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Today’s Email Announcements

1) Fort San Juan Archaeology Field School in Morganton Set for Oct. 22

There will be a new archaeology field school opportunity at the Berry archaeology site in Morganton, NC on Monday, October 19 through October 22, from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM daily. This field school will be open to the public 16 years of age and older. No experience is necessary, and participants may enroll for any or all of the scheduled days. The Field School will be led by staff and volunteers from the Exploring Joara Foundation and Warren Wilson College. The cost will be $35.00 per day, $25.00 for current Exploring Joara members. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Registration is available online at www.exploringjoara.org, or contact EJF at 828- 439-2463.

The Berry archaeological site is the location of Fort San Juan, the earliest European settlement in the interior of the United States. The fort was founded by Don Pardo in 1567, and has been nationally recognized as one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent years.

2) WKMA in Abingdon Celebrates Regional Artists with From These Hills

William King Museum of Art continues to celebrate the diversity of regional artistic talent with its twelfth biennial exhibition, From These Hills: Contemporary Art in the Southern Appalachian Highlands, opening on Friday, October 16.

From These Hills is a major exhibition of new works by artists working in all media in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, Western North Carolina, Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky.

This exhibition is guest-curated by Stephen Wicks, the Barbara W. and Bernard E. Bernstein Curator at the Knoxville Museum of Art in Knoxville, Tennessee. Wicks has guided the Knoxville Museum of Art’s curatorial department for 20 years. He manages the museum’s exhibitions program and guides the development of its collections of East Tennessee-related art and international contemporary art.

From These Hills is one of the most important things we do here at the Museum,” said Callie Hietala, Director of Exhibitions. “It gives artists who are living and working in this region an opportunity to show their work in a museum setting and have exposure to a whole new audience. At the same time, it gives them professional opportunities in the future. Many From These Hills artists have gone on to have solo shows or participate in group shows here at WKMA or at other art venues in the region.”

Historically, From These Hills boasts a wide range of media and subjects with reference to this notable time and place. Wicks reviewed nearly 100 portfolios and selected the following twenty-seven artists: Jennifer D. Anderson (Roanoke, VA), Gerry Bannan (Roanoke, VA), Laken Bridges (Telford, TN), Jason Brown (Knoxville, TN), Deborah Bryan (Johnson City, TN), Virginia Derryberry (Asheville, NC), Travis Donovan (Vilas, NC), Lynn Duryea (Boone, NC), Cavan Fleming (Blacksburg, VA), Gary Mesa-Gaido (Morehead, KY), Marcia Goldenstein (Knoxville, TN), Carl Gombert (Maryville, TN), Travis Graves (Elizabethton, TN), Jennifer Hand (Dublin, VA), Jean Hess (Knoxville, TN), Megan G. King (Johnson City, TN), Brett LaGue (Fincastle, VA), Paul Lee (Maryville, TN), Allison Luce (Mooresville, NC), Lillian Minix (Abingdon, VA), Amanda J. Richardson (Honaker, VA), Ann Ropp (Johnson City, TN), Halide Salam (Blacksburg, VA), Brian Sieveking (Roanoke, VA), Marvin Tadlock (Bristol, VA), David Underwood (Jefferson City, TN), and Katherine Wood (Roanoke, VA).


“We want to help the artists in our region, and this exhibit is one of the most successful vehicles we have to be able to achieve that goal. It’s been part of the mission of this Museum since we opened our doors,” Hietala said.

An opening reception will be held on Thursday, October 15 from 6-8 p.m. and many of the artists will be on hand to discuss their work. This reception is free and open to the public.

On the same evening, WKMA’s Van Gogh Outreach Program will be awarded with the annual Dominion ArtStars Shining Star Award by Virginians for the Arts (VFTA), in partnership with the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, Inc.

From These Hills will be on display through February 14, 2016.

For more information about this and other exhibitions call 276-628-5005 or visit www.williamkingmuseum.org.

William King Museum of Art is located at 415 Academy Drive, off West Main Street or Russell Road, in Abingdon, Virginia. The Museum features five exhibition galleries, artist studios and outdoor sculpture garden. Educational programs in the visual arts are offered year-round for both children and adults, and school audiences are served by in-house and outreach programs. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

3) October Events at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum

Annual Alexander Arts Lecture: American Impressionism and Realism, Tales of a Collector with Jack Huber. Sunday, Oct. 4 at 4 p.m. $10 members/$20 non-members.

Exhibition Opening Reception for “Black and White and Art All Over.” Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 5-6:30 p.m. Free for everyone.

Scholars and Scones: Sharing Jean Ritchie’s Legacy and Love for Appalachian Music with Dr. Susan W. Mills. Thursday, Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. Free/$5 suggested donation.

Terror in the Hills: Appalachia in Horror Films and Ghost Shows in the High Country. Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 7-9 p.m. Free/$5 suggested donation.

Coffee with the Curator: The Picture Man: Photographs by Paul Buchanan. Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 11 a.m. Free for members and regular admission for non-members.

Third Thursday: Hoedowns, Reels and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance with Phil Jamison. Thursday, Oct. 22 at 4:30 p.m. Free for members/$5 for non-members.

Family Friendly: Spooky Stories and Creepy Crafts. Saturday, Oct. 31 from 2-3 p.m. Free.

Weekly Children’s Art Classes:

Every Tuesday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Afternoon Art Club. Ages 6-10. Free for members/$5 non-members. Registration required.

Every Thursday, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m. Doodlebug Club. Ages 3-5. Free for members/$5 non-members. Registration required.

Visit BRAHM online for more information.

4) David Smith Guitar Performance Set for Oct. 7 at CCC&TI in Watauga

David Smith will give a live performance of new and old instrumental guitar music on Wednesday, October 7th at noon. David is a graduate of both UNC Charlotte and App State Music programs.  He is also the music instructor at Caldwell Community College in Boone, NC and Emory & Henry in Emory, VA.  The concert is free and open to the public.  Don’t miss this exciting mix of acoustic music at the Watauga campus of CCC&TI October 7th at 12pm in room 112.  For more information call 828-297-2185 or visit cccti.edu.

5) Share the Warmth Clothing Drive, Now through Oct. 5

The Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge is accepting donations of new or gently used men’s, women’s and children’s coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves and shoes. They are collecting items through Oct. 5 and they will be distributed at the Hospitality House on Oct. 9. You can drop your donations off at the WFBR office, Footsloggers or Tricia Wilson Law Office (3616 Mitchell Ave. in Linville), If you are available to help sort items between Oct. 7-9 and would like to volunteer your time, call Judy Painter at 828-297-1948 or reach her by email at mama.painter@gmail.com.

6) ASU Theatre Presents “An Enemy of the People” Sept. 30 – Oct. 3

Appalachian State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance presents “An Enemy of the People,” playwright Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 masterpiece about an eco-conscious doctor who uncovers a controversial secret. Under the direction of Dr. Kin-Yan Szeto, this timely play will be performed in the Valborg Theatre on the Appalachian campus from Sept. 30- Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Oct. 4.

This production is the first main stage event in the 2015-16 season of the Department of Theatre and Dance, which runs from September through May of each academic year.

Ticket prices are $10 for students and $17 for adults. Tickets are available in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., by phone at 828-262-4046, at the Valborg Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday 1-5 p.m., and online at www.theatreanddance.appstate.edu.

Szeto, an associate professor of theatre, has previously directed Appalachian productions of “The Other Shore” and “WTC View.”  Her concept for “An Enemy of the People” brings a fresh new look to this classic play about the environment in our changing world.  Szeto sets the work in a rustic 1950s Norwegian town where social standing and politics rule above all else. Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a high-ranking member of society and brother to the mayor, uncovers a controversial secret that could tear the fabric of their community.

In conjunction with an experienced design team that includes faculty members Mike Helms (sets), Martha Marking (costumes and make up), John Marty (lighting) and student David Sabbagh (sound), Szeto has decided to mirror the historical development of the media. By recreating the era that transformed black-and-white cinematography into color film, all the characters in the script that are apprehensive of change are attired in monochromatic tones, progressing to gradual color in their apparel as they become enlightened to the issues confronting their community. Szeto explains, “Light and sound will compliment these changes and underscore different moments of awakening as the show proceeds.”

This production features 12 actors, ranging from freshmen to graduating seniors. Justin McGovney, senior theatre arts major, portrays the title role of Dr. Thomas Stockmann, with juniors Melanie Lech and Dylan Brown appearing in leading roles.

About Valborg Theatre

Valborg Theatre is located on campus at the north side of Chapell Wilson Hall on Howard Street.  The theatre entrance faces the back of Turchin Center for the Visual Arts on King Street. Parking is available after 5 p.m. on campus in faculty/staff lots and after 5:30 p.m. in the College Street parking deck near Belk Library and Information Commons.

About the Department of Theatre and Dance

The Department of Theatre and Dance is housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts. Its mission is to provide liberal arts educational opportunities including B.A. degrees in dance studies and theatre arts. The department also values the opportunity to offer coursework for integrated learning through the arts to the general university student population. Vital to the support of this mission is a dynamic co-curricular production program that provides exemplary theatre and dance experiences to departmental students, the university community and the region. The departmental philosophy is to support the university’s liberal arts environment through a balanced and integrated emphasis on teaching, creative activity, scholarship and service.