The Johnston County Arts Council Board of Directors today announced the resignation of Jessica Meadows as its executive director. Jessica informed the board that she will leave her position on October 6 to pursue new challenges as a Community Content Liaison with NBC 17.

Jessica Meadows was employed by the Johnston County Arts Council as Executive Director in January 2005. Following her departure, she will continue to work with the organization as a volunteer.

“It is not an easy decision to leave this position, as the arts are my passion and I was sincerely honored to serve as the executive director of the Johnston County Arts Council. However, I think the Arts Council is capable of new and unique opportunities and the next director can take the organization to the next step,” states Jessica Meadows.

Arts Council President Susan Lassiter said, “The board of directors accepted Jessica’s resignation with regret and thanked her for her excellent work and creativity in the management of the office, her good rapport with the Johnston County community, and her guidance to each board member. We will certainly miss her. She will especially be missed by all those who have worked with her in the Artists-in-the-Schools program, a successful program in its tenth year that brings professional artists from around the world to perform in every
Johnston County school.”

A search for a new executive director will begin immediately. Until a new director is hired, the board will oversee the daily operations of the office. The office is located at 231 E. Second St. in Clayton.

The North Carolina Arts Council recently announced the awarding of grant funding to three Johnston County organizations. Johnston Community College was awarded $5,000 for the development of an International Artists performance series, the West Johnston Band Parents Association was awarded $6,000 for two artist residencies that will result in the composition of new high school band or chorus music, and the Johnston County Arts Council was awarded $51,731 for various arts programs, administrative support, and subgrants in Johnston County.

The Johnston County Arts Council receives funding each year from the North Carolina Arts Council through the Grassroots Arts Program, which allows the Johnston County Arts Council to disperse funds to local organizations. The North Carolina Grassroots Arts Program is the only program in the United States that insures every North Carolina resident has access to the arts. The amount awarded in 2008-09 is an increase of $8,163 from 2007-08.

The North Carolina Arts Council will invest $7,427,425 in grants for arts programs and projects across North Carolina during 2008-2009. (more…)

The Ava Gardner Fest is a grassroots effort to celebrate the heritage of legendary film artist Ava Gardner. This festival honors Ava’s love for her hometown and her passion for music, film and art.

Festival events will include the Arts and Fine Crafts Marketplace, the Ava Gardner Film Festival, live music on the main stage, and special exhibits. Artists will have the opportunity to display and sell their work to visitors from around the United States. Our goal is to showcase regional talent and promote North Carolina’s artist community.

Profits from the Art and Fine Crafts Marketplace help support the mission of the Johnston County Artists Guild. Any profits from other Festival events help support the Ava Gardner Museum’s mission of preserving and displaying memorabilia from the life and artistic career of Ava Gardner.

The Johnston County Artists Guild is a non-profit organization founded in August 2005. It is an organization of artists dedicated to the education, development and sustainment of the visual arts in Johnston County and neighboring counties in North Carolina. Membership may be obtained at http://www.myspace.com/jocoartistsguild.

To register for the Arts Marketplace, please visit the Johnston County Arts Council website www.johnstoncountyarts.org

Contributed by local resident Jennifer Hinton: 

The Story of SSS Band follows below this quick announcement: 

Friends and Family Night
Friday, August 15, 2008
Location: Smithfield-Selma Football Stadium
700 Booker Dairy Road
Smithfield, NC  27577
Time: Performance is at 7:45 PM
Admission: FREE - Open to the General Public

Bring the family out to the Charles Tucker Stadium to watch the SSS Marching Spartan Regiment debut their 2008-09 field show entitled “Who.”  This sneak peek will take place on Friday, August 15. 2008 around 7:45 PM.  There is no admission cost.

And now for the history of the Smithfield Selma Senior High Marching Spartans…

The story begins, as many stories do, at the beginning – precisely in 1969.  The Smithfield-Selma High School was formed by bringing 6 high schools together in the town of Smithfield, NC.  One man was asked to head-up the Band Program and he did so with Spartan Spirit until his retirement in 1986.  That man was NCA&T Alumnus, John R. “Doc” Windley.  Mr. Windley was quite the character.  I had the privilege of studying music under him until he retired my senior year in 1986.  The Bands of Smithfield-Selma, also known as SSS (Pronounced Triple S), developed quite a reputation during the 70’s and 80’s because of Mr. Windley’s ability to supercharge his marching bands into some great street performances in local and national parades.  He has taken his marching bands to places like New Orleans, SeaWorld, Preakness and the Rose Bowl Parade. 

If you were to speak with locals who visited North Carolina parades in the 70’s and 80’s, they knew John Windley by name and they admitted they came to the parade mainly to watch the Mighty SSS Band breakout into the crowds or change direction with an abrupt about-face while “stepping out.”  As the self-proclaimed historian of the SSS Class of 1986, I have acquired quite a bit of film footage of the SSS Bands from 1985 and 1986.  Some of these videos consist of field show and parade competitions.  Some consist of championship football games. (The SSS Football team went to state 4A playoffs 3 consecutive years between 1984 and 1986.) One of my most cherished videos is of the SSS Band’s performance in the Governor Martin Inaugural Parade in 1985.  The SSS Band was the largest band in the parade that day sporting 182 members.  All of these videos have been donated to the Johnston County Heritage Center.

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Through the North Carolina Arts Council’s Regional Artist Project Grant Program, artists from Franklin, Johnston, Vance, Wake and Warren can receive grant awards for projects that will further their professional development. Previously funded projects have included attendance at professional development workshops and conferences, purchase of art equipment to aid in the production of artwork, production of new works and production of promotional materials, such as a portfolio or demo tape. Grants are intended for emerging and professional artists in all disciplines.

Application forms are now available. Contact the Johnston County Arts Council at 919/553-1930 to request an application. Completed applications are due Friday, September 19, 2008. Grants are available for up to $1,500 and are awarded on a competitive basis.

To be eligible, an artist must be at least 18 years of age, have lived in the five county region for at least one year and not be currently enrolled in a degree program. Additional requirements and stipulations are explained in the application guidelines. Since Regional Artist Project Grants are competitive, a workshop will be held Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at 6:00 pm in the conference room of the Johnston County Arts Council, 231 East Second St., Clayton to assist artists in preparing for the grant application process. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek assistance with their applications.

The Regional Artist Project Grant Program receives major funding from United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts with additional support provided by Franklin County Arts Council, Johnston County Arts Council, Vance County Arts Council, and Warren County Arts Council.

Regional Artist Grant Application 

Check out the following events for things to do right here in Johnston County!  Save Gas, Stay Home! 

Tell me about any events you attend and how they were!

Clayton Visual Arts Exhibit, The Clayton Center , Clayton, July 1-31. Call 919-553-1737 for more details. The artists for the July Exhibit will be David Crews (water media), Phil Pyle (drawing), and Juliann Butcher (photgraphy). The reception will be July 10 from 6:00-7:30 PM. The public is invited.

Country Tonight! July 4, Corner of Webb & Waddell Streets, Selma, NC. Call 252-237-6199 for more information. Come for a family night of Country music, old and new, with Bobby Lynn and the Country Tonight Band! Bobby previously played on the Mel Tillis Show. Al Cotter brings his character “Cousin Brossy” to the stage with lots of good humor and fun. Doors open at 7pm, Show starts at 7:45pm.

2008 Music for the Lunch Bunch; July 10, First Presbyterian Church, Smithfield, NC. Call 919-553-1920 for more information. Vocalist Genevieve Berge Woodall and Flutist Brandon Allen will perform. The Music for the Lunch Bunch is a series of summer concerts held every Thursday, at 12:15 pm, featuring local artists performing a variety of music, with particular emphasis on classical music.

Country Tonight!; July 11, Corner of Webb & Waddell Streets, Selma, NC. Call 252-237-6199 for more information. Enjoy a country music show with comedy. Featured this week is the Malpass Brothers with comedian “Tater Roads”. Chris Malpass opens for Merle Haggard concerts and some Ray Price concerts. This is a family show with lots of good humor and great country music! Doors open at 7pm, Show starts at 7:45pm.

All About Ballroom Sizzling Summer Showcase, July 12, The Clayton Center, Downtown Clayton.  Call 771-0708 for more details. This event will showcase the talent of the All About Ballroom students performing Rhythm and Ballroom dances.  VIP tickets ($20) get you into the show and access to refreshments; $12 General Admission gets into the show only.  Tickets are available at the studio (919-771-0108) or online at the Clayton Center box office.

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For Artist Dan Lee, his mission in painting isn’t just about recording a personal vision, it’s about sparking a vision in others. the creative energy needed for this mission is fueled by a constant love, reverence, and appreciation of “how the light affects everything and how everything affects the light.” the portraits, landscapes and images Dan paints convey this life-enhancement philosophy and possesses that very special light. . . the light from within.

Beyond his formal education consisting of two years at Louisburg College (NC) and two years in the BFA painting program at St. Cloud State University (MN), Dan considers all his experiences and many miles traveled, both abroad and in the U.S., as part of his art education, but the high point of the learning came in 1982. While in Virginia, Dan had the good fortune of serving an apprenticeship with master portrait painter Nick Hufford, an affiliate artist of Portraits, Inc. of New York. Hufford apprenticed in his early career with the great illustrator, Haddon Sundblom, of Coca-Cola and Quaker Oats advertising art fame. Dan believes, “Although both Sundblom and Hufford are gone now, I feel I carry on, within, something very special. . . A very special light.”

To contact Dan about his work, please send an email to dan123lee@hotmail.com

Just an FYI for all of you dance lovers out there… the American Dance Festival is celebrating its 75th anniversary with six and a half weeks of performances in Durham. With a huge budget for this celebratory season (”Split Scenes”), visitors will have the chance to see a few dance companies perform each night. With some of the most celebrated companies and works featured this season, dance critics will be salivating.

For more information, visit www.americandancefestival.org.

The Ava Gardner Film Festival is seeking volunteers for its 2nd year.  The festival will be September 24th through September 27th in downtown Smithfield, NC.  There are many positions this year, from ticketing to technical, pre-screening to outreach. 

What Do Volunteers Do?
Volunteers make the Festival happen!  There are positions of various interests, time commitments and levels of responsibility.  No matter what you may choose to do, your first responsibility is to be sure that everyone feels at home and has a good time!

Pre-Festival
Special Skills – Let us know if you have special skills in Programming, Marketing, Festival Operations, Development, Accounting, Office Administration or Technology.

Festival Preparation – These projects begin two weeks before the Festival, and include various office projects and organization. Help stuff tote bags, prepare registration materials, and other various tasks.

Benefits
Crew Pass - An Ava Gardner Film Festival Crew Pass entitles you acces to the Opening Night Party and all films and panels on a space-available basis.

Access to the Volunteer Lounge - This is where volunteers can rest and find drinks and light snacks.

Crew T-Shirt

Social and professional networking

Volunteer positions fill quickly, so please sign up soon.  To volunteer, contact Kirk Adam at KirkAdamGallery@mac.com.

Jodi Aker is a local mixed media artist and arts teacher.  A visual arts teacher at Southeast Raleigh Magnet School for six years, Jodi has her Masters of Arts of Teaching from the University of Louisville and was Nationally Board Certified in 1997. 

Jodi has also been a Registered Art Therapist for fifteen years and has her Masters in Art Therapy.  She founded an Art Therapy program with an Art 1 class of students who were selected for extra support at school, as well as sees individual clients and conducts arts therapy classes at Eye of the Eagle Art. 

Jodi has won various awards, including Third Place for Photography, NC State Fair, Juried Photography exhibit, 2007, “Best in Show for Technique” award, Raleigh Street Painting Festival, 2006, and “Best in Show: Most Original” award, Raleigh Street Painting Festival, 2005.

To contact Jodi directly about her art or art therapy classes, email her at JOCOartist@gmail.com