Duck Race on July 4th in Brevard, NC, to Benefit TC Arts Council Kreative Kids

The Transylvania Community Arts Council in Brevard, NC, has announced its summer fundraiser – a Duck Race for Kreative Kids Art Programs. The Duck Race will be held on July 4, 2013, at Brevard College near the gymnasium on Kings Creek. Ducks will launch at 5pm.

Adopt a Duck for the Duck Race for Kreative Kids for just $5 and join hundreds of rubber feathered friends flocking together to help provide creative opportunities for youth in our community. And you can win prizes! With every duck you adopt, you’ll help TC Arts Council provide scholarships to art camps, pottery camps and provide more Arts In Schools Programming for K-12 in Transylvania County.

Don’t wait! Fill out your adoption paper today and adopt your winning duck for $5. Then come to the race on July 4th at 5pm at King’s Creek near the Brevard College Gymnasium and cheer on your duck to victory! You do not have to be present to win. Winners will be contaced by the TC Arts Council.

Each duck cost a donation of $5 each or $25 for six ducks and $100 for 25 ducks. The winning ducks will compete for prizes from local merchants including $250 cash.  Prizes include: 1st Place – $250 and a gift card from Kiwi Gelato; 2nd Place – $50; 3rd Place – gift card from Number 7 Fine Arts & Crafts Cooperative; 4th Place – a fresh baked pie from Blue Ridge Bakery; 5th Place -  gift card from The-oph.ilus; 6th Place – a gift card from D. D. Bullwinkel’s and Rocky’s Grill; 7th Place – fun ducks from O.P. Taylor’s Toy Store; 8th Place – gift card to LIL-BO-TIQUE; 9th Place – gift card to Kiwi Gelato; and the Last Place Lucky Duck wins $20.

Rules of the Duck Race:  Ducks will be launched July 4th at 5pm on Kings Creek at Brevard College Campus. The race course will be set by the Presenter –TC Arts Council.
All ducks will be provided by the Presenter and will remain the property of the Presenter.

Once the ducks are launched the public may not interfere with the ducks in the water. The TC Arts duck patrol will man the waterways to free stuck ducks. A number will be attached to each duck corresponding to a number on the entry ticket. The person whose name appears on the entry ticket, corresponding to the first ducks in order of finish, will be awarded prizes.

This event is sponsored by Comporium, “The Transylvania Times”, Sunset Motel, Think It Studio, St. Marie Financial, Mimi & Hugh Haston and Brevard College. The TC Arts Council is a non-profit 501-(c) (3) arts organization with the mission:  “To enhance the quality of life in Transylvania County by celebrating and nurturing the creative spirit of artists, youth and individuals throughout the county.”

To adopt your Duck for the 4th of July Duck Race contact the TC Arts Council located at 349 S. Caldwell Street in Brevard, NC, or call 828/884-2787 or by e-mail at (tcarts@comporium.net. You may also download a form at (www.duckraceforkids.org). Ducks will also be up for  adoption during the Brevard 4th of July Main Street Festival – look for the TC Arts Council booth on Main Street in the middle of the Fine Arts & Crafts Showcase in front of Continental Divide.

For more information call Tammy Hopkins at 828/884-2787.

Hub City Empty Bowls 2013 Gets Off to an Early Start at the Spartanburg Art Museum in Spartanburg, SC – June 15, 2013

The popular grassroots fundraiser that helps feed the hungry in Spartanburg, SC – Hub City Empty Bowls-is cranking up early for 2013. The first two bowl-making dates are Saturday, June 15, 2013, from 10am-noon and 1-3pm at the Spartanburg Art Museum School in the Chapman Cultural Center, and Thursday, June 20, 2013, 6-8:30pm at the West Main Artists Co-op in Spartanburg.

The goal of the organizing sponsor, Carolina Clay Artists, is to make more than 1,000 handmade clay bowls to be used on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, when hundreds of people will donate cash in exchange for the colorful and creative bowls filled with soup donated by local restaurants. Everyone is encouraged to help make bowls. No experience in pottery is required. All materials and instruction will be provided free.

After four years of raising tens of thousands of dollars for different hunger-based charities in Spartanburg, the Carolina Clay Artists return for the fifth year determined to make the event even bigger and better. In the past, Empty Bowls has been about a three-month project. This year, it will run for five months in an effort to give citizens more opportunities to participate. It has been one of Spartanburg’s most successful events in helping feed the poor. The fundraiser – Soup Day – will be held in the lobby of the David W. Reid Theatre and in the plaza of Chapman Cultural Center on Saturday, Nov. 9, 11am-7pm. In addition to soup, bread and tea, live music, and fellowship are provided for a community event that generates a groundswell of grassroots charity, as well as much needed funds. Patrons especially enjoy taking home the clay bowls, as sentimental reminders of how they have contributed to Spartanburg’s advancement. Traditionally, patrons donate $15 per bowl. The soup is all you can eat, and there will be a variety of restaurants providing soup throughout the day.

Empty Bowls is an international phenomenon that is virtually administrative and overhead free. All work is done by local volunteers, most of whom are potters. All of the money raised stays in the local community. Last year, more than $12,000 was given to the Spartanburg Soup Kitchen. This year’s recipient of the funds will be TOTAL Ministries of Spartanburg. Public bowl-making events will be held at both the Spartanburg Art Museum School, located in Chapman Cultural Center, 200 East Saint John St. (10am-noon and 1-3pm) and the West Main Artist Co-op, 578 West Main Street (6-8:30pm).

The dates are: Spartanburg Art Museum/Chapman Cultural Center, Saturdays, June 15, July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 14; West Main Artists Co-op, Thursdays, June 20, July 18, and Aug. 15—all of which are ArtWalk dates. Sponsors of the 2013 Empty Bowls fundraising event include: Carolina Clay Artists, Spartanburg Art Museum, Chapman Cultural Center, the West Main Artists Co-op and Chris Williams, owner of local pottery supply house, Clay-King.com.

For more information about Hub City Empty Bowls Soup, call 864/621-2768.

Mooresville Artist Guild in Mooresville, NC, Works with The Dale Jr. Foundation to Raise Funds for Mooresville Depot Renovation

Two key players in the local community, The Dale Jr. Foundation and the Mooresville Artist Guild, are joining forces to support the renovation of the historic Mooresville Depot in Mooresville, NC, with a unique online fundraising event called the Dale Jr. Picture Mosaic.

The Dale Jr. Picture Mosaic will be a collection of 8,800 images submitted by fans of Earnhardt Jr. Once assembled, the collage will make up an eight foot by six foot mural. When viewed from a distance, the primary image of Earnhardt Jr. becomes visible, while close examination reveals that the image is comprised of numerous smaller photographs.

The donations from the mosaic will be used to support the Mooresville Artist Guild’s project to renovate the Historic Mooresville Depot, better known as “Race City USA” and home to JR Motorsports.

“Since 1863, the Historic Mooresville Depot has been the cornerstone on which the Town of Mooresville was built,” said Leo Gordon, Treasurer of the Guild and Chairperson for the renovation project. “It brought commerce to the area which led to people moving into the area. In 1973, The Depot took a new role when the Town of Mooresville leased the building to the Mooresville Artist Guild who converted part of the building to a Visual Arts Center, thus becoming the cornerstone of art for the region.

“The building needs major repairs and must conform to ADA requirements if we are to meet the growing needs of the Guild and the region. With community leaders like Dale Jr. and The Dale Jr. Foundation adding their support, we can make the Depot something special.”

To become part of the JR Nation history and have your picture included in the Dale Jr. Mosaic, an easy to use, interactive web site has been created at (www.dalejrpicturemosaic.com). The process is simple. For a donation of just $8.80, you can include a photograph of yourself or friends to pay tribute to Earnhardt Jr. for his accomplishments on the track, as an entrepreneur and community leader. These photos, combined with thousands of others will create the completed mural.

Shortly after uploading your photo(s), participants will be incorporated into the online mosaic and mural, and receive a special access code to view their photo.

“The Dale Jr. Picture Mosaic will be unveiled at JR Motorsports in mid-December of this year,” said Lauren Caldwell, Project Manager of The Dale Jr. Foundation.  ”We’ll focus a lot of our social media efforts around it so fans can share in the experience. We are truly excited to help make a difference in our community with the revitalization of the Mooresville Artist Guild.”

For more information, please visit (www.dalejrpicturemoasic.com).

The Bascom in Highlands, NC, Hosts Mountains in Bloom Garden Festival July 11 – 14, 2013 – Deadline for Entries – July 3, 2013

“Truly, Mountains in Bloom is a gift from The Bascom to the community,” says Paula Walsh, Chair for the event. The middle of July will burst into bloom for this popular annual summer festival, a fundraiser for The Bascom visual arts center in Highlands, NC. There are opportunities to participate for all, and certainly, all can benefit from gardening tips from the experts, horticulture education and the visual treat of art in varied displays and featured gardens.

The events on Thursday, July 11, 2013, include a luncheon and lecture by Kathryn Crisp Greeley, author of “The Collected Tabletop”, at 11:30am and a Volunteer Preview Event with special guests Margot Shaw, founder/editor in chief of “Flower Magazine”, and Robert Balentine, CEO of Balentine LLC and lead sponsor, from 4 to 6pm. The Balentine Award for the most outstanding display of a native, indigenous plant in the Horticulture Division will be given during the show. On Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, fabulous private gardens will be on tour from 9am to 4pm, along with luncheon and the diverse Flower Show exhibits at The Bascom—flower arrangements, horticulture and garden photography. Mountains in Bloom will culminate with a festive Benefactor Party at The Farm at Old Edwards Inn on Sunday, July 14 at 6pm. Chef Johannes will prepare a sumptuous dinner, Jim Gibson will provide the music, and the coveted Balentine Award will be presented.

All-encompassing in its scope, this garden festival will feature a special non-judged Professional Class of floral designers’ arrangements, on display in the Atrium Gallery. Other classes of exhibits are Interpretation, in which the arranger interprets a painting (“Collecting Moss” by Krista Harris, one of four artists featured in The Bascom’s current exhibition, Southern Lights); Mass Class: “What ‘Wood’ You Create,” showing a mass arrangement in a wooden container, displayed alongside an exhibit of custom-designed wood furniture; and Tabletop collections coordinated with flowers in tune with another gallery exhibit. Reflecting the “Come Rain or Come Shine” theme is “You Might Need a Hat” exhibit and a children’s class inviting kids to arrange flowers in a shoe or boot for a display called “Look at My Feet.” Many class categories are limited, so entrants should submit forms before July 3. Entry forms may be printed from the website at (www.TheBascom.org/mountainsinbloom) or obtained at The Bascom.

“Entries are displayed throughout The Bascom’s early 1800’s hand-hewn post-and-beam Dave Drake Studio Barn, interspersed with the current exhibits,” says Ruth Claiborne, co-chair of the Flower Arrangement Division. “The show is open to entrants without any special qualifications, although it is a juried show, so the arrangement must be approved by the co-chairs and Passing Committee before it is placed on display. It gives an arranger a great sense of excitement to have his or her floral creation displayed in the midst of curated art in the galleries.”

The Horticulture Division showcases a variety of plants in categories such as Native and Non-Native Cut Specimens, Plants in Containers, Succulents (including a special exhibit of succulents grown by John Bills), Troughs, and “Old Friends,” plants owned more than five years. Another facet of the show is a professional and amateur Photography Division, based on themes of the show—“Simply Flowers” and “Come Rain or Come Shine” for entrants ages 18 and older. Submissions are being accepted now.

For more information on Mountains in Bloom and for tickets, go to (www.mountainsinbloom.com) or contact Claire Cameron, Events Manager, by calling 828/787-2882 or e-mail to (ccameron@thebascom.org).

North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC, Hosts Art of the Auction Benefit – June 8, 2013

On June 8, 2013, the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) in Raleigh, NC, hosts its third annual Art of the Auction, a benefit that supports the NCMA Foundation. A silent auction features juried works by more than 70 local artists as well as items that reflect the Museum’s collection and exhibitions. A live auction, led by auctioneer Ben Farrell, features one-of-a-kind experiences, works of art, and other exclusive packages.

Part of the night is dedicated to “Fund the Future,” a special paddle raise that invites attendees to offer donations for the Museum’s education department, exhibitions, and other programming. The event also includes hors d’oeuvres, a full bar, and a signature cocktail, all catered by the Museum’s Iris restaurant, as well as a DJ. Visitors to the Museum can view all auction items during the Auction Preview Party on May 17, 2013, free to the public, during which winners of a juried competition will be announced. The items will be on display until the auction on June 8, 2013. One work of art will be chosen by distinguished Asheville, NC, artist Hoss Haley as Best in Show, earning $3,000 and inclusion in the live auction. Two additional cash prizes will be awarded to artists whose work the jurors consider exceptional.

Highlights of the silent and live auctions include:

Weddings and events

Auction attendees can bid on the Matrimonial Masterpiece, a wedding ceremony and reception package at the NCMA. The turnkey wedding event, which can also be used for a corporate or other event at the Museum, includes bar service, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a custom wedding cake, a floral package, linens, DJ, and planning services.

Food and wine experiences

“A Fine Wine Takes Time,” an at-home wine-tasting party for up to 12 people, features a Wine Authorities expert along with artisan cheeses, salami, olives, crackers, and eight wines to sample.

Winners of the “Plein-Air Romance” package are invited to a romantic dinner for two in the secluded North Courtyard at the NCMA with a three-course meal provided by Iris restaurant.

Those with a sweet tooth can bid on “Let Them Eat Art!”, a two-tier cake, custom designed and hand painted by NCMA Executive Pastry Chef Jennifer Hicks, that serves up to 20 people.

The “Twilight Dinner Party and Tour” for 10 with Larry Wheeler package is a private evening hosted by Museum Director Larry Wheeler with a sunset cocktail hour in the Rodin sculpture garden, a personalized tour, and a three-course dinner.

The Travel category, below, has details on a wine-tasting trip to Napa Valley.

Luxury fashion items

Bidders can win four tickets and backstage passes to the Wes Gordon Fashion Show during New York Fashion Week. This is Wes Gordon’s first runway show, and tickets are not for sale to the public.

Fashion lovers can also bid on two tickets to the Raleigh Denim Presentation at New York Fashion Week, which includes a sneak peek backstage. The winner also receives two pairs of Raleigh Denim jeans.

Other fashion items include custom-designed fashion pieces from Raleigh Fashion Worx designers, a Holly Aiken bag, and jewelry designed by William Travis.

Porsche items and experiences: Several auction experiences, items, and packages relate to the Museum’s upcoming exhibition Porsche by Design: Seducing Speed.

Attendees can bid on a Virginia International Raceway (VIR) membership, which includes a $3,000 initiation fee and full year of monthly dues, or a VIR package, which includes dinner for two, a spa experience, one night’s lodging, and VIR box seats.

Those interested in classic rock and roll can bid on an exclusive viewing of the installation of Janis Joplin’s iconic Porsche in the Museum’s West Building for the Porsche by Design exhibition.

Other Porsche items include a Porsche 917 Salzburg Chronograph Limited Edition Watch and a boudoir photo shoot with a Porsche automobile with Story Photographers.

Arts, crafts, and architecture items and experiences

Exclusive tours of several local artists’ studios—potter Mark Hewitt, painter Page Laughlin, and mixed-media artist Stacy Lynn Waddell—are up for bid, along with a pot by award-winning potter Ben Owen III.

Shen Wei, of Shen Wei Dance Arts, selected and signed a one-of-a-kind abstract painting created by dancers during performances last summer at the Museum (The Art of Shen Wei).

Attendees interested in architecture may bid on “Allure of Architecture”, an overnight trip to South Carolina’s Auldbrass Plantation, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is open to the public only two days every two years.

Over 75 other works of art are up for bid, including works by Ben Galata, Annie Wharton, and John Rosenthal, as well as the juried “Best of Show” winning work. Participating artists include: Sampada Agarwal, Katherine Armacost, Harriet Bellows, Carson Boone, Elke Brand, Kristalyn Bunyan, Jarrett Burch, Jean Chevalier, Jen Coon, Annie Cramer, Heather Evans Smith, James Fanjoy Labrenz, Kiki Farish, Madlyn Ferraro, Melinda Fine, Anne Fiske, Ross Ford, Paul Gala, Andrew Giovinazzo, Jillian Goldberg, Jim Haberman, Murry Handler, KG Hunter, Bailey Hurt, Jose Jimenez, Isaiah Johnson, Natasha Johnson, Gregg Kemp, Joyce Watkins King, Trish Klenow, Billie Mann, Carolyn Martens, Suellen McCrary, Gail H. McIntosh, Trena McNabb, Kelsey Melville, Jean Gray Mohs, Wendy Musser, Thu Nguyen, Constance Pappalardo, Madonna Phillips, Holden Richards, Karen Rose, Eric Saunders, Laura Sellers, Jonathan Sherrill, Julia Silbermann, Julia Staples, Russell Trent, Barbara Tyroler, Saksit Usawanatsakun, David Vanderlaan, Jessica C. White, Danielle Suhrland Wilcox, Dall Wilson, Angela Zappala, Giuseppe Zappala, Andre Rain, Brendan Dacey, Jimmy Black, TRUE David, Paris Alexander, Ivey Blair, Tiffany Coley, Mark Gordon, Phil Hathcock, Scott Hazard, Renee Leverty, Carol S. McReynolds, Nancy Raasch, Eric Serritella, Madelyn Smoak, Renee Snell, Alison Sobel-Read, Scott Stockdale, Sarah Tector, Dina Wilde-Ramsing, Phil Morgan, Ben Owen III, Ben Galata, Matt Christie, William Travis, Shen Wei Dancers, Annie Wharton, John Rosenthal,  Zac Schel, Keely Cansler, and Anthony Wilson.

Music experiences: The auction includes a selection of music-themed experiences and parties, many with a special catered meal.

“Bluegrass and Barbecue” is a dinner-music combo for up to 25 guests, featuring a picnic-style gourmet barbecue spread, local beer, wine pairings, and a live bluegrass performance by the Hey Brothers.

Winners of the “Concert Cookout” can enjoy a summer evening on the VIP patio at the Museum Park Theater while watching a movie-music combo (Dale Watson concert followed by Bernie or Lost Bayou Ramblers concert followed by Beasts of the Southern Wild) and eating an Iris-catered cookout dinner.

Travel experience: An unforgettable travel experience is up for bid during the live auction.

The winner of “The Art of the Vine” receives a stay at Meadowood Napa Valley resort, wine tastings and tours at Ma(i)sonry manor and other wineries, a bottle of wine, and a luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco.

The North Carolina Museum of Art’s permanent collection spans more than 5,000 years, from ancient Egypt to the present, making the institution one of the premier art museums in the South. The Museum’s collection provides educational, aesthetic, intellectual, and cultural experiences for the citizens of North Carolina and beyond. The 164-acre Museum Park showcases the connection between art and nature through site-specific works of environmental art. The Museum offers changing national touring exhibitions, classes, lectures, family activities, films, and concerts. The Museum opened West Building in 2010, home to the permanent collection. The North Carolina Museum of Art, Lawrence J. Wheeler, director, is located at 2110 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh. It is the art museum of the State of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, governor, and an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources, Susan Kluttz, secretary.

For further information call the Museum at  919/839-6262 or visit (www.ncartmuseum.org).

NC Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC, Offers Popular Fundraiser – Potter’s Palette 2 – May 4, 2013

Rembrandt, Van Gogh, and Jackson Pollack have nothing on the potters of North Carolina. Can you buy an Old Master canvas? I didn’t think so. But you can buy a fabulous painting, on a 12” x 12” canvas, produced by one of the mighty potters of North Carolina!

Work by Mark Hewitt

Not only can you get a great painting to enjoy in your home, but when you bid on one, you’ll also be supporting the North Carolina Pottery Center.

We’re very excited about our upcoming fundraiser, The Potter’s Palette 2, and invite you to mark your calendars and come to the Pottery Center for this exciting auction on Saturday, May 4, 2013, from  4–7pm.

Last year’s event was entertaining, and the canvases were superb. We plan to raise more money and have more fun this year! There will be live music, a buffet, and beer and wine. Many of the painting potters will attend as featured guests.

Eck McCanless working on his piece

Tickets for the event will be $15.00 per person or 2 for $25.00. Don’t miss the excitement!

Potters, in case you didn’t already know, are very creative people, and can paint beautifully, as well as make fabulous pots, so, who knows, you might end up with a painting that becomes an Old Master!

We’ll be posting images of all the canvases and further details online prior the event.

Work by Fred Johnston

Please RSVP by Apr. 30, 2013. Call the Pottery Center at 336/873-8430 (Tue.-Sat., 10am-4pm). All the details and images of works can be see at (www.ncpotterycenter.org).

Announcing the 2013 Camden Kitchen Tour and the Pottery Show & Sale at the Douglas Reed House in Camden, SC – Apr. 25 – 27, 2013

It’s time to make plans for the 2013 Camden Kitchen Tour and Pottery Show & Sale. Presented by the Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County, this biennial event is always a favorite for those who attend. The Kitchen Tour takes place on Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 10am to 5pm. Bring a group and tour some fabulous kitchens in gorgeous homes in and around Camden, South Carolina’s oldest inland city. View several homes, have lunch at one of the many fabulous dining establishments in Camden or at one of our stops – Old McCaskill’s Farm – then continue your tour. This year, the Camden Kitchen Tour is co-chaired by Beth Ford and Amy Sheheen. It is sponsored by TD Bank, Roy’s Wood Products and “Columbia Home & Garden” magazine. The program printing is being provided by Midlands Printing Company.

McCaskill’s Farm kitchen (IMG_0107), Brock home kitchen

The Camden Kitchen Tour is a fundraiser event for the FAC. Proceeds will benefit event programming at the Center. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 day of. The event will go on, rain or shine. The tour program, which serves as the ticket for the day, will be available at the Douglas-Reed House on the FAC campus beginning at 10am on Apr. 27. There will also be time to browse beautiful functional art and home accents available for purchase at the Pottery Show & Sale at the Douglas-Reed House both before and after the tour.

“There is such a variety of sights and styles of kitchens this year,” says Beth Ford, co-chair of this year’s event. “The Kitchen Tour is always an exciting opportunity to check out some amazing kitchens in several lovely Camden homes, and this year we’ve added a couple of extra kitchens…one commercial kitchen at McCaskill’s where you can actually pick up a box lunch, some fresh eggs or other items they have on hand, as well as a fabulous outdoor kitchen at the Brock home, and Grace Episcopal Church’s remodeled one,” she concluded.

This year, enjoy nine kitchens in seven fantastic locations on the tour. The tour starts at the historic Douglas-Reed House (c. 1812) on the campus of the Fine Arts Center where you will pick up your program, then continue through historic Camden and beyond.
Scheduled locations for this year are:

Barbara and Dick Davis—120 Dicey Ford

Anne Hutchins—1914 Carriage House Lane

Old McCaskill’s Farm/Kathy & Lee McCaskill home kitchen—377 Cantey Lane, Rembert

Grace Episcopal Church—1315 Lyttleton Street

Laurie and Bill Funderburk – 1804 Broad Street

Tory and Tom Brock – 644 Charlotte Thompson Road (indoor and outdoor kitchens)

Dr. Patricia Noland—520 Cooks Court

The Pottery Show & Sale will take place Thursday, Apr. 25 through Saturday, Apr. 27 at the Douglas-Reed House on the FAC campus. Shopping hours are Thursday & Friday, 10:30am to 6pm and Saturday, 10am to 5pm.  The Show will feature works from eight artists ranging from decorative pieces to functional kitchen wares. This year’s featured artists are Ed Bryan-Deerwood Clay, Tim Graham, Debra Gregory, Marquerite Palmer, Anne Schultz, Kyle Smith, Susan Tondeau-Dwyer and Marti Wallace.

The Fine Arts Center is located at 810 Lyttleton Street in Camden, SC. Advance tickets may be purchased online at (www.fineartscenter.org) or by calling 803/425-7676 ext. 300.

The Fine Arts Center is funded in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and the South Carolina Arts Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional funding provided by the City of Camden, Kershaw County, and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina along with donations from businesses and individuals.

Calling for Entries for Bra Art Showcase to Support Breast Cancer Awareness at Spring Craft Fair & Car ART Show in Jacksonville, NC – Deadline May 1, 2013

Get creative and find the glue, thread and needle, fluff a few feathers, prepare your paints or string some beads. Bras for a Cause fundraiser presented by Coastal Carolina Artists & Crafters Guild Inc. invites individuals of all ages to create a decorated piece of bra art that represents the fight against breast cancer!

Bras for a Cause bra art pieces will be displayed at the Spring Craft Fair & Car Show on May 4, 2013, at the American Legion Building, 146 Broadhurst Road, Jacksonville, NC. During the event, people will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite design with $1 tickets. The design with the most tickets will win the People’s choice award. There is no charge to enter this fun event. Funds raised go to Relay for Life.

Entry forms and complete details will be available at (www.ccacguild.org). Drop off entries on May 1, 2013, at 4pm, at All About Quilting, located at 3736 Henderson Dr., Jacksonville, NC. For directions call 910/577-9200. There is no fee to enter a decorated bra. Submissions should be properly packaged to ensure lack of possible damage i.e., placed in a shoebox. Unprotected entries will not be accepted.

The bra showcase is meant to be fun and whimsical while providing an important health message to the community. Bras should be selected and decorated in a manner that is tasteful; no inappropriate or offensive entries will be put on display for this program. Entries will be accepted from individuals, businesses or groups.

Through this event we hope to educate women and men  in our community about the importance of regular mammograms to help diagnose cancer at an earlier stage when treatments are more effective. Early detection is one of the most powerful tools in fighting breast cancer.

Everyone is invited to participate in this event.

Entries may be picked up between 4-6pm on May 4, 2013.  Entries not picked up on May 4 will become property of the Coastal Carolina Artists & Crafters Guild Inc. There are no returns after this date.

For further information call 910/938-7077, e-mail to (ccacguild@yahoo.com) or visit (
http://ccacguild.org
).  On Facebook at (
https://www.facebook.com/ccacg
).

Charleston, SC, Photographer, Stacy Pearsall, Calls on Americans to Help Out Wounded Veterans

I’m Stacy Pearsall, the proud owner of the Charleston Center for Photography (CCP). You may, or may not know, that I’m a disabled combat veteran from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Along with running CCP, I volunteer countless hours to helping my fellow veterans, and am proudly affiliated with The Independence Fund, an all-volunteer non-profit 501(c)3 who’s Board of Directors is comprised entirely of combat veterans.

On May 1st, I will be honored with an honorary Doctorate Degree by The Citadel for my work both as a combat photographer while in uniform, and for the work I have continued to do on behalf of our nation’s veterans.  While humbled to receive such a prestigious honor, I would like to use this as an opportunity to give back to some of my wounded brothers and sisters whose sacrifice was even greater than my own.

The Independence Fund was originally established to assist severely wounded service members by providing necessary tools, such as iBOT ® wheelchairs, and therapies that are otherwise not being provided by the Department of Defense or the Veterans Administration. It has now expanded into funding and promoting physical and leisure/athletic activities that enhance the veteran’s physical and emotional well-being and offering a network of family advocates across the country who provide advice, guidance and support severely injured service-members in need.

I welcome you to join me by purchasing tickets for my “Celebration for a Cause” fundraising party taking place May 1st from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at The Citadel’s Haygood Stadium, Pearson Lounge, 4th Floor. Tickets are $85, and all proceeds will go to the Independence Fund. In addition, each attendee will be given a complimentary ticket to the September 14th Lt. Dan Band concert taking place at the Citadel.

Tickets may be purchased at this link (
https://www.ticketriver.com/event/6659
).

Please call me with any questions you may have.  I can be reached at 843/860-1234 or e-mail to (Stacy@CCforP.org).

Artspace in Raleigh, NC’s Online Auction to Benefit Youth Scholarships Begins Friday, Apr. 5, 2013

Artspace in Raleigh, NC, reveals the completed artworks created during Artspace Mystery Create on Friday, Apr. 5 at 6pm! The exhibition of completed pieces will be on display at Artspace from Apr. 5 – 19. In conjunction with the exhibition, Artspace will host an online auction through eBay Giving Works.  All artwork will be available for purchase from Apr. 5 – 15, 2013.

Proceeds from Artspace Mystery Create auction will benefit the Artspace Summer Arts Program Scholarship Fund, enabling Artspace to sponsor up to 50 Wake County students to attend the Summer Arts Program beginning June 17, 2013.

Timeline of Events
April 5th, 6pm – 10pm – Artwork is Revealed, Online Auction Begins
April 5 – April 15 – Online Auction (presented through eBay Giving Works)
April 20th, 10am – 1pm – Pickup Party at Artspace – meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments!

Participating Artists and Businesses as of 3.13.13.
Tim Postell – Paris Alexander – Kyle Highsmith – Sarah West – Carol Joy Shannon – Lee Ball – Michelle Lyon – Garrett Scales – Kiki Farish – Ryan Cummings – Pete Sack – Sue Soper – Georgia Springer – Melinda Fine – Anna Podris & Keith Norval – Judy Crane – Warren Hicks – Nora Phillips – Shade Maret – Veronica Samuels – Michelle Harrell – Becky Joye – Derek Toomes – Catherine Thornton – Gerry Lynch – Mary Kircher – Lincoln Hancock & Mollie Earls – Sandra McEwen – Gustavo De Los Rios – Jeff Bell – Matt Butler – Nealy Andrews – Emily Howard – Amy Friend – Richard Garrison – Dave Greway – Catherine Howard – Nsenga Knight – Pam Shank – Jeannette Stevenson – Nancy VanNoppen – Scott Welsh – Tyler Jackson – Bret Kruse – Ben Harris – Clearscapes – Centerline Digital – Stewart – Clairemont Communications

Artspace is a nonprofit visual art center dedicated to providing arts education and community outreach programs, creating an environment of more than 100 professional artists and presenting nationally acclaimed exhibitions. Located in downtown Raleigh in the historic Sanders Ford building, Artspace has been providing the community with the opportunity to interact with working artists and to participate in hands-on arts education since 1986.

The Mystery Build challenge was created by two artists as a way to inspire creativity. Their objective is to encourage artistic exploration and experimentation, and to reward creative thinking. For more information about Mystery Build visit (www.mysterybuild.com).

For more information about Artspace, exhibitions, programs, or membership, please visit (www.artspacenc.org).