By Kaitlan Morehouse
Do you like music? What about poetry? If you said yes to either question, come on down to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Boone at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday for “Our Shared Heritage and Journey Toward Peace,” a fundraiser for the Watauga County Arts Council.
“In this wired age, there is a hunger for live music and poetry, and there is nowhere in Boone with better acoustics than St. Luke’s Church,” said Mary Gray, who is coordinating the event.
The showcase event will feature performances by flutist Akal Dev Sharonne, classical guitarist David Smith and poetry readers Betty Wells, Elizabeth Percival and Gray.
There will be voices and music from around the world!
Poems from places like India, Iran, China and Europe will be read, featuring authors like St. Frances of Assisi and popular 13th century poet Rumi to show that everyone is speaking in the same voice.
“We, now, have far more access through the web to a greater variety of music and poetry than was ever available to earlier generations,” Gray said. “We will need the best and highest from every people and culture in our shared journey of creating a peaceful world.”
The Watauga Country Arts Council sponsors the event, and all proceeds will go to its scholarship funds. A small suggested donation of anywhere from $5-$20 is asked.
Why donate?
Your contributions will help the arts council raise a new generation of artists.
Doesn’t that sound like a grand cause?
Here in the High Country, we have a wealth of artists, both young and old. Any support you can give will help promote, expand and encourage this vibrant community.
“We’re very fortunate to have a very active arts council, a very generous church and a wealth of artists of all kinds,” Gray said.
Gray hopes to enjoy reading the poetry and listening to the music herself.
“When you read poetry or play music, you offer it as a gift,” she said. “You never know the effect or what it is that each person takes from it.”
For more information on the event, call 828-264-5620.
About WCAC
Founded in 1981, the WCAC made its home the Jones Community Center until 2012.
The council was able to serve the community with the help of generous donations:
- Office space by Watauga Committee of 100
- Gallery space by John Winkler, Kenneth Wilcox and Roger Wright
- Storage space by Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff
It created the Blue Ridge ArtSpace in April 2013 after Watauga County Commissioners agreed to lease the building.
It believes that by helping the arts thrive, it is helping Watauga thrive, and it strives to make the arts a presence in the community.
Its mission is to sponsor and encourage the cultural arts in Watauga County.
Visit the website today!
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