The 10^th Annual “New Works” exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery opened on Friday, March 2, and will run through Saturday, April 28.  A ‘Meet-the-Artists’ reception will be held at the center on March 10 from 6-8pm featuring music by classical guitarist David Oakes. Due to a revamped gallery schedule, the show opened earlier in the year and attracted a number of new artists. “Don’t miss this chance to see the latest works by your favorite artists and artisans and work by a number of new artists who are exhibiting at the center for the first time.” said Lore Deighan, the center’s Gallery Coordinator.

Exhibiting artists include: Charlotte Lou Atkins, Samuel A’Court Bason, Susan Brittingham, Ernest Bryant, Ron Campbell, Audrey Caywood, Rick Cooley, Lore Deighan, Susan Egbert, Aileen Fletcher, Glenda George, Art Haase, Winter Hart, Don Johnson, Fred Jones, Charlie Knighton, Floyd Bud Lohr, Gina Louthian-Stanley, Cheryl Mackian, Glenda McAlexander, Swede McBroom, Nathan Popp, Dennis Ross, Karen Sewell, Helen Shaw, Sylvester Simard, Kimberly Simmons, Gretchen St. Lawrence, Agnes Stringfellow, Teri Walters, Howard Wenger, and Gerri Young.

Visitors to the center can also view the Breezeway Gallery’s exhibit featuring Joli Ayn Wood’s collection of works entitled “Inspirations in Multi-Media” which will close at the end of March. The next Hayloft Gallery exhibit “Make Me Laugh” will open Friday, May 4.

All exhibits at The Jax are free and open to the public during regular business hours, though a $3 donation would help offset daily operating expenses for the galleries. The reception includes a cash bar and refreshments in addition to the live music. For more information visit jacksonvillecenter.org/at-the-center/hayloft-gallery.

Moving on by Karen Sewell

‘Round the Mountain members are invited to submit proposals for the “Make and Take Holiday Crafts” interactive demonstrations at Heartwood during the holiday season.

The “Make and Take” activity will be scheduled for approximately two hours each day on:

• Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26
• Saturday, December 3, 10, 17 & 24

The “Make and Take” activity will involve interaction with Heartwood visitors through the creation of a “craft” item that can be completed by a visitor (child or adult) within an allotted time frame.

Cost of materials for the project will be paid for by Heartwood and a table will be provided for the project. Each craftsperson will receive a meal ticket for the Heartwood Café.

The proposal should include:

• Description of craft project and your experience with this type of activity
• Approximate time to complete the project
• Estimated material cost per item created
• Dates you are available

Please submit your proposal by November 9th to info@roundthemountain.orgor by mail to the attention of Debby Loggans at One Heartwood Circle, Abingdon, VA 24210. Contact RTM at 276.492.2408 should you have any questions or comments.

November’s Second Saturday featuring the Blacksburg Photography Club will be November 12 from 4-6pm.  Come out and see the “Water” themed exhibit.

Tranquil by Jeremy Riffe

Altared Space Artists’ Cooperative Exhibit , May 13 – August 13, 2nd floor Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech

In 1998, Perspective Gallery Director, Mary Tartaro founded an artist cooperative Gallery in Floyd County. In a community known for traditional mountain crafts, Altared Space brought a new flavor of art to the county by offering more contemporary and experimental forms of expression. Its 4 year run became a key feature in defining Floyd County Eclecticism. This exhibition is a revisiting of the original, founding members and the art that they are making after so many years, and features work by Mary Tartaro, Jennifer L. Hand, Jayn Avery, Charlie Brouwer, Charlotte Atkins, Robin Boucher, Starroot, Jennifer Spoon, Art Haase, Mary North, Deb Wildman, and Pam McGraw.  For more information, visit www.uusa.vt.edu/artgallery.

Paintings by Joli Ayn Wood, Summer Season

Special Showing at the Lora Robins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond in Richmond, VA from  Friday, June 3 – Saturday, June 4.  Joli will speak about her work and creative process in an artist talk at the gallery at 2:30pm on June 4.  And as part of the Floyd County Artisan Trail Tour, Joli will hold an open studio from 9 – 5 on June 11 and 12.  For more information, visit www.jolisart.blogspot.com or email jolisart@yahoo.com

34th Annual Highland Summer Conference, June 6 – 17 at the Appalachian Regional Studies Center at Radford University

Discover the power of writing with powerful writers at the Highland Summer Conference and join well-known guest authors for a two-week intensive workshop in creative and expository writing.  Earn three hours credit in English 490/590, profit from consultations with guest authors and critiques from the class, and build your portfolio at the same time.  For more information, contact Dr Theresa Burriss or Ruth Derrick at (540) 831-5366 or (540) 831-6152 or email rbderrick@radford.edu.

The Jacksonville Center’s First Friday receptions had long been a popular destination for art lovers in Floyd and surrounding areas.  This year, the First Fridays have been replaced with Second Saturdays at the center.   Now, we are sponsoring “Jax+1”, a monthly event for every Second Saturday featuring local galleries and restaurants to provide a special focus on visual art activities for visitors and Floydians alike.

“As the first arts organization in Floyd to offer First Fridays, we were pleased to see other arts organizations join us,” said John McEnhill, Executive Director at the Jax.  “Creating the Second Saturday collaboration is an effort to expand weekend offerings for the visiting public and take it to a new level, involving our local restaurants in a celebration of the visual arts in Floyd.”

The Jacksonville Center is partnering with local galleries and restaurants to offer a fun and innovative way for visitors to feed both their bodies and their creative spirits.  On every Second Saturday, “Jax+1” coupons will be available at The Jacksonville Center and five local galleries: Troika, Floyd Artists Association, St. Pierre Gallery (all at The Station on South Locust Street), Gallery 111 on South Main Street, and the Bell Gallery on North Locust Street.

Simply collect a stamp at the Jax and at least one of the participating galleries, then redeem your “Jax+1” coupons for a special offer or discount at one of Floyd’s participating local restaurants, including Natasha’s Café, Oddfellas Cantina, Mickey G’s, The Pine Tavern, El Charro, Dogtown Roadhouse, and the Blue Ridge Restaurant in Floyd and the Woodberry Inn just up the Parkway in Meadows of Dan. Coupons can be redeemed any time during the following 30 days and new coupons and offers will be available each month

Keep an eye on the blog or “Like” us on Facebook for up-to-date information about special Second Saturday events at the Jax and participating galleries.

It’s no secret that Floyd is a top destination for music-lovers, and from May 29 through June 11, the National Music Festival is giving us even more to love.

The NMF was started as a way to bring together pre-professional student musicians and world-class music instructors for an intensive two-week mentoring session, with 25 concerts and more than 200 open rehearsals at The Jacksonville Center and many other venues around Floyd.

Concert tickets start at only $5 and open rehearsals are free, so this is a great way to introduce children, friends, family, or even yourself to the magic of classical music–and with pieces by composers ranging from Mozart to Mendelssohn, Berlioz to Brahms, Sousa to Stravinsky, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Check out the NMF website for the full concert schedule, and be sure to sign up for the NMF Newsletter for festival news delivered straight to your inbox!

Vendor applications are now being accepted for the third annual Floyd Town Jubilee, which will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011.  For businesses that do not already have annual Town business licenses, a special event license application must be completed and a $10 special event license fee submitted along with the Jubilee vendor application and payment.  The deadline for applications is Monday, May 23, 2011.
Nonprofits are eligible to participate as Jubilee vendors for no charge provided they have official IRS exempt status and that no products are sold in their vendor spaces.  All eligible nonprofits wishing to participate must submit a vendor application and a special event license application but will not need to pay the Town’s special event license application fee even if selling items in their vendor space.

The vendor hours for this year’s event will be 10:30am to 4:30pm with the majority of the non-food vendors being located in the town parking lot across the street from the park.

A key change this year will be moving the headline music performances to the evening beginning at 5:30pm in the park, following the Warren G. Lineberry Memorial Park Dedication at 4:30pm.  The Jubilee will still feature live, local music on several stages during the day along with other performing arts.

Vendor applications and Special Event License applications are available on The Floyd Town Jubilee at floydtownjubilee.org.

Franklin County YMCA Looking for Instructors

The Franklin County Family YMCA is currently looking to expand their fine art offerings into painting and craft classes. They are also looking for instructors to teach children and parent craft classes. For more information contact Kevin McAlexander by phone at 540-489-9622 or e-mail him at KMcAlexander@franklincountyymca.org

Sell Your Art at the Explore Park & Taubman Welcome Center

Inviting artists and craftspeople to consign their works for sale.
Location: Explore Park, Mile Post 115, Blue Ridge Parkway – Main floor of the Taubman Welcome Center (no connection to the museum)
Opening June 15 and closes October 31, including weekends. Explore Park is reopening and the June Bug Center will be in residence from June through the end of October with multiple programs including our summer theatre camps for kids, live theatre performances of a melodrama on Saturday evenings, and live music – The Great American Song Book, on Thursday evenings. To fully utilize the space, we are putting consignment arts, crafts and gifts on the main floor in the Taubman Welcome Center. Last year the park averaged 250 visitors a day; this year will be higher because of activities.  In addition the Park itself has a schedule of events.
Terms: 80% to the artist; 20% to cover operations.
Contact Mary Souder (540) 309-2388 or junebugdir@gmail.com Continue reading Artist Opportunities

The good folks at Rooster Walk Music + Arts Festival are looking for vendors at their fantastic music & arts festival in Martinsville from 5/27 – 28. They have a few vendors signed up to sell jewelry, fiber art, and wooden items, but don’t have anyone selling pottery/ceramic art, or glass!  Please contact Kim Barto (kimbarto1@gmail.com) ASAP if you’d like to get a booth!

Continue reading Call to Artists and Artisans for Rooster Walk Festival

Conversations #2 at the Taubman, Saturday, March 26 at 7:30pm

NPR veteran John Biewen, now the audio director at Duke’s Center for Documentary Studies, will present excerpts from his most recent work, Travels with Mike, which follows the semicentennial path of John Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley. Cultural historian and Yale Professor Emeritus Alan Trachtenberg will present his work with essential American photographs. Following will be a lively and open discussion investigating the relationship between art and document as they portray the American experience. Space is limited, so please RSVP by calling (540) 342-5760.

Lecture by Lisa Dodson, Monday, March 28 at 7:00pm

Author of “The Moral Underground: How Ordinary Americans Subvert an Unfair Economy.” At the Hollins University Frances Niederer Auditorium, Richard Wetherill Visual Arts Center.
Based on Dodson’s eight years of research about hidden resistance to an economy that harms millions of working families. Whether it’s a nurse choosing to treat an uninsured child or a restaurant manager sneaking food to a worker’s children, these unsung heroes reach across the economic fault line to restore a sense of justice to the working world. Sponsored by the Darci Ellis Godhard Fund for Social Justice. Continue reading Happenings in the Wider World