I've been piano-less since we moved east from Carson City, NV in 2001. As a milestone birthday approaches, I've been re-examining my life and what's really important to me. What did I discover? I really miss playing piano and the experiences that wash over me each time I "tinkle the ivories".
Note: I don't play very well at all. After almost ten (10) years without a piano, this fact has been compounded significantly. However, I can still plunk out "On A Clear Day" without too many sour notes.
By this time next week, I hope to have a new piano in my living room and as the New Year approaches, I'll be dusting off more of my old music and enjoying the experience of learning how to play and engaging myself in a creative endeavor.
A big thank you to Jim Hayden (Hayden's Music in Tanglewood Mall) for allowing me to try my hand at various pianos and educating me about the construction of pianos (They have more parts than a car!). With my purchase, I also receive FREE piano lessons and I can't wait to start. Yes, I'll even look forward to scales.
I realize this purchase is a slight diversion from Virginia GEMS (Give Experiences. Minimize Stuff.) www.myvirginiagems.com but I feel I'm still making a contribution to an experiential gift of art. Also, the piano lessons do count! (Although Hayden's provides you with 8 (eight) free lessons I know I'll need more.)
Consider an experiential gift of art, tickets to a play/concert, and yes, you can even give yourself a present. The rewards will be great; not just for you, but for your family and our local arts community.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Roanoke City Pride through the Arts
I try to read The Roanoke Times every day. I'm old fashioned and like my paper copy. So does my mom. (She lives with us in Elliston, VA.) She reads the paper first and I ask her to save articles for me; that is, those that are arts related. (Just in case I don't have time and miss some important news.)
I chastised her this weekend as I almost missed the article about The Taubman Museum of Art by Kevin Kittredge. The Taubman? Guess Again. (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/229456
Kevin wrote about the Taubman Museum and invited readers to see comparisons to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. I encourage everyone to read Kevin's article. I teared up as I read it and felt a huge sense of pride about our arts community. We have a lot to celebrate even though times are incredibly tough.
Thank you Kevin for seeing the Taubman with "brand new - and in some ways, newly appreciative - eyes". Does every one need to go to Spain so they can come back with "new eyes"? Perhaps. But for now, ponder Kevin's reflections and see if you see our arts community with "new eyes" too.
Join us. The view really is spectacular!
I chastised her this weekend as I almost missed the article about The Taubman Museum of Art by Kevin Kittredge. The Taubman? Guess Again. (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/229456
Kevin wrote about the Taubman Museum and invited readers to see comparisons to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain. I encourage everyone to read Kevin's article. I teared up as I read it and felt a huge sense of pride about our arts community. We have a lot to celebrate even though times are incredibly tough.
Thank you Kevin for seeing the Taubman with "brand new - and in some ways, newly appreciative - eyes". Does every one need to go to Spain so they can come back with "new eyes"? Perhaps. But for now, ponder Kevin's reflections and see if you see our arts community with "new eyes" too.
Join us. The view really is spectacular!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Roanoke City Art Show
I'm very excited to blog today about the Roanoke City Art Show because it reminds me of the time that I was in the Juried Student Show at Radford University. Long story short, it was the first time I had ever been in a show and my work wasn't even that impressive - if you ask me. I had done a drawing of three fish changing into seaweed and guess what...I won the purchase award! Isn't that cool? So now my work is part of the permanent collection at Radford University and I even had the piece featured in my Exit Show.
But here I am blabbing on about myself when I should be telling you about the City Art Show! It's coming up this week - opening night is this THURSDAY the 1st. Be there - at Center in the Square - we're on the second floor - so now you know where...Well that answers the question of why I'm a poet and not a rapper.
Well I guess if I want you to attend, I'd better give you a little more info. As I said, the opening night is Thursday and the show will run October 2nd to November 8th. Gallery hours are 11 AM to 4 PM - and again, we're on the 2nd floor of Center in the Square. Look for our black and white City Art Show poster as well as our red and white Arts Council posters.
I hope to see you all there, I'll probably be the one with the camera!
But here I am blabbing on about myself when I should be telling you about the City Art Show! It's coming up this week - opening night is this THURSDAY the 1st. Be there - at Center in the Square - we're on the second floor - so now you know where...Well that answers the question of why I'm a poet and not a rapper.
Well I guess if I want you to attend, I'd better give you a little more info. As I said, the opening night is Thursday and the show will run October 2nd to November 8th. Gallery hours are 11 AM to 4 PM - and again, we're on the 2nd floor of Center in the Square. Look for our black and white City Art Show poster as well as our red and white Arts Council posters.
I hope to see you all there, I'll probably be the one with the camera!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Annual Meeting and The Count Down
Thanks to all of you who came out and supported us at our Annual Meeting on Tuesday night. We had a wonderful time seeing the Betty Branch exhibit and especially had fun listening to Carol Dalhouse talk about the Art Council's beginnings. While I was busy snapping photos, Ron B. was out in the audience, formulating what would later become a post on his blog. We really appreciate all you bloggers out there and all the work you do in the means of spreading the word. If you are a blogger and write about us sometime, be sure to email a link to me at msmith@theartscouncil.org.
For those of you who were not in attendance at the Annual Meeting SHAME on you.
...Just kidding. We prefer to look to the future rather than play fire and brimstone and we earnestly hope you'll join us for some of our upcoming events:
~Meagan Smith
Marketing Director
The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge
For those of you who were not in attendance at the Annual Meeting SHAME on you.
...Just kidding. We prefer to look to the future rather than play fire and brimstone and we earnestly hope you'll join us for some of our upcoming events:
- 40+40 Fest will run October 1st to November 9 and will include innumerous events, shows, and other fun things to attend. Be sure to pick up a copy of the 40+40 booklet around town or download it here.
- Roanoke City Art Show - Opening night is October 1st and the show runs Thursday - Saturday 11am-4pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
- Run for the Arts - The race will begin on October 17 at 9 AM, quickly followed by the beginning of the walk at 9:15 AM. Make sure to register by October 7th to save $10 and recieve a t-shirt!
~Meagan Smith
Marketing Director
The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Roanoke Arts Festival
Hello you faithful readers!
First off, let me introduce myself for I am not the Laura Rawlings you know and love. My name is Meagan Smith and I am the new Marketing Director here at The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. I've worked here just over a month and have been given the task of really charging up our outreach. But enough about me! You're reading this to find out what great DEALS I have for YOU, right?
...Right. And what a great deal it is! Now I'm sure you all are fans of the 4040fest on Facebook or regular visitors to 4040fest.com and therefore already know what I'm talking about.
For the first week of October, you can purchase a Roanoke Arts Festival City Soul! ticket. At this point I'm sure you're expecting me to say what event the ticket is for - but that is where you would be mislead. This ticket not only gets you to one event, but 5! Not to mention the 1/2 price admission to The Taubman Museum of Art and other free events.
For only $57.50, you'll enjoy: Studio Roanoke Soul of the Studio, Southwest Va Ballet - Ties, Event Zone's Big Lick Blues Festival, Christian McBride at the Jefferson Center, and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's Opening Night. That's nothing to shake a stick at (I'm so bad with sayings, did I get it right?).
To purchase a ticket, pick up the phone and call 342-5790 ext 4 or visit our site.
Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you soon!
PS: Make sure to check us out in Mike Allen's blog!
First off, let me introduce myself for I am not the Laura Rawlings you know and love. My name is Meagan Smith and I am the new Marketing Director here at The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge. I've worked here just over a month and have been given the task of really charging up our outreach. But enough about me! You're reading this to find out what great DEALS I have for YOU, right?
...Right. And what a great deal it is! Now I'm sure you all are fans of the 4040fest on Facebook or regular visitors to 4040fest.com and therefore already know what I'm talking about.
For the first week of October, you can purchase a Roanoke Arts Festival City Soul! ticket. At this point I'm sure you're expecting me to say what event the ticket is for - but that is where you would be mislead. This ticket not only gets you to one event, but 5! Not to mention the 1/2 price admission to The Taubman Museum of Art and other free events.
For only $57.50, you'll enjoy: Studio Roanoke Soul of the Studio, Southwest Va Ballet - Ties, Event Zone's Big Lick Blues Festival, Christian McBride at the Jefferson Center, and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra's Opening Night. That's nothing to shake a stick at (I'm so bad with sayings, did I get it right?).
To purchase a ticket, pick up the phone and call 342-5790 ext 4 or visit our site.
Thanks for reading, hope to hear from you soon!
PS: Make sure to check us out in Mike Allen's blog!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Roanoke Police Department and The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge
The Star City Harbinger has posted an important story about an amazing example of how the arts and local law enforcement are working together through Roanoke Youth Arts Connection.
Roanoke Youth Arts Connections partners the Roanoke Police Department, The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, the City of Roanoke's Public Art Program, area youth and local artists. Youth, that might otherwise be engaged in disconstructive activities during the summer months, will be redirected (and employed so they're learning job/life skills) through mural activities. The first mural will be located in an interior wall of Center in the Square's parking garage on Campbell Ave.
I should have included information about Roanoke Youth Arts Connection in my commentary to The Roanoke Times about the "Must See TV" event and regret the ommission.
Thank you to Hank Bostwick for contacting me and for posting this story!
http://starcityharbinger.com/?p=6359
Roanoke Youth Arts Connections partners the Roanoke Police Department, The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, the City of Roanoke's Public Art Program, area youth and local artists. Youth, that might otherwise be engaged in disconstructive activities during the summer months, will be redirected (and employed so they're learning job/life skills) through mural activities. The first mural will be located in an interior wall of Center in the Square's parking garage on Campbell Ave.
I should have included information about Roanoke Youth Arts Connection in my commentary to The Roanoke Times about the "Must See TV" event and regret the ommission.
Thank you to Hank Bostwick for contacting me and for posting this story!
http://starcityharbinger.com/?p=6359
The Arts and Communication
The arts community in Roanoke continues to provide me with opportunities to, as Socrates encouraged, examine my life and my personal philosophy. These past weeks have been filled with learning and awareness opportunities that challenge my own personal status quo as it relates to my world and my community.
I learned during a recent opening at Dialogue Gallery that I still have a ways to go in appreciating and understanding contemporary art.
I learned how Studio Roanoke is blurring the lines between real life and the actual set for their upcoming play "Ant Farm." I am sort of old-school that way and like my "fourth wall" clearly delineated, but it's good to push comfort zones.
I learned how electrical engineering and the arts intersect in the creation of new software programs while talking to a local software developer during the NewVA Corridor Technology Council annual meeting at the Hotel Roanoke.
I learned that the Columbine tragedy affected me more than I realized as I read Wally Lamb's epic novel "The Hour I First Believed."
And yes, I learned that I watch too much TV.
I knew of the "Must See TV" event, but was out of town serving on a grant panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. I could not foresee what would happen, but prior to the activity, it made me pause and reflect on my TV viewing habits.
The arts do that and I am grateful for their ability to remind me of what's important, where I fit in the scheme of things, why it's important to take a chance and connect to someone or something that is out of my comfort zone and, first and foremost, to stop for a moment and breath in life.
Yes, life is sometimes messy, catching us off-guard and making us think in new and challenging ways.
I learned that we must lend an extra hand to those organizations and individuals that might not quite get what we're all about, how the arts are really more about the communication that most often takes place between individuals trying to make sense of their world and where they fit in. This includes reaching across the aisles and inviting the non-usual suspects into our world, such as local government, law enforcement, religious organizations and youth groups.
I learned that The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge has work to do in regard to promoting and raising awareness about the arts in communicating different ideas, engaging the community in thoughtful and rigorous dialogues and encouraging the community to support the arts.
I think the participants in the "Must See TV" event also learned valuable lessons, as did our police force. I hope we can all continue to learn from this experience and from future activities that allow us to connect to each other in new ways, while pushing us to talk about difficult issues.
The arts are the vehicle in which to engage in these dialogues. Perhaps the unexpected will allow us to learn more about ourselves, not just today, but continuously as we experience the world together.
I learned during a recent opening at Dialogue Gallery that I still have a ways to go in appreciating and understanding contemporary art.
I learned how Studio Roanoke is blurring the lines between real life and the actual set for their upcoming play "Ant Farm." I am sort of old-school that way and like my "fourth wall" clearly delineated, but it's good to push comfort zones.
I learned how electrical engineering and the arts intersect in the creation of new software programs while talking to a local software developer during the NewVA Corridor Technology Council annual meeting at the Hotel Roanoke.
I learned that the Columbine tragedy affected me more than I realized as I read Wally Lamb's epic novel "The Hour I First Believed."
And yes, I learned that I watch too much TV.
I knew of the "Must See TV" event, but was out of town serving on a grant panel for the Virginia Commission for the Arts. I could not foresee what would happen, but prior to the activity, it made me pause and reflect on my TV viewing habits.
The arts do that and I am grateful for their ability to remind me of what's important, where I fit in the scheme of things, why it's important to take a chance and connect to someone or something that is out of my comfort zone and, first and foremost, to stop for a moment and breath in life.
Yes, life is sometimes messy, catching us off-guard and making us think in new and challenging ways.
I learned that we must lend an extra hand to those organizations and individuals that might not quite get what we're all about, how the arts are really more about the communication that most often takes place between individuals trying to make sense of their world and where they fit in. This includes reaching across the aisles and inviting the non-usual suspects into our world, such as local government, law enforcement, religious organizations and youth groups.
I learned that The Arts Council of the Blue Ridge has work to do in regard to promoting and raising awareness about the arts in communicating different ideas, engaging the community in thoughtful and rigorous dialogues and encouraging the community to support the arts.
I think the participants in the "Must See TV" event also learned valuable lessons, as did our police force. I hope we can all continue to learn from this experience and from future activities that allow us to connect to each other in new ways, while pushing us to talk about difficult issues.
The arts are the vehicle in which to engage in these dialogues. Perhaps the unexpected will allow us to learn more about ourselves, not just today, but continuously as we experience the world together.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
