december 2011 newsletter

Some say the defini tion of insani ty is "doing the same thing over andexpecting di fferent resul ts." I f starting out the New Year with last year'slukewarm resolutions screaming in your ears sounds depressing, we wouldl ike to offer a new idea: forget about the resolutions and take action.

The Alabama River Region Arts Center is just wai ting to help you takeaction. Here are some ideas:1 . Help your child learn to use their hands for more than just texting.

We offer reasonably priced Arts Clubswith something for everyone high school-age and down. Al l Clubs meet onThursdays from 4pm-5pm & 5pm-6pm.During both blocks we offer Gui tar Club,for beginning and advanced acousticgui tar players; Clay (polymer, a.k.a."sculpey") Club, where puppet-masterAustin Thompson instructs smal l hands tocreate imaginary creatures; and Drawing/Painting Club, where arti sts asyoung as 7 years old are welcome to learn to see, draw and paint.

2. Learn to use that great digital camera Christmas gift...beyond "Auto"!

Digi tal Photography for Beginners (note: we did not say "dummies") wi l lmeet on Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm. We wi l l use a combination of studioset-ups and the digi tal projector to learn to work confidently! See "NewClasses" page X for more information.

3. Get messy!

Our Pottery Studio is up and running (yes, running water to clean up amess! ) and as you can see from the images in the masthead above, localarti sts are turning out beauti ful confections in clay. Anna Thibodeaux wi l lbe offering moms & their young chi ldren a chance to get messy togetherdoing art. Watch for more on "Mommy & Me Get Messy" classes.

4. Get stuck!

Making a fabric dol l or sewing your fi rst qui l t on a sewing machine soundsintimidating and painful , but under thewatchful eyes of Fabric Dol lInstructor/Wool Spinner Diana Hiottand award-winning qui l ter DawnSul l ivan, you can learn to sew withoutpoking yourself too much. See page 4for more information.

Alabama River Region Arts Center Providing high quality, affordable programs

New Year's Resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

News from the Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Board of Directors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

About Us. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

The Hol iday Bug.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Out & About. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Grant News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa. . . . . 3

ARRAC Member Christmas Party. . . . . . . . 3

Classes & Workshops. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Coming Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Mugs Fest in January. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Volunteer Schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Thanks to Our Sponsors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Music Arts News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

River Region Sunday Special . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Si t & Sew.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Arts Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

DEC. 2011

New Year's Resolutions

Our Mission Statement:The Alabama River Region Arts Center’smission is to bring the People of the RiverRegion together and enhance communitylife through a supportive environmentwhere people of all ages, backgrounds andabilities can study, create and present art.

The Alabama River Region Arts Center is a 501 (c)

3 not-for-profi t organization.

Inside This Issue

The River Region'sFriendly Place forthe Arts

Vol. I /Issue 13AAll aabbaammaa RRii vveerr RReeggiioonnAArrttss CCeenntteerr

UPDATE

2 Alabama River Region Arts Center

TheARRAC UPDATE/DEC. 2011

Austin Thompson introduces Susan Gill,Elmore County Arts Specialist - GradesK-12, to his "pre-treated" Humbugpuppet.

ARRAC Board of Directors

Officers

Rick Bowman - Vice President

Mari lyn Winborn - Secretary

Members at Large

Geoff McIntyre

Austin Thompson

Frank Sul l ivan - Executive Director

Eclectic HighSchool Premieres"The Holiday Bug"

Newsfrom The Center

The Arts Center is a volunteer based,community supported organizationthat derives its funding from publicand private donations, contributions,grants, benefactors and the proceedsfrom memberships, Artist Space,Rentals, Gallery Art Sales and specialevents.

About Us

300 West Tallassee St Wetumpka, AL 36092

What's big and day-glo orange and eats a house?

The Holiday Bug, also known as the Humbug, was premiered to a packedhouse of Eclectic Middle School students on Wednesday, December 14. Theproduction fi l led the stage at ECHS with props and puppets. Forty-five minutes later,the chi ldren were invi ted to ask questions about the production. The custom-madepuppets were also brought out on stage for closer inspection.

The story, wri tten by Austin Thompson and Daniel Burke told the story of afrustrated sheep fami ly whose house is invaded by a series of obnoxious charactersthreatening to destroy their Christmas. The kids loved the mayhem and specialeffects.

The Holiday Bug, fol lowed up the Eclectic performance with four weekendshows at the Wetumpka Performing Arts Center, adjacent to ARRAC. The ARRACmembers stepped up to the plate and sold popcorn and beverages, as wel l asl ighting the way with luminaries Friday night. The audience, which came in

through the ARRAC gal lery, enjoyed the seasonall ights decorating the hal ls.

Thanks to al l for their help in bringingpuppetry arts to the River Region area, we lookforward to more from ARRAC's own, AustinThompson and his Crossti tch Production puppettroupe.

Austin Thompson gives Eclectic Middle School students a peekbehind the curtains, while he answers their many and variedquestions after the Dec. 14th premiere of "The Holiday Bug."

Daniel Burke, left, manned the sound booth, while brothersAustin, left, and Adrian Thompson, were puppeteers.



The Arts Center: A beacon (& street light)in the dark

ARRAC ordered atradi tional l ightfixture for ourbroken lamp pole.We now l ight upthe neighborhood(and our parkingarea)!

Thanks to theElmore CountyCommunityFoundation's Clara Lul l Robison Fund forWetumpka Beauti fication for making this areal i ty. Our night class students appreciate i t.

Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa

Dawn Sullivan, warmly greeting Christmas on theCoosa attendees, was joined by Frank Sullivan torepresent the Arts Center, while Austin Thompson andMatthew Van Gorkom, pictured right, roamed thestreet as mobile puppet stage entertainers.

Out &About

a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization

$1000 from Mildred WeedonBlount Educational and CharitableFoundation to the Arts Center

Thanks to the Mi ldred Weedon BlountEducational and Chari table Foundation, Inc.for their grant to ARRAC of $1 ,000. Weappreciate their support of the arts.

Al l of our fai thful member sponsors arel i sted on page 7. Please make sure to say aspecial thanks to the businesses andindividuals who support ARRAC.

Grant News

ARRAC Members' Christmas Party

After the Update was emai led lastmonth, plans were made for an ARRACmember soire. I t was a quick eventsqueezed in between the morning andafternoon performance of The Holiday Bug.A good time was had by al l and no oneresembled the photo above. I f you wereunable to come on such short notice, weunderstand; but we did miss you! Hope youand yours had a Merry Christmas.

Before

After



Beginning Digi talPhotography**

Classes &WorkshopsHead Drawing Workshop Wed Jan 4, 11 , 1 8, 25

1 0:00am – 12:00pm

Per day Cost: $30 + *$8 materialsfee for paper.

Beginning/Advanced Beginning.

Open Studio format

Pottery for the Wheel

Intermediate Wheel Pottery

Sat Jan 7, 82:00pm – 5:00pmSat Jan 14, 15, 28, 292:00pm – 5:00pm

Beginners learn the basics,Intermediate wi l l bui ld onknowledge of wheel work:centering, opening, pul l ing up, &trimming. Final class on glazing.$90 + mtls fee. Ages 14+

Slab Clay Sat Jan 7, 8

2:00pm – 5:00pm

2 classes

Beginner to intermediate tudentswi l l learn about clays, methods ofconstructing with clay, techniquesfor working with slab clay. Studentpieces wi l l be bisque fi red and basicglazing techniques discussed.Glazing the pieces wi l l be coveredin the 2 hour Glaze class whichfol lows the slab class. $55

Bookbinding & Repair Tue Jan 1 0, 24

(class repeats)

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Learn to make simple repairswithout resorting to duct tape.Class wi l l give the basics, butprojects must be completed athome. Bring books you would l iketo repair. $30

Tue Jan 11 , 25

(class repeats)

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Get off the "AUTO" button. Learn touse al l the features on your camera.Pre-registration required. Contactinstructor with camera model info.Studio set-ups and overheadprojector by instructor. $30.

Beginning Machine Qui l ting Sun Jan 15

1 :00pm – 4:00pm

This class wi l l introduce you tosewing machine qui l ting. Studentswi l l start their qui l t and have theknowledge and confidence to finishat home. $30

Buttons I I Sun Jan 15, 22, 29

2:00pm – 4:00pm

Bui ld on knowledge from Buttons I .Create hand-made clay buttons touse on your next craft project.Learn about fi ring and glazes. Feesvary based upon number ofstudents. See Fee Structure below.

Fabric Dol l Workshop (Due to a fami ly emergency,

this class i s being rescheduled

from the original date. )

Learn the basics to design and sew

a one-of-a-kind cloth dol l . $65

** Advance registration is required so that your camera model PDF manual may be incorporated into the materials. No cel l phone photography training.

Number of Students: 4 6 8 1 0 12

Cost per Student: $45.00 $40.00 $36.00 $29.00 $24.00

Lab/ fi ring Fee: $1 4.50 $9.67 $7.25 $5.80 $4.83

Per Student cost: $59.50 $49.67 $43.25 $34.80 $28.83

Buttons II Fee Structure

Lab fee is fixed at $58.00 and we are discounting the cost per student tomake i t more affordable.


TheARRAC UPDATE/DEC. 2011Sun Jan 1 All day CLOSEDWed Jan 4 1 0:00am – 12:00pm Head Drawing WorkshopThu Jan 5 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./PaintingSat Jan 7 9:00am – 12:00pm Blue Grass Jam/

9:00am – 12:00pm Sit & Sew2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery for the Wheel / Slab Clay

Sun Jan 8 2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery for the Wheel / Slab ClayTue Jan 1 0 2:00pm – 4:00pm Bookbinding & RepairWed Jan 11 1 0:00am – 12:00pm Head Drawing Workshop

6:00pm – 8:00pm Beg. Digital Photography**Thu Jan 12 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

6:30pm – 8:00pm Brainstorm DinnerSat Jan 14 2:00pm – 5:00pm Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery StudioSun Jan 15 1 :00pm – 4:00pm Beginning Machine Qui lting

2:00pm – 4:00pm Buttons I I2:00pm – 5:00pm Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery Studio

Wed Jan 18 1 0:00am – 12:00pm Head Drawing WorkshopThu Jan 19 2:30pm – 4:30pm Art Club Meeting

4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./PaintingSat Jan 21 All day M.U.G.S.* FestSun Jan 22 2:00pm – 4:00pm Buttons I ITue Jan 24 2:00pm – 4:00pm Bookbinding & RepairWed Jan 25 1 0:00am – 12:00pm Head Drawing Workshop

6:00pm – 8:00pm Beg. Digital Photography**Thu Jan 26 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

6:30pm – 8:00pm Brainstorm DinnerSat Jan 28 2:00pm – 5:00pm Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery StudioSun Jan 29 2:00pm – 4:00pm Buttons I I

2:00pm – 5:00pm Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery StudioThu Feb 2 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./PaintingSat Feb 4 9:00am – 12:00pm Blue Grass Jam/

9:00am – 12:00pm Sit & Sew2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio

Sun Feb 5 2:00pm – 5:00pm River Region Sunday Special RootsMusic fundraiser for ARRAC

Tue Feb 7 2:00pm – 4:00pm Bookbinding & Repair**Wed Feb 8 6:00pm – 8:00pm Beg. Digital Photography**Thu Feb 9 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

6:30pm – 8:00pm Brainstorm DinnerSat Feb 11 2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery StudioThu Feb 16 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

Sat Feb 18 2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery StudioTue Feb 21 2:00pm – 4:00pm Bookbinding & Repair**Wed Feb 22 6:00pm – 8:00pm Beg. Digital Photography**Thu Feb 23 4:00pm – 6:00pm Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

6:30pm – 8:00pm Brainstorm DinnerSat Feb 25 2:00pm – 5:00pm Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio

* Making Up Good Stuff** Advance registration and confirmation by instructor required.

ComingEventsJanuary/February Events & Classes


Mommy & Me Get MessyArt class for Mom & chi ld

Coming Soon.

Contact the Arts Center and watch ourweb and Facebook page for moreinformation.



MUGS Fest January 21 stAlthough i t may be cold and dreary this month, ARRACwi l l be warming things up with our MUGS* Fest! Think,Hot Cocoa/Coffee, Fun Fi lmfest, Demos, Hands-on &Artsy surprises for al l ages! Bring your fami ly! Saturday,January 21 at ARRAC! Fol low us on Facebook for up to theminute detai l s.

*making up good stuff!

The Update is publ i shed monthly.Your comments, ideas, and story ideas

are welcome.

Marty McIntyre, Edi tor

[email protected]

Alabama River Region Arts Center

Mai l ing Address:

PO Box 1172

Wetumpka, AL 36092

Alabama River Region Arts Center

Gal lery/Classrooms300 West Tal lassee St

Wetumpka, AL 36092

Times shown on the calendar for special events outside theGal lery are Event Times - volunteers should be there at least1 hour prior for setup and approx. 1 /2 hour after forcleanup.

The Arts Center is in need of volunteers this month aswe are hosting many Special Events at the Center. Pleasecontact Sharon Ervin, Volunteer Coordinator, at3756374sse@gmai l .com or 514-3420 (home) or 279-3464(work). Do your part for the ARTS in the River Region.

Thu Jan 5 4:00pm – 6:00pm AC - Dawn

Sat Jan 7 9:00am – 4:00pm AC - Dawn

Sun Jan 8 12:00pm – 4:00pm AC - Theresa


Sat Jan 14 9:00am – 4:00pm AC - Marty

Sun Jan 15 12:00pm – 4:00pm AC - Frank

Thu Jan 19 1 :30pm – 6:00pm AC - Dawn

Sat Jan 21 9:00am – 4:00pm AC - Al l Vol .

Sun Jan 22 12:00pm – 4:00pm AC - Theresa


Sat Jan 28 9:00am – 4:00pm AC - Sharon

Sun Jan 29 12:00pm – 4:00pm AC - Vanessa

AC = Arts Center

Volunteer Schedule

VolunteerCalendar

a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization



Your Business Can Make a Differencein the Arts

Without our fai thful sponsors, we would not bewhere we are today. Thank you for sticking with usthrough this year. Your support (on all levels) meansmore than we can express. Without yourencouragement the arts would be the poorer in theRiver Region. We look forward to a new year fi l ledwith many exci ting plans and the awareness andgrati tude for the dreams that have already come true.

Creating and growing a community-supported andcommunity-needs driven arts center is our passion. Weare chal lenged this year, to reach out more to al lcommunity members, to encourage them in theirpursui t of the arts; music, fine arts, crafts, pottery,performing, and puppetry. I t i s a big chal lenge. I t i sbroad in scope.

The need in this community is great. Times aretight for al l and extra-curricular activi ties, l ike the arts,might be the fi rst to be dropped. Let i t not be so in2012. I f you or your business would l ike to help outand do more, please contact our Director, FrankSul l ivan at [email protected].

Thanks to our Sponsors!

CommittedMembers

Thanks to Our Member Sponsors

Businesses

BathBui lders LLC - www.bathbui ldersl lc.com

Thank you Donald Mobley

Platinum

Benjamin and Luanne Russel l

Gold

Mary and James Wolfe

Bronze

Mayor Jerry Wi l l i s

Monte and Jan McKinney

J immy and Yvonne Lee

SupportersFrances Arnold

James Parker

Frank and Dawn Sul l ivan

Adel ia H. TurnerForms are avai lable onl ine,

see http://arrac.org/Documents/RevARRACmembership.pdf

www.arrac.org

I would l ike to make an addi tional donation

of: $__________

Bronze $1 00 ___ Si lver $250___

Gold $500___ Platinum $1 000___

Membership Benefits

• 1 0% discount on classes

• 1 0% discount on Gal lery purchases

• 1 0% discount on custom frames at Zuelzke's

• Juried Gal lery access for arti st to displaytheir work.

2012 Memberships are due January 31


TheARRAC UPDATE/DEC. 2011Music ArtsNewsBluegrass Jam Jan. 7th

Gets the New Year Started Just Right!We guarantee great music. Al l ski l l levels arewelcome. New viol ini st/fiddle-players welcome!Whether you have a new instrument you are juststarting to pluck at or have a passion to sing. . .we lookforward to having you join in the music-making. Joinus from 9am - 12pm, Jan. 7th. at the ARRAC.

New Year's resolution:finish up one of theprojects on your projectstack.

Come and resume workon one of your projectswith fel low fabric andqui l ting fans in the Monetroom. We' l l meet from9am – 12pm.


Sunday, February 5thRoots Music fundraiserfor ARRACWetumpka PerformingArts Center

2:00 pm$3 a person

Rootsmusicfundraiserfor ARRAC

Coming!Feb. 5th

Guitar Club Resumes Thursday Jan. 5

Kids 9 and up, i t i s not too late to get signed up for Gui tar Club.Join Jon Masters, Gui tar Club leader and his class on Thursdaysfrom 4pm - 5pm. Cost i s $20 per month. We meet one time aweek, and beginners are welcome. No instrument? No problem,we have instrucments avai lable for use at the Arts Center duringclass. Contact [email protected] for more information. Clubregistration is avai lable day of Clubs, at 3:45 pm. Parents arewelcome to stay or visi t in the Arts Center Library.

ARRAC Arts Clubs $20 month,Thursdays starting at 4pm

contact [email protected] [email protected] for moreinformation.

Kids Arts Clubs:

• Clay

• Drawing/Painting

• Guitar

Sit & Sew

december 2011 newsletter

Documents

music arts news

priced arts clubswith

drawingpainting club

wetumpka christmas

years old

sculpey club

gui tar club

new idea