until Gibby realizes the steel magnolia from hell’s newest plan for efficiency involves moving him right out the front door. He enlists Suzannah’s best friend Margo and her ex-husband Hank to help him derail Beth’s plans for world domination. Will they succeed before Suzannah’s British boss from Carmichael’s Chocolates arrives?

The dates for ‘Til Beth Do Us Part are October 9th, 10th and 11th at 7:00 p.m. and an October 12th matinee at 2:00 p.m. at The Dixie Center for the Arts in Ruston. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults and $6 for students/children. RCT season tickets are now available for $40.00 for ‘Til Beth Do Us Part and the three remaining productions:  Holiday comedy The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, classic drama To Kill A Mockingbird and award-winning musical Bye Bye Birdie. Visit RCT’s website at www.rctruston.org, on Facebook at www.facebook/RustonCommunityTheatre, and on Twitter @RustonCoTheatre.

Art Talk Monday....The Shadow Box

  This week's Art Talk Monday is written by King Godwin, Chair of the Dept of Visual & Performing Arts, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, at Grambling State University. Call the GSU Box Office at 318-274-ARTS (2787)

Director Dr. King Godwin

 

Welcome to a “Season of Family Matters”

The Floyd L. Sandle Theatre Company of Grambling State University will open its 76th production year with Michael Cristofer’s The Shadow Box, directed by Dr. King David Godwin, Dean of the College of Arts Sciences.  The production will focus on three distinctly different family groups and their abilities to handle death and dying.  The psychological and emotional complexities of both care giver and victim to be are explored in great detail.   In keeping with the theatrical theme of “Family Matters," this production drives home the revelation of humanity’s sometimes inability to accept the ultimate realism that we are all going to die.  More importantly, it reminds us all that we must live in each moment.  Death is no respecter of personal status, gender, age or person. The characters in the play cut across varied demographic elements.  There is a middle age father and mother who struggle with trying to find the right approach and best time to tell their only child, a teenage boy, that his father is dying. A non-traditional couple and an ex-spouse must reach beyond their personal differences, political, social and religious convictions to accept the inevitable while at the same time dealing with their own demons and sensitivities.  Lastly, there is an elderly mother who lives in yesteryear longing for her eldest daughter to return home, while her younger daughter, who is her caregiver, must strive to keep her comfortable and peaceful.

This production will make you laugh, cry and think.  The script is well written and runs about one hour and thirty minutes.   Characters include, Roman Higgins, Anthonia Hall, Melanie Williams, Franklin, G. KaDarius Gray, Roderick King, Leon Norvell, Ericka Good- Perry, and Jaleshia  Williams.  Set Design is by Joseph Osborn, a senior visual and performing arts major, Technical Consultation and oversight is under the tutelage of Professor Mary Fran Crook, Teshia Lincoln is costumer and make- up artist, Jamelia Hickman, Stage Manager  The production will run September 30-October 3,2014 with curtain time at 7:00 PM, in the Floyd L. Sandle Theatre of the Fine Arts Center.  The production will take place on the main campus of Grambling State University.

Award-Winning China Circus Acrobatic Troupe Set to Perform at the Dixie

This week's Art TAlk Monday, by Juliann Allen, local freelance writer who is currently pursuing an MBA at LA Tech Rays of red light stretch from the floor to the ceiling, forming a hazy pattern of strings on the black acrobatsbackdrop. A single spotlight in the darkness bathes a circle on the stage floor below as a performer balances on a thin rectangle of wood. A hollow tube lying on its side serves as the only connection from the wood to the bench below. Clad in vibrant blues and reds, the performer balances on the moving sheet of wood as the tube rolls back and forth. Arms extended to the side and feet widened, like a surfer riding a wave, the performer exudes poise and unwavering focus as she stares ahead. Several objects sit near the edge of the wood in front of her feet, and with a flip of the surface’s edge, the objects fly into the air and land neatly in a gold chalice balancing atop the performer’s head.

Acts such as this will enliven the Dixie Theater in downtown Ruston on Saturday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. as the China Circus Acrobats, featuring the Anhui Troupe, present an evening of colorful scenes, bold stunts and expressive forms of art through body movement. Their daring feats of acrobatic skill are amazing and the beauty they bring to human performance art is breathtaking. The Anhui Acrobats are known for leading the way in creating new and stunning acrobatic skills and combining elegant dance with playfulness.

Featuring more than 20 Chinese acrobats, the Anhui Troupe will perform classic acts like juggling, hoop diving, tight rope balancing and spinning plates. Chinese acrobatics have awed audiences for centuries, but not until in recent history was this performing art internationally shared as it is today. The ever-growing strength of our global connectivity allows us to experience foreign cultural elements more than ever. End your week on an extraordinary note and come enjoy an evening of unique and enlightening entertainment at the Dixie Theater.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Dixie Box Office at 318-255-1450.  Season ticket packages are also currently available for purchase. The Dixie Center for the Arts, located at 212 North Vienna Street in Ruston, is a non-profit volunteer-driven organization that works in partnership with North Central Louisiana Arts Council, Ruston Community Theater and Ruston Civic Symphony Society. For more information, visit www.dixiecenter.org.

World War I Ephemera Exhibition

This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Hannah Bustamante of the Louisiana Tech Enterprise Center. North Central Louisiana Art Council’s partner in the arts, Louisiana Tech Enterprise Center Gallery, is excited to present a collection of WWI Posterephemera, curated by Saul Zalesch, spanning the duration of World War I. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War. Each piece in this Exhibition gives us a very real and often intangible glimpse into this important time in our global history. It is divided into four sections: before the United States went to war; service during the War; the Home Front; and the Aftermath. Within each section there are publications, images and propagandistic materials from the U.S. and abroad ranging from the initial American opposition to intervene all the way to the end of the war, which includes monuments, memorials, and support for veterans.

Saul Zalesch, an art historian at Louisiana Tech University, organized and curated this show.  He acquired all of the artifacts that will be on display in the gallery throughout the course of his research into American popular arts and culture. Additional images of his collection of ephemera can be found on his website www.ephemerastudies.org.

 

It is a tremendous honor for us to join with people collectively around the world during this time to remember The Great War and how it changed and affected the lives of so many.  We invite everyone to join us for the opening reception Friday, September 26th from 6 pm – 8 pm, at the Rawle Enterprise Center, 509 West Alabama Ave. in Ruston. This reception is free and open to the public. The exhibition is also on view Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm, until October 17. For more information about Enterprise Center programs and exhibitions, call the office at (318) 257-5281, or email hannahb@latech.edu

 

A note from the NCLAC office:

An exhibition of sculptural works by artists Andi and Robert Moran are on display at Studio 301 in downtown Ruston (301 North Trenton)  The show is a visual treat and should not be missed. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, September 21, from 2-4pm. It’s not often that we have the opportunity to see a sculpture exhibition in our area, and Studio 301 offers a perfect space for these works. Andi and Robert are quite the do-it-yourselfers, and have years of experience with architecture, metalwork, ceramics, lighting and more. To pique your interest, take a look at their site www.moran-moran.com    Take some time to stop by and see this fine artwork.

Reminder: Two days before, on Friday evening, September 19, there will be a Fall Crawl from 5-8pm. Studio 301 will be open that evening, with the Moran work on display, as well as several other shops hosting visual artists and musicians. It will be a great way to spend a pleasant fall evening. I’d like to think things will have cooled off a biy by then. A listing of locations and artists can be found at nclarts.org

 

 

 

Fall Crawl Is Nearing...

  works by Andi and Robert Moran

Now that we have passed Labor Day, I find myself yearning for Fall. Most of September is officially the fall season, even though Louisiana weather often disagrees. However, everyone is back in school, football has begun, and our minds begin to wander toward pumpkins and cooler weather. To celebrate this new season and enjoy an early evening outdoors, be sure to come downtown for the Fall Crawl. Several arts-businesses in downtown Ruston are joining together for a great evening on September 19, from 5-8pm.

Fine Line Art Supply will be featuring Frank Folino, OFM, of St. Thomas Aquinas. Father Frank’s mixed media paintings, with bold color and deep relief, are expressionistic and engaging. Kelly Moore Bag will be featuring husband and wife photography team Hannah Cooper McCauley and Zachary McCauley. These artists are Masters Candidates at Louisiana Tech and each has been recognized, awarded, published and exhibited nationally in the last year. This is a great opportunity to buy works by artists on the rise. Kelly Moore Bag will also be hosting music by Josh + Jenn.

Be sure to stop by Main Street Exchange, who will be featuring toys created by Christiane Drieling, whose craftsmanship is impeccable. Main Street Exchange’s featured nonprofit of the month is NCLAC—so sales at the shop will support our organization this month! Makers Union will have James Gilcrease from Day Old Blues Records with a pop-up shop chock full of vinyl. He’ll be spinning records, of course, so head over to treat your ears.

Just down the street at Studio 301 is another husband and wife team, Robert and Andi Moran, who will be exhibiting sculptural works.  Robert and Andi are a creative powerhouse, with experience as designers of furniture, ceramics, lighting and more.  Around the corner at Pastry Moon, owner Bonnie Ferguson will have her new autumn soaps as well as the artists she regularly features, such as Dorene Kordal’s felt, Whitney Caskey’s photography, and Lora Lee’s jewelry. I hear a buzz about a musician at Pastry Moon as well... Frame of Mind will be exhibiting new works by artist Peter Hay, who recently graduated from LA Tech’s MFA program, but has since moved back to Oklahoma. Peter is a fine printmaker and painter, with a style rooted in surrealism, often depicting beautifully illustrated animal imagery.

At the Dixie Center for the Arts, Dubach artist Nina Stephens’ oil paintings will be featured. As a self-taught artist, Nina channels her emotions and energy by creating pieces that represent personal journeys along with locally inspired pieces and animal portraits. Art Innovations is joining the Fall Crawl, and will have an installation titled A Walk in the Woods, featuring bird houses and bows by Francis Carson, and small paintings by Jackie Cochran. Alexandria Bozeman will be on site creating “Energy Portraits,” and there’s rumor of hot dogs and s’mores!

painting  by Frank Folino, OFM

Plans are still begin generated, with conversations about food, music, and book readings, so be sure to mark this date on your calendar. If you remember, there was a Spring Crawl earlier this year, and there were people everywhere! It was a wonderful night. Let’s make it happen again. Grab a friend and head downtown after work. Join our facebook event for continued details.

Today's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC Executive Director

My Vision, My Voice set to begin

  My Vision, My Voice in Bienville Parish 2011

Beginning on September 2, the North Central Louisiana Arts Council will hold a photojournalism workshop entitled My Vision, My Voice for youth involved with Seeds of Light in Homer, LA. Seeds of Light is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to help communities restore justice by offering support to at-risk families and children affected by crime.  Their vision is that these families and children will grow into productive citizens who will eventually contribute to the public good.

 

Over the course of the six week program, My Vision, My Voice students will use the journalism tools of storytelling, historical and social documentation, and interviewing, to investigate and tell stories about themes of self, dreams, community, and family. Photography basics will be implemented, including considerations of lighting and composition, to go hand in hand with the writing themes. The project gives students a chance to view themselves and their community in a unique, personal way. The program will close with an exhibition of the students’ photographs and writings on Tuesday, October 7 at the Seeds of Light Ministry.

 

My Vision, My Voice is fashioned after a model program in Durham, North Carolina, called Literacy Through Photography, where children are encouraged to explore their environments through photographic images, and then use these images as a springboard for writing. NCLAC last held My Vision, My Voice in Bienville Parish, in partnership with an after-school program, the 21st Century Community Learning Center.

 

We are pleased to bring photographer Katrina Parker and multi-media journalist Dacia Idom to work with the students in Claiborne Parish. We strive to foster opportunities for creative expression, and believe in the power of arts education to promote creativity, innovation, discipline and teamwork. We have been unable to hold the program for three years due to lack of project-specific funding. However, thanks to funding from the Plum Creek Foundation, we are all set for this year! The program is free for participants, and all materials will be provided.

 

The Plum Creek Foundation supports non-profit organizations that improve the overall quality of life in the communities where Plum Creek operates.  The

My Vision, My Voice 2011

Foundation board meets quarterly to review submitted grant applications.  Visit www.plumcreek.com/communityinvolvement to download an application and learn more about the foundation grant program in addition to other ways that Plum Creek is serving its communities.

 

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As a reminder, we sent out our quarterly Membership Newsletter last week. If your NCLAC membership is expiring, please take a moment renew. We have special membership perks for early renewals this year! If you enjoy reading the Art Talk each week, hearing about the arts programming in our area, and have never been a NCLAC member, we would love to have you! Take a look at our site at nclarts.org to find out how you can join. Memberships begin at $15, and each of our members plays an important role in the fulfillment of our mission. We appreciate your support!

 

 This week's Art Talk Monday is written by Jessica Slaughter, NCLAC's Executive Director

 

 

How can you help? Become a member!

NCLAC began its mission in 1987 “to enrich the region by fostering opportunities for creative expression; to establish a strong presence of the arts wherein the artists, arts organizations and community can thrive; and to share our diverse cultural heritage, celebrating not just who we are, but what we can become.” Since then it has benefited and grown in capacity because of its many supporters.  Members have made everything from the daily manning of the office, to 1..HeartNCLAC_singleproviding full-scale events like the Holiday Arts Tour possible! This year to celebrate our members and to make the annual Membership Drive more fun, we are offering   early-renewal gifts! Check out the Membership Levels and their early renewal award gifts below. The new Membership year begins in September.

To become a member, download a membership form and pay via Paypal on our site. You may also stop by our office, located inside the Dixie Center for the Arts, 212 North Vienna in downtown Ruston.

2014-15 Membership Levels & Benefits

Student $15:

  • Receive our quarterly Membership Newsletter
  • Receive a $5 discount on NCLAC Arts Academy Classes
  • Receive a $5 discount on Peach Art Exhibit entries
  • Receive an invitation to NCLAC’s Annual Meeting & Holiday Party

* First 20 new or renewed Student memberships receive a NCLAC magnet!

Friend $30:

Receive all the benefits of the Student Level, plus:

  • A $5 discount to ARToberfest, Early Bird or General Admission ticket

* First 15 new or renewed Friend memberships receive a NCLAC magnet & pen!

Family $50:

Receive all the benefits of the Friend Level, plus:

  • The $5 discount on NCLAC Arts Academy Classes applies to each family member
  • The $5 discount on Peach Art Exhibit entries applies to each family member
  • The $5 discount to ARToberfest, Early Bird or General Admission ticket applies to 2 adults (per a family)
  • A free NCLAC Summer Arts Camp t-shirt with S.A.C. registration (for up to 2 children per a family)

* First 10 new or renewed Family memberships receive a NCLAC magnet & vintage Peach Poster! These posters were designed by artist Pam Marshall, and will make an excellent addition to your home or office.

Patron $100:

Receive all the benefits of the Family Level, plus:

  • An Invitation to the Meet & Greet Holiday Arts Tour Artist Party

* First 10 new or renewed Patron memberships receive a NCLAC magnet & limited edition handmade “NCLAC Supporter Pin!” These special pins have been created by Bonnie Ferguson, of Pastry Moon Soaps.

Guardian $250:

Receive all the benefits of the Patron Level, plus:

  • A Special Reserved Seat at NCLAC’s table at the Krewe of Allegro Mardi Gras Ball, with the purchase of a Ball ticket.

* First 5 new or renewed Guardian memberships receive a limited edition handmade “NCLAC  Supporter Pin” & Peachy Postcards! Peach Postcards feature 8 images by local artists in a variety of media and styles, each with a peach theme: Mary Boothe Dunn, Jake Dugard, Julie Crews, MC Davis, Rosalynne Fluty, Laura Hunt Miller, Frank Hamrick and Peter Jones.

Benefactor $500:

Receive all the benefits of the Guardian Level, plus:

  • 2 Early Bird tickets to ARToberfest

* First 5 new or renewed Benefactor memberships receive a limited edition handmade “NCLAC Supporter Pin” & NCLAC Mug! These NCLAC mugs are being crafted by local potter Emma Case Melville.

Angel $1000:

Receive all the benefits of the Benefactor Level, plus:

  • One automatic entry into the Keep the Arts Afloat drawing

* New & renewed Angel members receive ALL the gifts listed above!   

Smaller early renewal gifts will be mailed to their recipients, larger gifts may be mailed, but they may also be picked up from the Dixie Center for the Arts after Sept. 1.

Today's Art Talk Monday is by Laura Hunt Miller, NCLAC Executive Assistant.