Macon Arts Alliance Blog

Call To Artists: 2012 World in Conflict Juried Art Exhibition

2012-02-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

Deadline: March 2, 2012 – The World in Conflict Art Exhibition is organized by the Art Department of the Humanities Division and the Big Read Committee of Middle Georgia College. All entries must be received by March 2, 2012 at 12 p.m. The artworks chosen will be displayed from April 2 – April 27, 2012 in the Peacock Gallery of Middle Georgia College. The opening reception and awards presentation will be April 2 at 6 p.m.

Theme: Artists are encouraged to consider many aspects of the World in Conflict theme, from their own personal perspective to the ways in which conflict has affected local, national, and world events in the past and present.

Awards: There will be an award of $150.00 for Best of Show.

Eligibility: Works in all the fine art media completed within the last three years are eligible. All art should be original works created by the artist. Photographs, original digital artworks/prints, and hand-pulled prints are acceptable. The competition is open to all artists in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Jury Panel: The jury panel for the artwork will consist of the art faculty at Middle Georgia College and from two Community Arts Representatives from around the Cochran and Macon, Georgia areas.

How to Enter:

Method of Selection: The artwork will be selected by digital images. The jury panel retains the right to decline any artwork that does not conform to the entry guidelines. Artists may enter up to 3 artworks. Please include one view of each 2-dimensional work. Up to 3 views of each 3-dimensional work may be included.
Presentation: Artwork may not exceed 5 feet by 5 feet or 150 pounds in weight. All 2-dimensional artwork must be properly framed and have wire for hanging (no alligator clips or Velcro). Sculpture must sit on a flat surface or be prepared to hang. Please include directions for special installations. Improperly prepared work will not be chosen or displayed.
Submitting Digital Images: Images must follow the stated guidelines to be considered.

· Send JPEGs with .jpg extension, no more than 800 pixels in the long dimension at a browser resolution of 72 dpi.

· Filename of each image: individual’s last name, first name, middle initial and entry number (1^st entry, 2^nd entry, etc.) For example, John S. Doe’s 1^st entry would be DoeJohnS1.jpg. For multiple views of a single 3-dimensional work, add a, b, or c (ex. – DoeJohnS1a.jpg). Use letters and numbers only – no special characters or spaces.

· Email images as individual attachments to a single email. Put World in Conflict in the subject line and list your full name and address and give a typed and numbered inventory (same order as the JPEG images and including, the title of the artwork, medium of the artwork, price of the artwork (NFS if not for sale), and the date of creation).

Send to: cagnew@mgc.edu

· All components of the entry must be received by the deadline for consideration.

Paperwork: The same information included in the email for each image should be printed out and included as labels on the back of the artwork accepted for the exhibition at the Peacock Gallery at Middle Georgia College.

Entry Fee: None

Sales: Artists set their own prices. Artists receive 85% of the sales price; the Student Art League of Middle Georgia College retains 15% commission. Art does not have to be for sale.

Delivery & Pick Up of Accepted Work: Accepted work may be shipped or hand-delivered to the Peacock Gallery, Russell Hall, Middle Georgia College, 1100 Second Street, S.E., Cochran, GA 31014. Please call 478-934-3043 to make arrangements if you are hand-delivering & picking up your artwork. Shipping to and from the gallery (as well as shipping insurance) is the artist’s responsibility. The artist must provide return shipping labels with his/her artwork and its container(s). Middle Georgia College and the Peacock Gallery will not be responsible for work damaged in shipping to or from Middle Georgia College. All accepted work must remain at the Peacock Gallery for the duration of the show. All artwork must be received by no later than March 30 at 10 a.m. All artwork that was hand-delivered must be picked up by May 4 at 12 p.m.

Liability

Middle Georgia College and the Peacock Gallery will take every reasonable precaution to prevent loss of or damage to your work while it is in possession of the Peacock Gallery. Middle Georgia College and the Peacock Gallery are only responsible for your works of art while they are in our possession, and not while in transit (either by you or your designee, or shipped to or from us). Artists are encouraged to insure their work in transit. Works left after the pick-up deadline become the property of Middle Georgia College and the Student Art League.

Calendar

- March 2, 12 p.m. All entries must be received.

-March 30, 10 a.m. All work accepted into the show must be received by the Peacock Gallery to be hung.

-April 2, 6 p.m. Opening Reception and awards ceremony.

-May 4, 12 p.m. All hand-delivered artwork must be picked up

The Backlot Players present "The Spiral Staircase"

2012-02-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

The Backlot Players, Inc. present "The Spiral Staircase" by F. Andrew Leslie. This murder/drama is based on David O. Selznick's famous motion picture by Mel Dinelli.

As thunder and rain echo offstage, the town constable arrives at the isolated Warren household to report another in a series of apparently unprovoked murders that have shocked and terrified the village. Without exception the victims have been young girls - and all with a noticeable defect or imperfection of some kind. Because of this here is fear for the safety of Helen, companion of the bedridden Mrs. Warren, who has been unable to speak since undergoing the shock of witnessing her parents' horrible death some years before. To say more would blunt the excitement of the thrilling climax where everyone, and most of all, Helen, remains in doubt-filled suspense until the final, shocking moments of the play.

February 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

February 12 and 19 at 2:00 p.m.

Adults - $15.00

Seniors (62 and up) and students -$12.00

Tickets are nonrefundable.

The Rose Theater, 23 W. Johnston St, Forsyth, GA 31029

Call (478)994-0443 or visit www.thebacklotplayers.org for more information. Box Office hours: 4:00 to 7:00 Mon. - Thurs. during the first week of the show and Mon. - Wed. during the second week of the show. Box Office opens 2 hours prior to show on actual show dates. All seats reserved!

Tubman Museum Kicks off Black History Month 2012 with Freddie Styles

2012-02-01T14:30:00.000-08:00

On Friday, February 3rd, The Tubman Museum kicks off its celebration of African American history month 2012 with a reception to mark the opening of a special exhibition of works by one of Georgia’s most respected contemporary artists. Entitled Freddie Styles: Roots, Pine Needles and Faxes, the exhibit is the first one-person show by the artist at the Tubman Museum.

Freddie Styles is a native of Madison, Georgia. He is an abstract artist committed to a form of abstraction informed by a passion for the intrinsic beauty of nature. This exhibition features a selection of works completed mostly in the last fifteen years, works in which the artist used tree roots, pine needles and vintage coated fax paper to craft paintings and collages that interpret an natural world pared down to organic shapes and vivid color. In these recent works Styles has achieved a unique method of reflecting nature’s forms, textures, patterns and colors, revealing a window to a more spiritual world.

The reception will be held at the Tubman Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. The artist will be in attendance. There will be refreshments and live music by Dean Brown and Dub Shack. The reception is free and open to the public. The Museum is located at 340 Walnut Street, in downtown Macon. Roots, Pine Needles and Faxes will remain on view at the Tubman through March 31, 2012.

For more information about this event, and other African American history month programs, contact the museum at (478) 743–8544 or www.tubmanmuseum.com.

Junior League of Macon Bookin’ It 5K Fun Run & Band Party

2012-02-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

The Junior League of Macon will host the first annual Bookin’ It 5K Run and Band Party on Saturday February 4, 2012. The run will begin at 8am at the Matthews Athletic Center at Wesleyan College, and the day will end with a dance party at 8pm at the Blacksmith Shop with the Finesse Band.

The race will begin and end at Wesleyan College taking runner and walkers through a nearby neighborhood. Awards will be presented to the top overall male and female finishers in the 5K. Registration is required for all participants, and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. The pre-registration fee is $20 per person, and must be postmarked by January 25^th. Race day registration is $25 per person. There is also a 1-mile run option with a pre-registration fee of $12 per person by January 25^th or $15 per person on race day. Online registration is available until 12pm on Friday February 3^rd at www.jlmacon.org or registration and payments may be mailed to The Junior League of Macon, Inc., attn. Melissa Bush, 2055 Vineville Ave., Macon, GA 31204. Make checks payable to The Junior League of Macon, Inc. T-Shirts are guaranteed to preregistered runners, and race day registrants will receive t-shirts on race day while supplies last.

After the run, “Book it” on over to the Blacksmith Shop at 8 pm for a Mardi Gras themed party. Cajun food, music by the Finesse Band, and what Mardi Gras party would be complete without drinking a few Hurricanes! Tickets to the party are $20 per person, and can be purchase online at www.jlmacon.org.

The Bookin’ It 5K Run will be held rain or shine. In case of severe inclement weather requiring cancellation, registration fees will be considered a donation to support The Junior League of Macon, Inc.’s focus area of improving literacy and school readiness in the Middle Georgia community.

The Junior League of Macon is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Through concentrated volunteer efforts, the Junior League of Macon, Inc. will be a significant force in improving literacy and school readiness in the Middle Georgia community through school partnerships, education, fund raising, advocacy, and hands-on projects. For more information visit www.jlmacon.org

Steve Berry To Honor Sidney Lanier

2012-02-01T08:33:00.000-08:00

Steve Berry

International and New York Times bestselling writer Steve Berry, known for his meticulously researched thrillers with a historical twist, will visit Macon in February. Historic Macon Foundation, the Lanier Center for Literary Arts and the History Matters Foundation will join forces to present a reception and writers’ workshop during his visit. Berry is the bestselling author of The Jefferson Key, The Emperor’s Tomb, The Paris Vendetta, The Charlemagne Pursuit and five other novels.

Raised in Georgia, Berry is a graduate of the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. His road to publication took 12 years, 85 rejections and more than five manuscripts before selling a story. After this long and arduous process, Berry is now a fixture on the New York Times bestseller lists and has more than 12 million books in print in 51 countries.

In addition to being an accomplished author, Berry is becoming nationally known as a major supporter of historic preservation. The American Library Association recently appointed him as the first National Preservation Week spokesman. In 2010, Steve and his wife Elizabeth founded History Matters, a nonprofit organization that fosters historic preservation of our national treasures.

Sidney Lanier

The Berrys have traveled the world raising funds for a wide range of historic preservation projects. Their route will bring them to Macon in February to visit Elizabeth’s mother, Harriet Sheffield Buckey, a well-known watercolorist and active member of the Macon arts community, and to present a reception and writers’ workshop with Historic Macon.

Two Gentlemen of Georgia: Steve Berry Salutes Sidney Lanier, a reception to celebrate poet, musician and soldier Sidney Lanier’s (1842–1881) 170th birthday, will take place Feb. 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Armory Ballroom, 484 First St. The event will pay tribute to the connection between Steve and Sidney as writers and Georgia natives on the anniversary of Lanier’s birth. A presentation in true Steve Berry-style, a Q&A and a book signing, will begin at 6:30 p.m.

On Feb. 4, Steve will lead the workshop, Lessons from a Bestseller, which includes his 11 Rules of Writing. The workshop will end with the wildly popular talk on the Business of Publishing by literary marketing executive and International Thriller Writers Executive Director Elizabeth Berry. The writers’ workshop will be held at the Sidney Lanier Cottage, 935 High St., on Feb. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All proceeds from the reception and workshop will benefit the mission of Historic Macon.

Advance ticketing is required. Tickets are $35 for the reception, $85 for the workshop or $100 for a combination ticket to both events. Visit www.historicmacon.org or call (478) 742-5084 to purchase tickets.

For more information about Steve Berry, go to www.steveberry.org

Macon State Celebrates Black History Month

2012-02-01T07:53:00.000-08:00

Roger Bonair-Agard

The Atlanta Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers and the performance poet Roger Bonair-Agard will appear at Macon State for the college's Black History Month observances. Here is the schedule of events, which are free and open to the public:

A History of the Buffalo Soldiers

Presentation by members of the Atlanta Chapter of the Buffalo Soldiers

Thursday, Feb. 16

12:30p.m. in the Arts Complex Theater, Macon Campus

“Buffalo Soldier” was the nickname given by the Indians to members of African American cavalry regiments of the U.S. Army who served in the western United States from 1867 to 1896. Many of the soldiers had fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. An 1866 law authorized the U.S. Army to form cavalry and infantry regiments of black men. The resulting units were the 9th and 10th cavalries, who became known as the Buffalo Soldiers, noted for their courage and discipline. (Source: Encyclopedia Britannica online.)

Poet Roger Bonair-Agard

Reading and Lecture

Wednesday, Feb. 22

11:00a.m. in the Arts Complex Theater, Macon Campus

5:45p.m. in Walker Auditorium in the Academic Services Building, Warner Robins Campus

A professional performance poet since 1997, Bonair-Agard is a two-time National Poetry Slam champion. A native of Trinidad and Tobago, he has lived in New York for nearly two decades and currently is writer-in-residence with Vision Into Art,a music and interdisciplinary arts production company in New York City. He has appeared three times on Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam on HBO, and he is coauthor of Burning Down the House (2000) and author of Tarnish and Masquerade (2006) and Gully (2010).

Bonair-Agard also is cofounder and artistic director of the louder ARTS Project, an organization dedicated to the evolution of poetry through the craft of writing and performance.

For more information, contact Dr. Mary Mears at mary.mears@maconstate.edu. Black History Month events are co-sponsored by Macon State’s Black History Month Committee and the Artists & Lecturers Series Committee and funded by student activities fees.

The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Art Alliance Announce CSA:Macon Call To Artists

2012-01-27T07:17:00.000-08:00

A Call To Artists

Our local CSA program is modeled on theCommunity Supported Art project createdby Springboard for the Arts and mnartists.orgin Minnesota. Five artists will be selected by a jury of local food andart luminaries to receive a stipend of $1,000, great connections tolocal collectors and be profiled in MFood & Culture Magazine.

How CSA works:

Five(5) selected artists will create 50 “shares” each for the program. A typical share will consist of a work of art/object ofartistic production – multiples are encouraged, however creative ideasthat translate your practice into this format or connect to themes like sustainability, farm, or food are alsowelcome. For example a limited editionof vinyl 7”, a run of screen-prints, a series of small tea cups, a run of photographs,tickets to an upcoming performance or event, letterpress editions of a poem orshort story, or even 50 small original paintings. Collaborations betweenartists or work by collectives are also welcome.

Interestedconsumers/collectors will purchase a share (aka a “membership”) and in returnreceive one (1) “farm box” of locally-produced artwork at the end of thisseason. The pick-up evening will be at a local art site and will feature localmusic, food and entertainment.

Benefits of the CSAprogram include:

For Artists: Support for the creation of new work; Establish relationshipswith local collectors and patrons; Participate in the launch of an exciting newmodel of art support and distribution.

For CSA Members: Receive multiple works from local emerging and mid-career artists at a fantastic value; Developrelationships with the local artists and art community; Discover new artists and explore a variety ofdisciplines; Support local artist’s careers and a vibrant community.

To apply for consideration in the CSA programplease submit the following materials via email to melissa@the567.org by March10.

Resume & samples ofyour current work:

Visual Artists: Eight (8) JPEG images at 72 dpi, 900 pixels or less in thelongest direction.

Musicians: Three (3) MP3 audio files (images must also be included toillustrate format and packaging)

Performing Arts/Video: Please provide links to 3–5 video examples of your work postedonline. For example: YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Writers: Please provide 3–5 writing samples in either PDF or Word docformat.

Proposal & artist’sstatement:

A brief artist’s statement and proposal forthe work you would create for the project.Why is this work a good fit for the Community Supported Art program? (One pagemax.)

Selected artists willbe notified by March 17.

Guidelines:

Proposedwork must be completed by June 1, 2012. Please contact us if your work sampledocumentation does not fit the suggested formats. Full stipend and deliveryarrangements will be available upon completion of contract. Work should beeasily transportable and fit into an 18” x 12” x 12” box.

For questions regarding theCSA:Macon program or application process contact Melissa Macker at melissa@the567.org.

This program is made possible bygenerous support from:

The Community Foundation ofCentral Georgia, Inc.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Springboard for the Arts and M Food & CultureMagazine

Tony Award-Winning Musical and Broadway Hit In the Heights Makes Its Central Georgia Debut at The Grand

2012-01-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

In theHeights, winner of four 2008 Tony Awards® and the 2008 Grammy® Award for Best MusicalShow Album, makes its Central Georgia debut at The Grand Opera House inhistoric downtown Macon with performances Jan. 25 and 26. Tickets are $40 to$48, with discounts available for groups of 10 or more. Purchase by phone at(478) 301-5470 or in person at The Grand, 651 Mulberry St., weekdays from 10a.m. to 5 p.m.; or purchase online at TheGrandMacon.com.

In the Heights tells the universal story of a vibrantcommunity in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood, a place where thecoffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always openand the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, fullof hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be decidingwhich traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind.

“We are so excited tohost the national tour of In the Heights forits Central Georgia debut at The Grand Opera House,” said Betsy Fitzgerald,executive director. “This show celebrates the spirit of family, home andcommunity through a heart-warming story set in New York City. Spectacularmusic, dance numbers, costumes, and sets bring this show to life and it iscertain to remind us about what’s great about our own city.”

The Washington Post described Inthe Heights as “Pure Broadway. An evening of old-style, innocent pleasure.” Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, “In the Heights is an exuberant, animatedshrine to the importance of family ties and being faithful to where you comefrom.”

For more information aboutthe production please visit InTheHeightsOnTour.com.

Winter Weather Brings Weekend Openings At Amerson Water Works Park

2012-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

As the winter weather sets in to Middle Georgia, Amerson Water Works Park will change its operating schedule due to decreased attendance during the colder months. As of January 1, the park will only be open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am until 5 pm. This schedule will be reevaluated in late spring. Although the gates will be locked on the weekdays to vehicles, the pedestrian gate is always open allowing patrons to walk or bike into the park anytime. The park will continue to be available for weekday or weekend rentals and more information can be found at newtownmacon.com.

Amerson Water Works Park, a part of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, is a place to study nature, love nature, and stay close to nature. Located just off Interstate 75 at Pierce Avenue in Macon, the 180-acre Amerson Water Works Park is an extraordinary piece of property with two miles of river frontage and a mixture of undeveloped forests, meadows, and wetlands. It has several high bluffs overlooking the river that provide some of the most dramatic views in this area.

At Amerson Water Works Park families enjoy a handicapped-usable playground, the Atlanta Gas Light Pavilion, canoe launch, miles of unpaved hiking and biking trails, bank fishing at the pond, and the Porter Pavilion and river overlook. The Park is the perfect setting for summer camp activities, staff retreats, group meetings, fundraisers, service learning projects, birthday parties, family reunions and weddings.

To access the Park, take Pierce Avenue across Riverside Drive and under I-75. Turn right on North Pierce Avenue. Stay straight and cross the railroad tracks.

The Ocmulgee Heritage Trail is the only riverside trail and park system in Middle Georgia and one of the best things to happen to our community. It is first and foremost a recreational resource providing an exceptional environment for walking, biking, boating, bird watching and many other activities. Most importantly, the Trail is also a cultural resource that connects people and places to celebrate our shared history of life along the Ocmulgee River.

For more information about the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail and Amerson Water Works Park, please visit www.ocmulgeeheritagetrail.com.

A Great Recipe For Roasted Locally-Grown Radishes

2012-01-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

If you read my column in the December 30 issue of The 11th Hour, you'll understand why I've posted a recipe on the Macon Arts Alliance blog. If so, the recipe is below. Give it a try and post a comment. I'd like to know what you thought.

If you didn't read the article, then I'm highly insulted. Angry even...

Okay, I'm really not. Maybe you haven't had a chance to read it yet, but you were planning to do so? Maybe you stumbled on this page accidentally and have no idea what I'm talking about? Either way, I'll provide you with a quick bit of context.

From the article:

Earlierthis month, The 567 Center for Renewal and the Macon Arts Alliance teamed up ona new project to promote local artists and foster new collectors within ourcommunity. The program is called "Community Supported Art: Macon" andit is based on a Springboard for the Arts program model first introduced inMinnesota. That model was patterned after "Community SupportedAgriculture," a program in which local farmers sell "shares" oftheir harvest to "shareholders" who receive a box of produce andgoods at the end of the growing season. The shareholders don't know exactlywhat they will receive, but they know it will be grown locally and come from alist of crops the farmers have agreed to grow. Agriculture can beunpredictable, so the process gives farmers money up front and shareholdersgood, quality foods to eat later...

A recipe may seem off topic, but it's not.Community Supported Agriculture is about supporting local farmers, and that'swhy I'm giving you a great recipe and encouraging you to try it out using localproduce.

So there you go. We're starting a Community Supported Art program, and the origins of said program are tied to Community Supported Agriculture. To pay homage to this, I've provided a recipe for you to enjoy using locally-grown ingredients. (And no, I don't know where to get local Kosher salt. If you do, feel free to comment below and I'll get the word out.)

Roasted Locally-Grown Radishes

Ingredients: Locally-grown radishes (3-4 bunches of small radishes or 1-2 bunch of large radishes), 2 Tbs. of olive oil, Kosher salt (sprinkle to taste)

Prepare radishes by washing thoroughly and trimming radish roots from stems. Small radishes may be left whole, but large radishes should be quartered so that pieces are similar in size to small radishes.

Once the radishes are washed and cut, place into a covered dish and toss with olive oil and kosher salt. Place covered dish in a pre-heated oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and roast 40-60 minutes or until tender.

Let cool for about 3 minutes and serve. Makes about 2-3 servings.

Special Note: Locally-grown radishes and more may be purchased at the Mulberry Street Market on Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m.

Logo Design Contest happening now:
Community Supported Art: Macon will announce a call to artists for program in late January 2012. Before then, we are conducting a logo design contest. Visit www.the567.org/contest for more information on this opportunity for local designers. Deadline is January 17.

This recipe is brought to you by Community Supported Art: Macon, a program of The 567 Center for Renewal and the Macon Arts Alliance with funding from the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and Springboard for the Arts.

New exhibit features work inspired by local artist's journey to Yellowstone

2012-01-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

Artist Kenneth Shearer at Yellowstone

Like a great American road novel, Kenneth Shearer's journey would be met with adversity and would take place against the backdrop of iconic landmarks like Yellowstone National Park and Old Faithful.

After three months of laboring in the kitchen of the Roosevelt Lodge, Shearer packed his car, nicknamed "the blue bomber," and prepared to head back to Georgia. About 10 minutes outside of the lodge area, on the first half of Mt. Washburn, the temperature gauge on the car "went through the roof and smoke exploded out of the hood." He and his passenger were stuck until some friends from the park happened to pass by.

He then travelled to Old Faithful and began a plan to repair his car and head back to Georgia. Unfortunately, the costs of the repairs were double what he had paid for the car on eBay. He didn't have enough money to repair it, so he had to abandon it.

Because he had no way to carry the many drawings he had created, nor the camping equipment that he brought with him, he gave it all away. He gave away his clothes, souvenirs, and almost all his belongings. In return, he received donations which he used to travel to Gardiner, Montana. Two days later he caught a Greyhound bus back to Macon.

"The only remaining art I have is in a sketchbook I made before I left with about ten small chalk drawings in the book."

Earlier this year, the Macon native had taken the job as a cook at Yellowstone, because he hoped to find adventure and inspiration. He found both, and his upcoming solo exhibit at The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance will showcase the results of his adventure.

Yellowstone Landscape
by Kenneth Shearer

"My reason for going was to find new subjects to work from and I did my best to bleed that inspiration dry," explains Shearer. "This trip to Yellowstone is something I've been dreaming about for years now and the amount of inspiration I found out there was immense, and I saw less than a quarter of the park."

Bleed it dry he did. For Shearer, this exhibit marks the culmination of a body of work focused on his time in the park. It is a milestone and he hopes to take his work in a new direction in the future. For now, the memories of his trip are still fresh.

"I expected to see mountains and woods and waterfalls... (The) landscapes I found were beyond anything I could've imagined, even after looking at photographs and documentaries," he recalled. "There are areas in Yellowstone that are like nothing else on this planet, let alone the Georgia woods I've grown up in."

From June 3 to September 5, 2011, Shearer kept very busy. He worked 40-48 hours a week in the kitchen and would try to draw for at least an hour before or after work each day. On his days off, he would take long hikes and spend as much time as possible drawing and studying the landscapes.

"I've been on a landscape/skyscape kick for a while now. And off and on have done a few pieces I've been proud of," he continued. "But I feel that with the combination of great source material and an immense amount of practice I made some of my favorite drawings so far."

Shearer said that along with the landscape and beauty of the park, the people who he met, including those friends who picked him up on the side of the road, were an important part of the trip.

"Roosevelt Lodge is a tiny area with at most 130 people working at once, so we all got to know each other pretty well and I made friends I plan on knowing and finding again for the rest of my life."

Since returning to Georgia, Shearer has exhibited at the Contemporary Arts Exchange and been creating new paintings from photographs he took while at the park. He works with acrylic paint, laying down a foundation of color and then adding chalk pastels to define the imagery. The result is a body of work which combines traditional landscape painting with the sketchy and delicate immediacy of chalk pastels.

Shearer's first solo exhibit at The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance is titled "Sunrise: An Artist's Recollections of Yellowstone." The opening reception is January 6 from 5-8 p.m. and is free and open to the public. The exhibit will be on display through January 28.

Visit his website at: kennethshearerart.blogspot.com

Fort Hawkins To Be Open On Weekends in 2012

2011-12-28T06:37:00.000-08:00

The Fort Hawkins Commission is proud to announce that the fort site on Emery Highway in Macon will be open again in 2012 each weekend free of charge. This past year the Commission had the over two-hundred-year -old frontier fort and factory open for the first time every weekend and the public response was overwhelmingly positive with hundreds visiting the historic site. The Commission has continued to offer a variety of educational patriotic programs as well as special community events which will continue next year. This past year the archaeological dig returned for the entire month of October revealing the outer palisade wall for the first time. Fort Hawkins will be celebrating some very special history next year as the National Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812 begins.

During the "Second War of Independence" Fort Hawkins was arguably the most significant site in the Southeastern Theater being both U.S. Army Headquarters for the region and also Georgia Militia headquarters. All military campaigns in the south from the Battle of Horseshoe Bend to the Battle of New Orleans were supplied and commanded from Fort Hawkins with troops from the fort participating in nearly all of the War of 1812 campaigns in the Southeast. During the war when the British burned Washington, D.C. in 1814 it is presumed that the fort's plans and records were destroyed because none exist today. The Commission calls its website "The Real Fort Hawkins" because of their recent archaeological research revealing a more significant and substantial fort that ever known before.

The Commission and the Major Philip Cook Chapter USD1812 will be holding the first Bicentennial event to mark the beginning of the war in June of 1812 with the dedication of a handsome War of 1812 Bicentennial Historic Marker on June 18, 2012. Major Cook was the Fort Commandant during the war and his namesake chapter of the Daughters of the War of 1812 are selling a stunning commemorate pin to celebrate the bicentennial and to help raise funds for the historic marker. The blue and gold cloisonné pin features the Fort Hawkins Blockhouse Replica and was designed by Commission member and Chapter member, Echo Halstead Burrell, whose great, great, great, great grandfather was in charge of the fort's trading post and who died here in 1814 during the war.

The War of 1812 Bicentennial pin became available at the Fort Hawkins Frontier Fort Christmas on Friday, December 2. The site will be open every weekend on Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and on Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 pm with no admission charge each month in 2012. Also in 2012, the Commission will begin the palisade wall construction and ground breaking for the site's needed Visitor Center while continuing its educational programming and archaeological research. Their goal is to open daily to the public as a regional and national living history educational site where past skills, arts and crafts as well as archaeology and genealogy will come alive and be practiced daily.

Long known as "The Forgotten Fort On The Forgotten Frontier From The Forgotten War" our Fort Hawkins should now come alive to honor and celebrate our amazing shared past. Macon and Middle Georgia grew out of an ancient Native American culture and early American fort and factory, a claim not many places in America can boast. With the site being open every weekend next year as the War of 1812 Bicentennial Celebration begins and with this wonderful commemorate pin being offered, the Fort Hawkins Commission is excited and eager to see the year 2012 arrive.

For more information call 478-742-3003 or click www.forthawkins.com

Macon State, Mercer & Wesleyan To Present CollegeTown Film Series at Douglass Theater

2011-12-21T06:47:00.000-08:00

Faculty at Macon State, Mercer and Wesleyan team up each year to sponsor a series of movies that are shown at the historic Douglass Theater in downtown Macon. Faculty members and students discuss the movies after the screenings. This popular event is also open to the general public.

The 2012 CollegeTown Film Series theme is "Coming of Age." The film lineup is:

"Repo Man," 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, with discussion led by Tom Ellington of Wesleyan College. Released in 1984, "Repo Man," is about Otto, a young punk who aids in auto theft then becomes a repo man, which shifts his world into wackiness.

"Kung Fu Hustle," 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, with discussion led by Craig Coleman of Mercer University. "Kung Fu Hustle," is the story of a wannabe gangster in 1940s Shanghai who wants to become part of the notorious Axe Gang.

"The Lookout," 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 9, with discussion led by Macon State's Patrick Brennan. In "The Lookout," Chris, a former high school athlete, experiences a tragic accident that changes his life. He tries to return to normality, taking job a as a bank janitor, where he ends up taking part in a heist.

The Douglass Theater is located at 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Free parking is available next door at the Mulberry Street parking deck.

Students with their college ID cards get in free. Admission for faculty, staff and the general public is $5, which includes a snack pass. Tickets may be purchased at the door on the night of each screening.

For more information, contact the Office of Student Life at (478) 471-2710 or The Douglass Theater at (478) 742-2000.

Visit the CollegeTown Film Series web site at http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/collegetownfilmseries.aspx

The Opening Act's Holiday Schedule Announced

2011-12-20T07:09:00.000-08:00

The Opening Act will be open today, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 am until 1 pm for last minute holiday shopping! The Opening Act is an entertainment and retail venue in the heart of downtown Macon located at 567 Cherry Street. This unique museum-like space is normally open from 4 pm until 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, but is open special holiday hours this week to accommodate the schedules of the hundreds of people working in downtown Macon.

The Opening Act has a variety of music-related merchandise ranging from books and CDs to tshirts and ornaments. Children size tshirts are also available! This week only, receive a free Macon, Georgia water bottle with your purchase while supplies last.

For more information about The Opening Act, visit www.theopeningactmacon.com.

Tuesday, December 20 - Thursday, December 22, 2011; 11am-1pm
The Opening Act, 567 Cherry Street, Downtown Macon, Georgia
Kris Hattaway at 478/550-2185 for more information

3rd Annual Georgia Bridal Bash Show at Macon Marriott Centreplex in January

2011-12-20T07:01:00.000-08:00

Oh-Brides.com is pleased to announce our 3rd Annual Georgia Bridal Bash Show, Sunday January 8th 2012 at the Macon Marriott Centreplex Convention Center. The Georgia Bash Show is an extravaganza of wedding professionals, floral designs, music, entertainment, caterers, and a must see fashion show to assist future brides and grooms in planning their wedding. Last year show was a tremendous success with celebrity wedding planner David Tutera of My Fair Wedding on We TV, 70 vendors and over 500 guests, which included 200 brides-to-be.

Each year Oh-Brides.com adds a twist to the Georgia Bridal Bash, which is why it is the most anticipated show in Central Georgia by brides. Our 3 ^rd show will continue in Oh-Brides fashion to bring excitement, the Best Bridal Fashion Show, and the brides and grooms our vendors want. If you missed the first two shows, don’t wait around and let the third show pass you by.

Sunday, January 8th 2012 12 noon-4:30pm/ preBash events 11am-12noon

Tickets price $10 advance / $12 door

purchase tickets at www.georgiabridalbash.com/ or Brilliant Linens

488 First Street Macon GA 31201

Logo Design Contest for Macon’s First Community Supported Art Program Presented by The 567 Center For Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance

2011-12-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

The 567 Center for Renewal, in partnership with the Macon Arts Alliance, announces a logo design contest for "Community Supported Art: Macon." Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy seasonal food directly from local farms in much of the country.

With the same buy-local spirit in mind, The 567 and Macon Arts Alliance have joined to launch "Community Supported Art: Macon," a similar endeavor to support local art, artists and collectors. Our local CSA program is modeled on Community Supported Art project created by Springboard for the Arts and mnartists.org in Minnesota.

But before we can launch this new program, we must have a logo. In an effort to support local designers in the same way that CSA: Macon will support local artists, The 567 and Macon Arts Alliance announce the CSA: Macon Logo Design Contest.

Community Supported Art: Macon is made possible by funding from Springboard for the Arts, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Community Foundation of Central Georgia.

Official CSA: Macon Logo Contest Rules (Abridged)

Introduction

This document describes the official rules (“Official Rules”) of the Logo Design Contest (the “Contest”) organized by the The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance. The object of this contest is to design a logo for "Community Supported Arts: Macon." Information about how to enter and about the prizes is part of these Official Rules. To the extent of any inconsistency, these Official Rules prevail.

Definitions

“Entry” means a logo design created by the Entrant for this Contest. “Entrant” means the individual or company that offers the Entry under the terms of this Contest.

Eligibility

1. The Contest is open to individuals or companies that are permanently located in Bibb County, Georgia. The Contest is not open to individuals or companies located outside Bibb County.

2. Members of the The 567 Center for Renewal, Inc. Board of Directors and the Macon Arts Alliance, Inc. Board of Directors, the contest judges and members of their immediate family are not eligible to enter the Contest.

3. Entrants must be of sufficient legal age and standing to enter into a contract with The 567 Center for Renewal and the Macon Arts Alliance as required below.

How to Enter

1. Initial entries must be submitted by email to contest@the567.org. The entries must be submitted as a scalable, full-color vector graphic in PDF or EPS format, and also as a JPG. See the Submission Guidelines below for further information.

2. The entry email must include the name, mailing address, phone number, and email address of the Entrant within the body of the email. If a Company is the official entrant the name of the individual designer responsible for the logo must be listed. No identifying information should be visible in the logo design itself.

3. No more than three (3) Entries may be submitted by any Entrant.

4. Entries must conform to the Submission Guidelines set out below. Entries that fail to do so will be rejected.

5. The deadline for Entries is 11 p.m. on January 17, 2012, Eastern Standard Time.

6. We will attempt to acknowledge all entries within 24 hours of receipt; however, we cannot be responsible for entries or responses lost in e-mail.

7. There is no fee to enter the Contest.

Submission Guidelines

The purpose of the contest is to design a logo for Community Supported Art: Macon. The logo will be used online, in print, on merchandise, and on promotional material to identify and promote the organization. Flexibility is a key requirement, including the need to resize easily and to look good in black and white as well as color. The final version of the logo will need to be suitable for high resolution, press quality printing.

The logo must contain the words “Community Supported Art” or “CSA” and "Macon". The logo must not contain any other text besides that required above.

Due to the requirements for high quality printing and re-sizing Entries must submitted in scalable vector graphic format (PDF or EPS). We advise against the use of halftones and gradients unless created inside a vector graphics program. Color in this version must be CMYK, no spot colors.

The limit on attachment sizes for our email is 25 MB. If your submission exceeds this size, even after compression, please send the images individually and note clearly in your emails that you are doing so.

To recap, each entry will consist of 2 files: the basic logo in 1) PDF or EPS, and 2) JPG format. We are able to handle most common file compression formats.

Prizes

Subject to the legal requirements outlined above, the winning design will be announced on or before January 20, 2012. Every effort will be made to inform the winner in advance of public announcement.

The winning designer will receive:

1. A $500 cash prize.

2. A complimentary one-year membership to Macon Arts Alliance.

3. The right to identify yourself as the logo designer.

Judging and Selection of Winner

1. The winning design will be selected by judges appointed for the purpose by The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance. Their decision will be final. No further correspondence shall be entered into.

2. The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance reserve the right not to select a winner if, in its sole discretion, no suitable entries are received.

3. The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance reserve the right to disqualify any Entrant or Entry at its sole discretion. No correspondence shall be entered into.

4. The winner will be required to sign a contract assigning all ownership of the logo to The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance.

5. Accepting the prize constitutes permission for The 567 Center for Renewal and Macon Arts Alliance to make public and otherwise use winner’s name and city of residence for publicity purposes. Further personal data may be requested but is not required.

For complete contest rules, visit http://the567.org/contest/

Country Crossover Artist John Berry Brings Annual Christmas Concert to The Grand

2011-12-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Country crossover artist and Grammy Award nominee John Berry brings his nationally touring Christmas Concert to The Grand Opera House on Thursday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m. An annual favorite at The Grand, this concert features both holiday favorites and selections from Berry’s discography, which spans more than 15 albums. Tickets are $32 and may be purchased by phone at (478) 301-5470 or online at TheGrandMacon.com.

“John Berry's holiday concert has entertained thousands of people at The Grand over the years,” said Betsy Fitzgerald, executive director of The Grand. “Besides being a great singer and songwriter, he is also a great man. We look forward to welcoming him back to Macon!”

A native of South Carolina, Berry is known to audiences throughout the world both for his incredible vocal performances and for his ability to tell stories through his songs. He was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1995 for “Your Love Amazes Me,” one of 19 songs that have made it to the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Other well-known hits include “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” “I Think About It All The Time,” “Change My Mind,” “If I Had Any Pride Left At All,” “Kiss Me In The Car,” “What’s In It For Me” and “You and Only You.” Many of Berry’s albums have gone gold and platinum, earning awards from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.

The release of Berry’s album O Holy Night in 1995 reached a wider crossover audience. The success of that CD and its title track launched his annual Christmas concert tour, which is now in its 15th year. The Grand has partnered with country music station WDEN to welcome Berry and his crew home to Central Georgia for this wonderful holiday tradition.

National Tour of ‘Miracle On 34th Street’ Brings the Magic of Christmas to The Grand

2011-12-15T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Barter Theatre’s nationaltouring production of the holiday favorite, Miracleon 34^th Street, landsat The Grand Opera House on Monday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Macy’s Department Store Santa, Kris Kringle,is put to a trial that tests his mettle and inspires a young girl’s belief inChristmas miracles. Tickets are $36 for adults, $28 for students, and may bepurchased by phone at (478) 301-5470 or online at TheGrandMacon.com.

“WatchingMiracle on 34th Street is one of myfamily’s favorite holiday traditions,” said Betsy Fitzgerald, executive directorof The Grand. “We hope that the community will also make it one of theirtraditions, bringing friends and family to see this beloved holiday classiclive on stage.”

This musical theatreadaptation is based on the Academy Award winning film by the same name that wasreleased in 1947, starring a young Natalie Wood. The story centers around KrisKringle, a last minute replacement Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,who inspires a community and a special young girl as he goes on trial to provethat Christmas miracles do exist. This family friendly favorite based on astory by Valentine Davies includes music and lyrics by Doug Smith, book andlyrics by Vern Stefanic and orchestrations by Curtis Moore.

“Weare so happy to be working with Newtown Macon to bring this classic holidaystory to The Grand,” added Fitzgerald. “We are proud to play a role inbringing people to downtown Macon where they can eat, shop, and see world-classentertainment.”

TheBarter Theatre in Abingdon, Va., is the longest running professional theatre inAmerica. It was founded during the Great Depression when local farmers wereinvited to barter produce for tickets to performances, with the promotionalmessage: “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The priceof admission was 40 cents or the equivalent in produce, meat or live animals.This same system was used to “pay” actors and playwrights. Barter was the firstofficial “State Theatre” in America and a founding member of League of ResidentTheatres, a national association of professional theatre companies. GregoryPeck, Patricia Neal, Ernest Borgnine, Hume Cronyn, Ned Beatty, Gary Collins,Larry Linville, Frances Fisher, James Burrows, Wayne Knight, BarryCorbin and Jim Varney have all performed with Barter, which now produces playson two resident stages in addition to its national tours.

Daytime Candlelight Tours At Fort Hawkins

2011-12-14T10:57:00.001-08:00

The 6th Annual Fort Hawkins Frontier Fort Christmas last Friday evening was such a treat for visitors that the Fort Hawkins Commission will continue to offer part of that special program through January due to its extended hours of being open this year every weekend. Each Saturday and Sunday, except Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1, the three story Blockhouse Replica will offer a candlelight tour experience on its second floor. Due to the unique construction of the Blockhouse Replica, this lighting is even more effective during the day than the night.

The site is open on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. with no admission charge. A special treat is to view the 1805 Moravian Christmas tree when realizing that the two cities in Pennsylvania claiming to be the home of the first Christmas tree in America boasts dates of 1816 and 1821! Moravian cookies and warm mulled cider will also be served and the campfire will be greeting guests through January 8, 2012. The Commission will have the fort open every weekend throughout 2012 with many special programs and community events.

For more information call (478) 742-3003 or visit www.forthawkins.com.

Major Grant Announcement, Groundbreaking Set for Thursday

2011-12-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

Mercer University will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for Phase II of the Lofts at Mercer Village on Thursday, December 15 at 11 a.m. The event will also feature an announcement regarding plans for a major grant-funded community media and education initiative that will fill the first floor of the mixed-use development.

Phase I of the Lofts at Mercer Village, which houses 114 Mercer students on the upper three floors and retail space on the first floor, was dedicated earlier this fall. Phase II will have loft-style apartments for 72 students on the upper three floors and is scheduled to be completed in July 2012.

The groundbreaking will take place behind the Montpelier Avenue construction site for Phase II, adjacent to the College Hill Alliance offices.

The event will also be streamed live and can be viewed online beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday at http://ccj.mercer.edu.

Steinway Artists "The 5 Browns" to perform at Georgia Military College

2011-12-08T10:14:00.000-08:00

Georgia Military College Steinway Society and the Oconee Performing Arts Society will present The 5 Browns, Steinway artists extraordinaire, on Saturday, December 10, at The Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Georgia Military College.

The 2 p.m. Matinee performance will be interactive and educational as the Browns will speak to the audience and address questions from guests.

The 7 p.m. Holiday Show is nearly sold out and will include a coffee and dessert reception following the concert.

Tickets are available by visiting www.ticketalternative.com or calling 877-725-8849.

The Junior League of Macon, Inc. Book Fair & Story Time with Santa

2011-12-07T07:28:00.001-08:00

The Junior League of Macon, Inc. and Education First will host a book fair and story time with Santa Claus Friday, December 9^th through Sunday, December 11^th. This 3-day book drive will take place at Barnes & Noble in The Shoppes at River Crossing, and will benefit Central Georgia Childhood Literacy. Patrons are encouraged to purchase a book for this holiday book drive, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Education First to be used to support literacy and school readiness in Macon. Since Santa loves reading too, he will be in attendance on Friday, December 9th at 6 pm for story time and pictures!

Books may be purchased at Barnes & Noble during regular business hours, or by visiting BN.COM/bookfairs and entering Book Fair ID#10577252 at checkout. “Our goal is to help support childhood literacy,” says Emily Ashley, Junior League of Macon Member. “We would love to provide books to as many Central Georgia children as possible, and need our community to support this cause.” Community Book Drives are scheduled throughout the year in partnership with Barnes & Noble to raise awareness and books for literacy focused community organizations and schools. For more information about the holiday book drive and to print out a book drive voucher, please visit www.jlmacon.org.

The Junior League of Macon is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Through concentrated volunteer efforts, The Junior League of Macon, Inc. will be a significant force in improving literacy and school readiness in the Middle Georgia community through school partnerships, education, fund raising, advocacy, and hands-on projects.

For more information visit JLMacon.org.

Poplar & Second Street Businesses Open Late For Taste of Christmas Event

2011-12-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Buddy Greene to Perform At Vineville UMC

2011-11-30T13:00:00.000-08:00

Buddy Greene is one of Nashville's finest harmonica players.

As part of the Music and the Arts series at Vineville United Methodist Church, singer/songwriter Buddy Greene will present a free concert performance on Sunday, December 11 at 4 p.m. Held in the church sanctuary, the concert is open to the public; a nursery will be provided. During the concert, children of Vineville with sing "The Little Drummer Boy" along with Buddy in a special performance.

A native of Macon, Buddy Greene brings a wide variety of southern Americana influences to his music creating a unique musical hybrid of country, bluegrass, folk, gospel and traditional blues. In addition to his solid reputation as a singer-songwriter and guitarist, Buddy has established himself as one of Nashville's finest harmonica stylists. His live concerts are equal parts hymn sing, jam session, church house revival, and journey through his own musical history.

Vineville United Methodist Church is located at 2045 Vineville Avenue at the corner of Forest Avenue in Macon. For more information on this concert or the Music and the Arts series, call (478) 745-3331 or visit the church website at www.vinevillemethodist.org.

All I Want For Christmas (Art Gift Show)

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

December 9, 10 and 11, local artists Roger Jamison, Peggy Maine, Wini McQueen , Rudy Mendes, Mary Martin and others invite the public to attend an artist-initiated event "All I Want For Christmas (Art Gift Show)."

The event will open on Friday, December 9 from Noon to 9 p.m., Saturday December 10 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 1246 Hardeman Ave (across from the Post Office, near the Library) and on Sunday, December 11 the event will close at the Sculpture studio of Elise Gray at 1483 Oglethorpe St (across from Tatnall Square Park).

Nearly 20 artists will feature their handcrafted creations many of which have been designed as art gifts including hand blown glass, wood fired pottery and functional and affordable pottery, hand dyed socks and scarves, wood crafts, mixed media jewelry, decorated gourds, paintings, and illustrated books.

Macon State College's Fall 2011 Art Exhibition at The 567 Gallery this First Friday

2011-11-30T06:29:00.001-08:00

The 567 Center for Renewal hosts Macon State College's Fall 2011 Art Exhibition December 2 from 6-9 p.m. The exhibit will include works by both drawing and multimedia art students. Attend the opening for a chance to meet the artists and to enjoy live music by classical guitarist and faculty member Terry Cantwell. Take a break from your holiday shopping and enjoy a relaxing evening this Friday at The 567 Gallery.

The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 29. The gallery is open Wednesday to Friday, 11 am to 1 pm, or by appointment. The 567 will be closed Dec. 23.

This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Visit the567.org for more information.

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)" at Warner Robins Little Theatre

2011-11-28T07:35:00.001-08:00

Three men perform all 37 plays in 97 minutes. An irreverent, fast- paced romp through the Bard's plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)was London's longest-running comedy. Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.

Warning! This show is a high- speed roller-coaster type condensation of all of Shakespeare's plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders and/or people inclined to motion sickness. WRLT cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers!

Presented by Warner Robins Little (Dinner) Theatre
Knights of Columbus Hall
December 1, 2, 3 & 8, 9, 10
Doors open at 6:45 p.m., Curtain at 7:30 p.m.
$35 per person

RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED BY NOVEMBER 29 for this dinner theatre presentation.

Visit wrlt.org to download the reservation form or call (478) 929-4579 for more information.

Sidney Lanier Cottage and Historic Macon To Host 34th Annual "Cottage Christmas & Bake Sale"

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Sidney Lanier Cottage decorated for the holidays.

In the 1970s, the Middle Georgia Historical Society began the tradition of selling baked goods at the Sidney Lanier Cottage during the holidays. Historic Macon Foundation has kept the sweet tradition alive and will host Cottage Christmas Friday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Cottage Christmas is an open house showcasing the Sidney Lanier Cottage beautifully decorated for the holiday season. Baked goods will be for sale throughout the day while free admission is offered to the Cottage. Free refreshments will be served, and the Side Porch Gift Shop will have a special holiday sale.

All bake sale items are homemade and donated by friends and supporters of Historic Macon and the Sidney Lanier Cottage. The bake sale includes everything from holiday casseroles and cheese straws to a variety of cakes and candy.

“Each year, people line up early outside the Cottage to snag the best goodies,” said Historic Macon Director of Development Janis Haley. “Cottage Christmas is the place to be to buy gifts and delicious treats for the holidays.”

The Sidney Lanier Cottage is located at 935 High St. Call (478) 742-5084 or visit www.historicmacon.org for more information.

The Choral Society of Middle Georgia to present its annual performance of the Christmas portion of Handelʼs 'Messiah'

2011-11-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Handelʼs "Messiah"
Tuesday, December 13, 2011, 7:00 pm
St. Joseph Catholic Church
830 Poplar Street, Macon GA 31201
www.csmga.com or www.stjosephmacom.com
General Admission: $15 adults & $12 seniors, students and militar

Conducted by Dr. John Dickson, the 70-voiced community choir will perform the Christmas portion of Handelʼs Messiah at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Macon.Having become an annual Macon tradition, attendance at this program is considered by many as being essential to their celebration of the Christmas season. Performed for standing-room only audiences, this concert offers the community an opportunity to experience legendary music in a beautiful setting.

Featuring professional vocal soloists from the region and accompanied by a chamber orchestra consisting of local professionals and students from the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University, donʼt miss the chance to become part of this tradition. Tickets available from chorus members and at the door.

This concert is sponsored in part by grants from the Peyton Anderson Foundation and the Macon Arts Alliance.

Founded in 1975, the Choral Society of Middle Georgia is a volunteer organization made up of auditioned singers from throughout the Middle Georgia area. CSMGa is dedicated to the performance of masterworks from the vast body of choral repertoire.

John Dickson is dean of the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University. Internationally known as a conducting pedagogue, Dickson has presented master-classes before the Association of British Choral Directors, the Russian State Music Conservatories of St. Petersburg and Moscow and workshops throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Finland, France, and Canada. Dickson came to Mercer in 2008 as
dean and professor of Conducting from Texas Tech University where he was director of Choral Studies and chair of the Conducting Division.

Carol Goff serves as accompanist and rehearsal assistant for the Choral Society of Middle Georgia. She is associate professor of Music, chair of Keyboard Studies and coordinator of the Collaborative Piano program in the Townsend School of Music at Mercer University.

Christmas in Downtown Schedule

2011-11-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

Thursday, December 1 - Bibb County Board of Education Christmas Tree Lighting, City Auditorium, 6:30pm

This annual event will feature nearly 250 students singing Christmas Carols and the Christmas Tree lighting by Mayor Robert Reichert and Bibb County Commissioner Sam Hart.

Friday, December 2 - Friday Fest and The Polar Express, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, 6:30pm

Enjoy Christmas Open House events, holiday themed drink and dinner specials and shop 'til you drop at Downtown restaurants and retail shops. Bring the kids to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame to enjoy a free screening of The Polar Express sponsored by The Hummingbird and the museum.

Sunday, December 4 - Middle Georgia Christmas Parade, 3:00pm

This community parade will feature marching bands, floats and of course, the big man in red himself, Santa! Come early and enjoy lunch or stay late and grab dinner with friends.

If your organization is interested in participating in the Christmas Parade please contact Mechel McKinley.

Local Churches Present 'The Gift of Christmas'

2011-11-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

First Baptist Church Centerville and Shirley Hills Baptist Church invite you to join them in their exciting production of "The Gift of Christmas." This magnificent musical drama features the combined adult, student, and children’s choirs, drama and orchestra from both churches.

Full productions will be presented on Sunday, December 11 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church Centerville 108 Church St., Centerville and 6:30 p.m. at Shirley Hills Baptist Church, 615 Corder Rd. Warner Robins. A special mini-preview is scheduled Friday, December 9 from 6:00-7:30pm at the Centerville Galleria Mall Food Court.

Admission will be free with childcare provided for ages 3 and under. Please note that canned goods will be collected at both Sunday performances for the local food bank.

For more information contact Scott Kerlin at Shirley Hills Baptist Church, 478-923-5571or Terry McLeod at First Baptist Church Centerville, 478-953-3387

Auditions for "The Sprial Staircase" November 28 & 29

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

The Backlot Players, Inc. announce auditions for "The Spiral Staircase" a mystery/drama by F. Andrew Leslie, based on David O. Selznick's famous motion picture by Mel Dinelli.

As thunder and rain echo offstage, the town constable arrives at the isolated Warren household to report another in a series of apparently unprovoked murders that have shocked and terrified the village. Without exception the victims have been young girls - and all with a noticeable defect or imperfection of some kind. To say more would blunt the excitement of the thrilling climax where everyone, and most of all, Helen, remain in doubt-filled suspense until the final, shocking moments of the play. Four men and four women are needed.

Auditions will be held at The Rose Theater on November 28 and 29 at 7:00 p.m.

The Rose Theater is located at 23 West Johnston Street, Forsyth, Georgia.

Show dates are February 10 - 19, 2012.

'A Christmas Carol" at The Cox Capitol Theatre

2011-11-15T10:30:00.000-08:00

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Adapted by Jeremy Webb

An Off The Leash production, in association with WillPower Theatre

Friday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. at The Cox Capitol Theatre

Every Christmas it's the story that will warm our hearts. Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit, & the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, & Future will remind us with laughter & tears that the true Christmas spirit comes from giving. Webb plays all 30 roles, from the Ghost of Christmas Past to Tiny Tim. It has to be seen to be believed! Charles Dickens himself would perform the piece in performances such as this one. Take a break from the Holiday rush and settle in for this dramatic telling of this holiday classic. Often Hilarious, sometimes spooky; Dickens' A Christmas Carol has been recreated for the whole family.

All seats are reserved – tickets are $10, $15 and $20 and are available at www.coxcapitoltheatre.com or by calling 478-257-6391. Call for more information.

Macon Teens and Georgia College Theatre and Nursing Present Social Justice Play at the Douglass Theatre

2011-11-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

“TEENS: WHAT TO KNOW AND WHAT TO DO”

An exciting new partnership between Georgia College and the Teen Scene Youth Center in Macon to educate teens about health and social issues through a series of short drama performances will perform at the Douglass Theatre on Tuesday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m.

The Douglass Theatre is located at 355 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Macon, Georgia. This free community performance will be held on the evening of Tuesday, November 29 at 6:30 p.m. The historic Douglass Theatre has hosted such notables as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, James Brown, Otis Redding and Little Richard.

Students in Dr. Karen Berman’s Improvisation for Social Change class in tandem with Dr. Sallie Coke’s Pediatric Nursing course join 25 teens ages 10-19 from Teen Scene Macon supervised by their teacher Mrs. Valerie Hicks to present this social justice play about issues impacting teens. This public performance will be the culmination of a semester-long project.

The three partners are collaborating to educate and engage teens through non-traditional teaching regarding current teen issues like bullying, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse. The play is modeled on the problem-solving work of Augusto Boal in which spectators and actors become one.

The GC Nursing students, under the leadership of Dr. Sallie Coke, explain the medical research pertaining to the subject matter while the GC Theatre Department students, under the leadership of Dr. Karen Berman, write and perform the skits. The students are educated as the college students perform and integrate factual, social and medical information into their presentations. The performing theatre students pause at intervals and discuss the scene the students just witnessed.

Once the college students complete their performance, they lead the Teen Scene students in a discussion about solutions to the problem. The Teen Scene students are then allowed to perform the skit based on the solutions they have offered. Afterwards, the nursing students follow up by distributing a fact sheet and discussing the medical and social risk factors. The nursing students then lead the Teen Scene students in a game to reinforce their knowledge of the information.

Dr. Karen Berman, Chair of the GC Theatre Department says she is “thrilled with the creative solutions the teens have brought to the difficult problems posed by the plays. This will be a chance to inform other teens and parents in the community of healthier ways to manage real-life problems that teens face in growing up.

The teens have stated that they simply love this engaging form of "Edutainment": education (facts), entertainment, exploring solutions, applying knowledge and solutions through acting.

For more information, please call 478-445-4226.

Piano and Organ Concert by Susan McDuffie and Margery McDuffie Whatley at Liberty Church

2011-11-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

Susan McDuffie and Margery McDuffie Whatley In Concert at Liberty Church
November 20 at 3 p.m.
This performance is free and open to the public.

About Margery McDuffie Whatley:
Margery McDuffieWhatley performs from coast to coast as piano soloist and as chambermusician. A native of Macon, Georgia,she has performed at the United States Supreme Court at the request of formerSupreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun; at the World Congress Center inAtlanta for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Ceremony; and at the GeorgiaGovernor's Mansion with her brother, Robert McDuffie, an internationallyacclaimed violinist with whom she frequently collaborates. Concerto appearancesinclude the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, Macon Symphony Orchestra, Chicago’sLake Shore Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta’s DeKalb Symphony Orchestra, and theBremerton Symphony Orchestra. She hasperformed in Rome, Italy at the Rome Chamber Music Festival. With a strong interest in making classicalmusic accessible to people of all ages and listening experiences, MargeryWhatley has presented a series of outreach programs throughout cities inGeorgia, California, Iowa and Illinois.

Margery Whatley received her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degreesin piano performance at the University of Southern California where she studiedwith John Perry and was named the most outstanding piano doctoral graduate. Shereceived her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of CincinnatiCollege-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Frank Weinstock. She hasalso studied with George Lucktenberg, formerly of Converse College.

Margery, her husband Terry, and their twin daughters, Kendall and Lindsay,relocated to Missoula, Montana the summer of 2007. Prior to that move, she was a tenuredAssociate Professor of Music at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, whereshe also served as Chair of the Department of Music and where she received theUniversity’s Distinguished Teaching Award. She has served on the boards of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra andthe Huntsville Youth Orchestra, and she has also served as secretary of theArts Council and vice president of the Huntsville Chamber Music Guild. She was also an active member of theHuntsville Symphony Orchestra Guild. InMissoula she has performed at the University of Montana, and for the past threesummers she has served on the faculty of the University of Montana Summer PianoCamp. She has also been featured onMontana Public Radio. She serves aspresident of the String Orchestra of the Rockies Board of Directors and isimmediate past president of the Missoula Music Teachers Association.

Margery Whatley’s three CDs, PianoReflections - Encore Favorites, Margery McDuffie Whatley plays Bach, Haydn, Brahms and Ravel,and From Mozart to Gershwin, havereceived rave reviews from Fanfare Magazine. These recordings are available at ArkivMusic, iTunes, Amazon, and otherfine retailers and download services. Visit her website at margerymcduffiewhatley.com.

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives with Abby Owens at The Cox Capitol Theatre This Saturday

2011-11-14T13:09:00.001-08:00

Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives with Abby Owens

Saturday, November 19 at 8 p.m.

From gospel singing as a child, bluegrass with Lester Flatt, 6 years with Johnny Cash & his smash "hillbilly rock" hits of the 90s,the 4 time GRAMMY-winner, platinum recording artist, Opry star & leader of the amazing band The Fabulous Superlatives, Marty has shown a zest for every flavor of country music.

Musicologist Peter North says, "Marty Stuart seems wrapped in his destiny at this point in time. Not only as country music's most notable ambassador/caretaker, but as its main archetypical crusader. He has without question evolved into one of the most important roots musicians and visionaries in America.

All seats are reserved – tickets $20, $30, $40, $50 & $60 available

at www.coxcapitoltheatre.com or by calling 478-257-6391

Warner Robins Little Theatre Presents 'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) (revised)'

2011-11-14T11:55:00.001-08:00

Warner Robins Little Theatre Presents

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare

(abridged)(revised)

Three men perform all 37 Plays in 97 minutes. An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" was London’s longest-running comedy. Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories and Tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.

Warning! This show is a high-speed roller-coaster condensation of all of Shakespeare’s plays, and is not recommended for people with heart ailments, bladder problems, inner-ear disorders and/or people inclined to motion sickness. WRLT cannot be held responsible for expectant mothers!

By Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield

Directed by: Celia Hohnadel

Producer: Leslie Morales

Produced by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing, Inc

Show Dates:

December 1, 2, 3, 8, 9 & 10, 2011

Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

Curtain is at 7:30 p.m.

$35.00 per person

Knights of Columbus Hall

133 1⁄2 Commercial Circle

Warner Robins, Georgia

Advance Reservations are required

Reservations must be made by November 29

Catered by: Anderson’s Bakery & Catering

For more information, call 478-929-4579 or visit www.wrlt.org

Foundations Center, Lyceum Lecture to Feature Award-Winning Historian

2011-11-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

The Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations will sponsor a lecture by award-winning historian and author Dr. Gordon S. Wood on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. in Willingham Auditorium on the Macon campus. The lecture is part of the Center’s lecture series and the Mercer Lyceum, a University-wide initiative featuring programs under the theme “Rebuilding Democracy.”

“We’re very excited about bringing to campus a scholar of Professor Wood’s caliber. He is, quite simply, the world’s foremost historian of the American founding,” said Dr. Will R. Jordan, associate professor of political science and co-director of the center. “We have considered asking Professor Wood to campus for a number of years. This year’s Lyceum theme of ‘Rebuilding Democracy’ gave us the perfect excuse for doing so. Nobody has done more than Professor Wood to illuminate the character of the early republic.”

Dr. Wood is Alva O. Way University Professor and Professor of History Emeritus at Brown University and the recipient of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for History and the Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize for his book, The Radicalism of the American Revolution. He has written, co-written or edited 20 books on history over his illustrious career. His bookThe Creation of the American Republic, 1776–1787 (1969), won a Bancroft Prize and John H. Dunning Prize in 1970.The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin (2004) was awarded the Julia Ward Howe Prize by the Boston Authors Club in 2005. His most recent work, part of the Oxford History of the United States, titled Empire of Liberty: A History of the Early Republic, 1789–1815 (2010), was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. In 2010, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal.

Dr. Wood writes reviews in The New York Review of Books and The New Republic and is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. He received his B.A. degree from Tufts University and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He taught at Harvard University and the University of Michigan before joining the faculty at Brown in 1969.

“Our center exists to help students better understand and appreciate the foundations of the American regime,” said Dr. Charlotte Thomas, professor of philosophy and co-director of the center. “What better way to do this than with Professor Wood? He has dedicated a lifetime of absolutely first-rate scholarship to this task.”

About the Mercer Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations

Mercer’s Center for the Teaching of America’s Western Foundations seeks to provide a new generation of citizens with knowledge of, and appreciation for, the founding principles, values and history of our nation. The Great Books of the West were the education of the American Founders, and America’s freedom and prosperity fundamentally come from the ideas, values, and principles that the Founders’ Great Books explore. To that end, the Center seeks to promote the study and teaching of these foundational works and strengthen the knowledge and understanding of the cultural-intellectual inheritance of America. Mercer is one of a select few colleges or universities in the country and the only one in Georgia that has a Great Books of Western Civilization program as part of its general education curriculum. The Center complements this curriculum with programs including summer workshops for high school teachers and students, lecture series and campus conferences and seeks to reinforce the importance of traditional liberal-arts education. www.foundationscentermu.com

About Mercer University

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,200 students in 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies – on major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah and at three regional academic centers across the state. Mercer is affiliated with two teaching hospitals — Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah and the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. The University operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visitwww.mercer.edu.

Allman Brothers Band Museum and Central Georgia Autism

2011-11-03T13:29:00.001-07:00

Friday, November 4, 2011 atThe Big House, 2321 Vineville Ave.

“The First Annual Night Under the Stars with Central Georgia Autism” will rockMacon’s historic Vineville Avenue Friday, November 4, 2011, as The AllmanBrothers Band Museum at The Big House presents a concert on the lawn of theband’s legendary 1970s home.

Gates open at 6:00pm. Music starts at 6:30pmwith The Walter Duckworth Band, followed by the Moon Dogs. Proceeds go to benefit the scholarship fundfor needy families of autistic children.

All Central Georgians areinvited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to spread out. Food will be available for purchase withproceeds benefiting the Museum’s Educational Drumming Program. Beverages will also be available, so nocoolers are allowed.

In addition to the concert, the museum's first floor will be open for free tours,and a silent auction will offer guests an opportunity to take home a variety ofgreat items while supporting Central Georgia Autism whose mission is to provideinformation, assistance and educational support with regard to a child, familymember, or loved one with autism.

For additional information, contact the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The BigHouse at 478-741-5551 or www.thebighousemuseum.org. Central Georgia Autism at http://centralgaautism.org or find us onFacebook at Central GA Autism.

Macon State Company of Players Presents “Anton in Show Business”

2011-11-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Anton in Show Business" by Jane Martin, winner of the 2001 American Theatre Critics Steinberg New Play Award, will be presented by the Macon State College Company of Players on November 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 in the Arts Complex Theater on the Macon Campus. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Production begins at 7 p.m. The performances, supported by student activities fees, are all free and open to the public.

From the Samuel French play publishers’ website, “This madcap comedy follows three actresses across the footlights, down the rabbit hole and into a strangely familiar Wonderland that looks a lot like American theatre the resemblance is uncanny! As these women pursue their dream of performing Chekhov in Texas, they're whisked through a maelstrom of "good ideas” that offer unique solutions to the Three Sister's need to have life's deeper purpose revealed. In the tradition of great backstage comedies, Anton in Show Business conveys the joys, pains and absurdities of ‘putting on a play’ at the turn of the century.”

For more information, contact Company of Players Director Jason Levitt at jason.levitt@maconstate.edu or (478) 757-7387 or visit http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/companyofplayers.aspx

"Savior Faire" Opens At The Gallery At Macon Arts Alliance Featuring Joe Adams and Peter Nishanian

2011-11-03T12:55:00.000-07:00

Joe Adams in his studio located behind his historic home in Macon.

When standing in front of a great painting in a gallery, onewonders, “How did the artist create this?” While the answer to that questionoften remains a mystery, the November exhibit at The Gallery at Macon ArtsAlliance will shine a light into the creative process of one prolific artist.

Joe Adams will paint live at The Gallery during the FirstFriday opening of the two-artist exhibit “Savior Faire” giving patrons a chanceto see exactly how this local artist creates his distinctive works. Also onexhibit will be works by local sculptor Peter Nishanian.

Sculpture by Peter Nishanian

This exhibit will mark the first time in several years thata complete collection of Adams’ paintings have been presented locally. His mostrecent collection was shown at the Alice Parker Gallery on St. Simons Island.

Quite a buzz was started in Macon about Adams as a result ofhis work being shown in the Decorator Show House earlier this year and hascontinued to grow. Just last month, several local collectors began askingquestions about him when they discovered several of his paintings in the homeof architect Shannon Fickling during the Neil Reid Rolling Ramble tour.

“Adams’ new body of work will be the talk of Macon afterthis opening,” said Jim Coleman, executive director of Macon Arts Alliance.“He’s really outdone himself and when people are able to see the process behindit, they will be even more astounded.”

After college and a brief stint as an art teacher, Adamsstopped painting to build a business career and raise a family. At the urging of his wife, Evelyn,he startedpainting again about 10 years ago. Today, his favorite place in his historichome is his 150-year-old art studio nestled at the back of a manicured, walledgarden in Macon’s historic district.

“The biggest influence on my work comes from Sam Hutto”,Adams said, referring to his Mercer University professor and friend.

Adams’ name is recognizable to anyone who travels thestreets of Macon. One of Macon’s most successful real estate agents,his name has appeared on yard signs for more than 30 years.

What surprises even him is that many of the homes he listsand sells also house the paintings he loves to create. Adams and his wife areavid preservationists and have restored numerous homes on Ingleside, HistoricVineville, Stanislaus and College Street. Professionally, Joe has beeninstrumental in the marketing of restored homes through his work with theHistoric Macon Foundation in the Beall’s Hill and College Hill neighborhoods.

The opening reception for “Savoir Faire” is November 4 from5-8 p.m. at The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance, located at 486 First Street indowntown Macon. While Adams will only bepainting live on opening night, his work and the work of Peter Nishanian willbe on display through November 26.

This event is free and open to the public.

Shakespeare's "Hamlet" Comes To Georgia College & State University

2011-11-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Georgia College & State University Theatre present "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare. Directed by Karen Berman.

Campus Black Box Theatre

Nov. 8-12 and 15-16 at 8 p.m.

Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.

Welcome to the wedding of Claudius and Gertrude where you are an interactive member of the wedding! It is a fractured world of femmes fatales and tarot cards on the eve of WWI. The Theatre Program at Georgia College & State University continues its amazing season entitled "To Your Health" with William Shakespeare’s "Hamlet."

Director Karen Berman says that "This play honors our mission to bring outstanding theater to life through collaboration with professional artists, educational outreach, and an integration of critical and creative inquiry."

Tickets: $14 (general seating), $10 (GC faculty and staff, non-GC students and Senior Citizens) and $5 (GC students) Group Rates Available. Seats are limited.

To Purchase Tickets Online go to gcsutickets.com

For More Information call 478-445-4226

"Threads of Art" at The 567 Gallery Features Two Local Artists

2011-11-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

Stop by The 567 Gallery from 6-9 p.m. this First Friday, November 4 for "Threads of Art" an exhibit featuring textile artists Anna Wilds-Pritchard and Carolyn Yackel.

Pritchard creates colorful quilts ranging from practical blankets to decorative, framed pieces. All her work is made from a minimum of 95 percent recycled materials, including vintage fabrics and discarded wood.

Yackel is a mathematician and artist who focuses on the interplay between the two seemingly unrelated fields, demonstrating an underlying that few others are able to explore. She uses materials ranging from thread to mosaics and also creates interactive displays.

Yackel is the co-author of "Crafting by Concepts: Fiber Arts and Mathematics" and "Making Mathematics with Needlework: Ten Papers and Ten Projects."

Meet the artists and enjoy light refreshments at this free event.

Book Signing With Author Jaclyn Weldon White At Riverside Cemetery

2011-10-27T11:05:00.000-07:00

William Lawrence Stribling, Jr., known as “Young” Stribling, was born in a small, Southern Georgia town in 1904. The son of a store clerk and a farmer’s daughter, he should have lived out his years in that rural setting.

Instead, he was performing in Vaudeville by his fourth birthday and became a professional prizefighter by the age of sixteen. His rise through the boxing ranks and classifications was meteoric and he soon earned himself a place among the top fighters in the world.

Stribling married his high school sweetheart and the couple had three children. Over the course of his career, Young Stribling traveled the world, rubbing shoulders with celebrities, sports legends, even royalty. Jack Dempsey counted him a close friend and Al Capone wanted to buy his contract and manage his career.

Stribling was also a championship basketball player, an accomplished golfer, an exceptional tennis player, a pilot, and a speedboat racer. Eventually, he attracted the attention of Hollywood and was approached to star in a movie about himself. Still, he was always happiest at home in Macon, Georgia, with his family and friends.

Young Stribling’s boxing career spanned twelve years. During that time he fought 287 matches, winning 224 and losing only 12. The rest were draws or “no decision” fights. Although he never achieved the championship title he sought, Young Stribling was true to himself and the values with which he had been raised. The most important things in his world were sportsmanship, honor, and doing his best. He never did less.

 Enjoy Spirits in October this Saturday, October 29 from 6-9 pm at Historic Riverside Cemetery for Spirits and a book signing with author Jaclyn Weldon White and great granddaughter Mary Kelly Stribling Clary, who now resides in Macon with her husband.

Macon Arts Alliance Receives Grant From Peyton Anderson Foundation For Gallery Improvements

2011-10-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Tuesday afternoon, a welcome guest stopped by The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance. Juanita Jordan, president of the Peyton Anderson Foundation, took the time to hand-deliver a check for much-needed improvements to The Gallery, which features and promotes local artists and their work.

Jim Coleman, executive director of Macon Arts Alliance, said the funding would be used for two very important needs in the gallery: Updating the antiquated track lighting system and adding UV protection of the windows in the gallery.

The new track lighting system will be more energy efficient and will allow for focusing of the beam of light, creating a better viewing experience for patrons of The Gallery. The system is more practical, said Coleman, and will be easier to alter between exhibitions.

The West-facing windows of the gallery will also receive upgrades to block UV light and reduce radiant heat. Coleman said these improvements will make visiting The Gallery a "cooler" experience for patrons in the dog days of summer in central Georgia. The upgrades will also offer more protection for the art featured in the gallery, helping to reduce the chance of colors fading from exposure to direct sunlight. The new UV shields from 3M will be invisible to the naked eye, will block 95 percent of UV radiation and will reduce radiant heat by up to 50 percent.

"Thanks to the generosity of the Peyton Anderson Foundation, who is always there to listen to the needs of non-profits, we will be able to improve our facilities while continuing to promote local art and local artists," explained Coleman.

Macon Arts Alliance's Communications Director Jonathan Dye Featured Community Blogger On 13WMAZ

2011-10-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

For those who've never been inside the studios of 13WMAZ, it's a wonderfully surreal experience. I was lucky enough to have a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at the studios Monday afternoon, when I was the featured Community Blogger on the 5 o'clock broadcast of the local news on 13WMAZ.

Ben Jones, the station's chief meteorologist, interviewed me about blogging for Macon Arts Alliance and our 60+ arts and cultural organizations. I also met Jaqueline Harnevious, the station's web producer who deserves much of the credit for the success of the 13WMAZ "Where you live" pages, which syndicates this blog. The experience was fun and hopefully very effective in raising awareness for all the constituent organizations of Macon Arts Alliance and the Arts Roundtable.

If you didn't happen to see the video, I've posted it here for everyone to see. Let me know how you think I did and please check out our blog posts on 13WMAZ's website to keep up with all the great events happening in central Georgia.

Thanks to everyone at 13WMAZ for this opportunity and to everyone in the community for tuning in and keeping up with all that's happening in arts and culture in this wonderful community.

Visit http://macon.13wmaz.com/ for read all the Macon community blogs, including the Macon Arts Alliance.

Beatle-mania: Rain at The Grand with The Ultimate Tribute Concert

2011-10-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Rain: A Tribute to The Beatles, the internationally acclaimed concert experience, returns by popular demand! Described as "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!" Rain concerts include the full range of Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. Together longer than The Beatles, Rain has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, incredible note-for-note performance.

Tuesday, November 1 & Wednesday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m., $48 to $56.

Call 478-301-5470 or click to purchase online.

Mercer House Move Set For October 22-23

2011-10-20T14:46:00.000-07:00

Three historic homes moving as part of College Hill redevelopment efforts

There will be a parade of homes around Tattnall Square Park as three historic homes are relocated from Coleman Avenue to Oglethorpe Street to make room for Phase II of the Lofts at Mercer Village. All three homes are owned by Mercer University and will be restored and sold as part of Historic Macon’s neighborhood revitalization work in Beall’s Hill. The relocation has been set for Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22 and 23. The general public is encouraged to go to Tattnall Square Park to watch the relocation in action.

The parade of homes will begin Oct. 22 at 7 a.m. in Mercer Village and will take an impressive feat of coordination and engineering to move the homes, including the temporary relocation of power, cable and telephone lines, as well as the removal of two traffic signals. Each of the homes will be perched atop massive steel beams to for the move.

The homes are currently located at 1658, 1674 and 1690 Coleman Ave. and will be relocated to 1035, 1065 and 1071 Oglethorpe St. On Saturday, Oct. 22, the homes will travel east on Coleman Avenue past College Street where it turns into Ash Street, then north on Ross Street to the block between Hazel and Oglethorpe Streets, where they will sit overnight. On Sunday morning, Oct. 23, the move will continue from Ross Street north, then east onto Oglethorpe Street where the houses will be placed on their foundations.

“This process is a great example of how preservation and progress can work in synergy to remind us of our past and guide us toward a vibrant future,” said Historic Macon Executive Director Josh Rogers. “Mercer should be applauded for investing in College Hill’s revitalization and for preserving these historic buildings. It’s a win for preservation and a win for the community.”

The development of Mercer Village has made it an attraction for homeowners moving to the historic neighborhoods around Mercer, as well as Mercer students. When the opportunity arose to build on the success of the first phase of the Lofts at Mercer Village by launching a second phase across the street, Mercer President William D. Underwood volunteered to relocate the three homes that would be affected by the development, Rogers said.

“Mercer has enjoyed a productive partnership with Historic Macon over the last few years in the revitalization of Beall’s Hill and other historic neighborhoods around the campus,” Underwood said. “The opportunity to once again work with Historic Macon on this ambitious project continues to advance the missions of both entities while adding to the vitality of the College Hill Corridor.”

The second phase of the Lofts at Mercer Village will be four stories, with three retail spaces on the first floor and student apartments on the top three floors. The look will be similar to spaces in the first phase of the Lofts. The second phase will have a slightly smaller footprint and include space for 72 more student residents. Phase two will sit atop much of the existing parking lot for Mercer Village, so the plans also call for the renovation of the parking areas, as well as the inclusion of new parking on Johnson Avenue, resulting in a gain of more than 100 parking spaces to serve Mercer Village retailers, as well as loft residents.

Once moved, the houses will be restored and sold to homeowners. Historic preservation easements will be reserved to ensure that the homes are always owner-occupied and maintained to preserve them for the future. The homes will be placed in the same order with the same distances from the street and between the houses to preserve their relationships with the street and each other.

The three homes have held the memories and lives of Maconites since 1897. Wholesale grocers, yeast distributors, cotton oil foreman, coffee salesmen and court solicitors all called these historic treasures home. They will now be preserved and restored for a new generation of Maconites — perhaps web developers, computer programmers or even a modern coffee shop worker — to care for, enjoy and pass down for the next generation.

The homes are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, were built as part of the planned development of the Huguenin Heights neighborhood and are Queen Anne-style, two-story frame residences. Much of the detailing was mass-produced by local and national millworks. George F. Barber’s “Victorian Cottage Architecture,” published in 1891, suggests detailing on the homes. An imagined “Residence at Macon, GA” in this work shows much of the millwork on these buildings and probably directly inspired the types of decoration used on the homes.

Attachment: Homes on Coleman Avenue

Attachment: Map of house move

About Historic Macon Foundation

Historic Macon Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Macon’s historic and architectural heritage facilitates preservation and revitalization efforts in the community and educates and inspires appreciation for Macon, Ga. The Middle Georgia Historical Society and the Macon Heritage Foundation merged in 2003 to create Historic Macon Foundation. The Foundation maintains and promotes the Sidney Lanier Cottage, which is open for public visitation Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historic Macon Foundation’s offices are located in the Sidney Lanier Cottage at 935 High St., Macon, GA 31201. For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478/742-5084.

About Mercer University

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,200 students in 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies – on major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah and at four regional academic centers across the state. Mercer is affiliated with two teaching hospitals — Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah and the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. The University operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visit www.mercer.edu.

St. Francis and Deja Vu to play The Big House

2011-10-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

The AllmanBrothers Band was formed in March 1969 by legendary guitarist DuaneAllman. An offer to sign with CapricornRecords brought the band to Macon, GA. Duane and his fellow band mates – brother Gregg, Dickey Betts, ButchTrucks, Jaimoe and Berry Oakley – combined a wicked brew of blues, rock, jazzand country into a new musical genre.

In January 1970, Berry Oakley and his wife Linda rented aTudor-style house on Vineville Avenue. Duane and Gregg moved in as well. The house, “The Big House” became the center of the band’s activitiesduring those early years.

Through the efforts of The Big House Foundation, Inc., a501(c)3 non-profit organization, The Big House has been restored as an AllmanBrothers Band Museum, showcasing guitars and other musical instruments,clothing, photos, posters, gold records, a vast collection of memorabilia andstate of the art technology.

Athens-based bands St. Francisand Deja Vu to play the Big House on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

A taste of Athens music will call The Big House "home" Saturday, Oct.22, when popular bands St. Francis and Deja Vu set up at the Allman BrothersBand Museum's popular outdoor pavilion. Gates open at 6pm with music startingat 7 pm. Tickets, $10 each, include the dual concert plus admission to thefamous house of Southern Rock legends, The Allman Brothers Band.

St. Francis is led by middle Georgia native Scott Baston, former front man ofthe band Moonshine Still. According to Athens' Flagpole Magazine, "SaintFrancis blends seemingly divergent genres—country, folk, reggae, funk andmore—to yield a tasteful, inviting sound."

Deja Vu, a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tribute band, was formed in 2010 byveteran record producer John Keane when he pulled together a super group oftalented Athens musicians. Since then, the band has played to rave reviews atAthens' The Melting Point and Macon's Cox Capitol Theatre.

Both bands will have CDs and other merchandise available for purchase, and theBig House will continue with its popular raffle and silent auction of AllmanBrothers memorabilia throughout the evening. Both food and beverages suitablefor children and adults will be available for sale. No coolers, please.

The Big House Music Series featuring St. Francis and Deja Vu are sponsored byRegions Bank, Fairfield Inn & Suites and The Allman Brothers Band Museum atthe Big House. For additional information, please contact the Allman BrothersBand Museum at the Big House at 478-741-5551 or visit our website at www.thebighousemuseum.org.

The Big House Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit public charitywhose mission it is to promote and protect the legacy of the Allman BrothersBand as well as to build a Youth Music Education Program.

British Artist Wendy Babcox To Exhibit At Hardman Hall Gallery

2011-10-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Hardman Hall Gallery at Mercer University will open a new exhibition of contemporary photography by British artist Wendy Babcox on Monday, October 24. The show is titled, "Whisper to Me," and features portraits made by using long exposures at night with the artist ³painting² light onto the figures with a flashlight and using video projection of additional imagery into the scene.

October 24 -November 28

Gallery Talk and closing reception: November 28, 10:00 a.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

About the artist:

Wendy Babcox is a British interdisciplinary artist working primarily in photography and video. She is an Associate Professor in Photography and related media at the University of South Florida. Babcox received her BFA from the University of Colorado, Boulder and her MFA from the University of Florida.

Wendy Babcox¹s recent works examine our persistent connection to the animal world through the human imagination. Wendy¹s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and she is the recipient of two public art commissions. She is also a founding member of the 6+ Art Collective whose projects have been exhibited at Exit Art and The Bronx Museum in New York amongst other places.

Artist's statement on the exhibition:

At 9, nothing was more important than the opportunity to spend time with horses. Grooming, feeding, cleaning stables, polishing saddles and bridles were ritual acts of deep and abiding love. But above all else the sensuality of touch, the smell and the physical sensation of riding a horse brought me joy of such magnitude and intensity it remains with me even now.

The horses are ethereal, they come in the night; emerging from the domestic landscape of the garden as phantoms. The young women are masked. They are calm, reserved and meditative. They emanate cool, calm light as they listen to the whispers of lost loves.

Miscah Bouvier in concert moved to 4 p.m.

2011-10-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

The Macon Concert Association presentation of Baritone Mischa Bouvier in concert has been moved to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 6. The concert will still take place at Burden Parlor at Wesleyan College.

Winner of the 2010 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Baritone Mischa Bouvier is a singer of tremendous versatility. An avid recitalist who has also performed with a wide array of groups and individuals.

Season tickets for the Macon Concert Association performances are $80 for adults and $40 for students. Individual concert tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Call 743-6940 for ticketing information.

Four Stars from Broadway's Jersey Boys Bring Midtown Men Magic for One Grand Gala This Saturday

2011-10-19T09:42:00.000-07:00

Celebrate One Grand Night at The Grand Opera House with a gala concert event featuring The Midtown Men - four stars of the original cast of the Broadway hit Jersey Boys. Dress in your best Mad Men-era get-up (black tie optional) and enjoy a night on the town with an exclusive VIP after party with the cast following the concert. Tony Award winner, Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer croon the hits of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Jackson Five, The Mamas and The Papas, the Four Seasons, and more, in one unforgettable concert experience.

Saturday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m.

$50 for concert only, $75 for concert plus VIP after party.

Call (478) 301-5470 or click to purchase online.

Art on the Avenue at Ingleside Village This Friday

2011-10-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Art on the Avenue is the place to be Friday, October 21. Take A Watercolor Journey through the work of featured artist Harriet Sheffield Buckey. Get your copy of A Peculiar Tribe of People signed by local author Rick Hutto and enjoy the musical stylings of Jim Hughes.

New work by 27 additional artists will be on display. This is your chance to meet the artists, who will be on site during the opening reception Friday evening from 5-9 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Art on the Avenue is located at 2368 Ingleside Avenue, in the Village.
Visit www.maconartontheavenue.com for more information.

Weekend has plenty to offer for jazz-lovers of all ages

2011-10-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's a weekend for jazz lovers in Macon this Friday and Saturday.

The Jazz Association of Macon holding its Eighth Annual Jazz & Arts on Riverdale (maconjazz.org) Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Two downtown music theatre venues will be warming up the crowds Friday night with performances and Saturday night the music will continue post-Riverdale at the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House (thebighousemuseum.com).

The Cox Capitol Theatre (coxcapitoltheatre.com) hosts popular band New Orleans Suspects Friday night at 8 p.m., while just down Cherry Street, the Douglass Theatre (douglasstheatre.org) hosts nationally renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter in Concert, also at 8 p.m. Tickets for Friday night's jazz events cost $15 and $25 respectively. Saturday's event on Riverdale Drive is free.

Artists performing at Jazz and Arts on Riverdale include Macon's ever popular EKC Quartet plus One, the Keith Fitzgerald Trio also from Macon, Warner Robins' James Brown and the Rhythm Perspective, and headlining the event, Atlanta's The Gordon Vernick Quartet.

Afterward, Athens-based St. Francis, led by middle Georgia native Scott Baston, former front man of the band Moonshine Still, will take the stage at The Big House. They'll be followed by Deja Vu, a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young tribute band, also out of Athens. Showtime is 7 p.m. and the $10 entry fee includes tours of the Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House.

A special Big House and Jazz & Arts on Riverdale Weekend hotel rate of $69 is being offered by Fairfield Inn & Suites at 4035 Sheraton Drive by calling the front desk at 478-738-9007.

Friday (Gospel) Fest promises a night of music, fun and activities for all

2011-10-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

Maybe you haven't been to Friday Fest in a while. Maybe you're there every chance you get. Either way, you've never seen a Friday Fest quite like this.

Get ready for Friday (Gospel) Fest, a special night of Gospel music, fun and activities in Third Street Park (That's the intersection of Third St. and Cherry St. in downtown Macon, in case you were wondering.)

The music begins at 5 p.m. with the Second Friday Drum Circle and ends with Voices of Faith performing at 8:30 p.m. And, of course, there's two tons of fun jam-packed in the middle. This is a night that you won't want to miss... so don't.

Here's a full schedule for all the details:

5:00 p.m--2nd Friday Drum Circle
6:00 p.m.--Praise and Fitness - ZUMBA with a Gospel twist w/ Janice Shepard
6:30 p.m.--Covenant Life Cathedral Church Spirit of David Dancers, Hayiya Dance Theatre, Jaukeem Balcom
7:00 p.m.--The Youth and Angel Choir of Unionville Baptist Church
7:30 p.m.--Christopher Graddick and the Voices of Praise
8:00 p.m.--Ministers of Praise
8:30 p.m.--Voices of Faith

We'll be looking for you, so stop by and say "hi."

Third Thursday: Party in Mercer Village

2011-10-13T17:10:00.000-07:00

Thu, October 20, 5pm - 10pm, Mercer Village (intersection of Montpelier and Coleman Ave.

Join the Mercer Village merchants for a party in Mercer Village every third Thursday of the month!

Street closed from 5-10pm and party from 6-9pm.

Mercer University Opera partners with Stone Academy After-school Program To Present Children's Opera

2011-10-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

A Muskrat Lullaby, a children's opera, will be presented in four free performances. The first two will be at Douglass Theatre Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18 and 19, through the Douglass in the Neighborhood program. On Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, the opera will be presented at Fickling Hall at Mercer University. The performances, which are the result of a partnership between Mercer University and the Macon Arts Alliance's Education program, will feature Mercer students, alumni and students from Stone Academy.  

According to Jim Coleman, executive director of Macon Arts Alliance, these performances are a great example of a public-private partnership giving local children the opportunity to do something positive with their time and energy. In light of recent violence within the community, he believes a renewed focus on programs that take kids off the streets and give them an outlet of expression must be part of our community's plan for the future.  

This production is a community-wide collaboration: The Douglass Theatre is partnering with Mercer University Opera, Macon Arts Alliance and DFACS by serving as a rent-free venue for two performances as part of the "Douglass in the Neighborhood" program, and the Central Georgia Opera Guild is participating by providing meals for the children in the cast on performance days.

Even the themes of A Muskrat Lullaby, which include teamwork and the transformative power of music, are relevant to the issues facing the community today. By taking children onto college campuses, they are exposed, many for the first time, to the positive educational opportunities that life has to offer. When they are able to participate in an event such as this, they learn self-esteem, social skills, reading and language skills. They may see possibilities they never knew existed.

Dr. Martha Malone, director of A Muskrat Lullaby said:

“A Muskrat Lullaby is a great entertainment for your children and grandchildren, and it’s FREE. This show is the perfect example of arts integration in education: kids in the production learn team-building and personal responsibility skills, as well as experiencing art, music, dance, and drama both on stage and from the audience. The greatest thing about this children’s opera, and what makes it so successful and popular across the country, is that it is charming and funny enough for both adults and children in the audience, the music is fresh and catchy, and the story is geared to the interests and attention span of the small child. And even better, the audience gets to yell out lines and sing along! We will teach the audience their parts before the show and kids can ask the performers questions right afterward, and the whole thing only takes 30 minutes.

"We are having a great time working with the teachers and kids from the Stone Academy after-school arts program at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, and are excited to be performing at the Historic Douglass Theatre, so it ‘s a real community-wide collaboration.

"I hope everyone comes by to see the show right after work at 6:00-you’ll still be home in plenty of time for dinner, and your kids will be talking about the Boss Alligator for months!”

Mercer Southern Studies Program Presents ‘Civil War Memory’

2011-10-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

Mercer University’s Southern Studies Program will hold a year of special events in recognition of the 150^th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, titled “Civil War Memory,” which will include the department’s long-running Lamar Lecture Series. The Lamar lecturer for 2011 is historian and author Dr. Gary Gallagher, who will present three lectures titled “Becoming Confederates: Three Paths to a New National Loyalty.”

This year marks the 54^th anniversary of the Lamar Lecture Series, which has become the most prominent lecture series on Southern culture and history. Over the years, the series has welcomed presentations by renowned historians, sociologists and literary scholars.

Dr. Gallagher’s lectures will be held at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17 and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 17 and Oct. 18 in the Medical School Auditorium on the University’s Macon campus. The lectures are all free and open to the public.

Dr. Gallagher, the James L. Nau III Professor of History at the University of Virginia, is the author of five books on Civil War history, including The Union War; Causes Won, Lost, and Forgotten: How Hollywood and Popular Art Shape What We Know about the Civil War; Lee and His Army in Confederate History; Lee and His Generals in War and Memory and The Confederate War.

“Dr. Gary Gallagher is one of the nation’s leading interpreters of Civil War memory,” said Dr. Sarah E. Gardner, professor and chair of history and director of southern studies at Mercer. “His lectures serve as a fitting opening to the year-long series sponsored by the Southern Studies Program.”

“The Civil War was a pivotal moment in American history and how we remember the war continues to be a battle,” said Dr. David Davis, assistant professor of English. “The events in this series will examine how we continue to imagine the war, and how imagination sometimes obscures memory.”

In addition to the lectures, the Southern Studies Program will hold a film screening and discussion. Gone with the Wind will be screened at the Cox Capitol Theatre in downtown Macon on Oct. 9 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for the public and $3 for Mercer students. Discussion will follow with Dr. Karen Cox, author of Dreaming of Dixie: How the South was Created in American Popular Culture, and Dr. Gardner, who is also author of Blood and Irony: Southern White Women’s Narratives of the Civil War, 1861-1937.

The series also includes two lectures during the spring semester. The first will be given by Dr. Fitz Brundage at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 in the Medical School Auditorium. Dr. Brundage is the William B. Umstead Professor of History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and author of the Lillian Smith Award-winning book The Southern Past: A Clash of Race and Memory. Robert Cook will present the second lecture at 7:30 p.m. on April 2 in the Medical School Auditorium. Cook is research fellow at the Marcus Cunliffe Centre for the Study of the American South at University of Sussex and author ofTroubled Commemoration: The American Civil War Centennial, 1961-1965.

About the Lamar Lecture Series

Made possible by the bequest of the late Eugenia Dorothy Blount Lamar, the Lamar Lecture Series began in 1957. The series promotes the permanent preservation of Southern culture, history and literature. Given each fall, it is recognized as the most important series on Southern history and literature in the United States. Speakers have included nationally and internationally known scholars, such as Cleanth Brooks, James C. Cobb and Eugene Genovese. All lectures are original and are published as books following the lectures.

About Mercer University

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,200 students in 11 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing and continuing and professional studies – on major campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah and at three regional academic centers across the state. Mercer is affiliated with two teaching hospitals – Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah and the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. The University operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. For more information, visit www.mercer.edu.

Jazz Association of Macon presents Jazz & Arts on Riverdale

2011-10-06T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sat., Oct. 22, Noon -6 pm

It’s time for residents and visitors alike to welcome fall on shady Riverdale Drive in Macon, as the Jazz Association of Macon presents its seventh annual Jazz & Arts on Riverdale event Sat., Oct. 22, from Noon to 6pm.

An afternoon of free live Jazz will feature the classic sounds of many of the area’s finest musicians including: the Gordon Vernick Quartet, James Brown Trio, Keith Fitzgerald Trio, and EKC Quartet + One.

An art market, featuring local and regional fine artists, will offer works to ooh and aah over before selecting just the right pieces to take home.

A kids’ corner with inflatables and an art area will entertain the little ones, and food and beverage vendors will be on site, adding to the park like atmosphere.

“JAM is committed to providing quality programming and encouraging diverse audiences to embrace and preserve the American art form of jazz, and we think this is a perfect venue to do that,” says Association President Kathy Hoskins.

Lawn chairs are encouraged, and the neighbors of Riverdale Drive welcome the opportunity to share their shade with visitors to the event, which they present in partnership with the Jazz Association.

For art lovers who like to try their luck outwitting their neighbors, a Silent Auction will go on all afternoon, with winning high bidders taking home all sorts of treasures. One lucky winner will be drawn from a pool of raffle ticket purchasers for the day’s grand prize. Commemorative T-shirts and posters designed by local artist Penny Kojak will be available for purchase as well.

Jazz & Arts on Riverdale 2010 event goers enjoy the day on neighbors' shady lawns.

About:

The Jazz Association of Macon is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Proceeds from the day support the organization’s annual “JAM Goes Back to School” project, which sends professional musicians into Middle Georgia schools to perform and educate, as well as the Jazz Association of Macon Young Jazz Musician scholarship, which is awarded at this event.

October First Friday Gallery Hop Offers Several Options For Local Art Lovers

2011-10-06T07:35:00.000-07:00

The First Friday Gallery Hop, a monthly Friday Fest art event, returns October 7 with exciting openings and encores at galleries throughout downtown Macon.

The first stop of the evening is at The Gallery at Macon Art Alliance, for the opening reception of "Entwined" a multi-artist exhibit of fiber arts and textiles. From the vibrant and beautiful colors of works on silk by Virginia Maxfield to the richly textured sculptural creations of Qadija Tatum-Ami, there is sure to be something from everyone at The Gallery.

"Waltz Me To
The End of Time"
By Virginia Maxfiled

The reception begins at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. Featured artists include Qadija Tatum-Amir, Janet Rawlins Carter, Sharon Claybough, Kate Lebherz-Gelinas, Virginia Maxfield, Wini McQueen, Rudy Mendes and Linda Smith. The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance is located at 486 First Street. All openings are free and open to the public.

At 6 p.m., The 567 Gallery opens its doors for the First Friday gallery hop with an encore presentation of "The New Folk Photography." For this exhibit, photographers Anthony Faris, Byran Ghiloni, and Desmal Purcell challenged themselves to shoot on film and develop all their images utilizing traditional enlargers in a darkroom. By featuring new works of analog photography, they hope to reintroduce the medium to a new generation. They have chosen a range of media for this exhibit, including Medium Format, Holga, Polaroid and 35 mm SLR. The 567 Gallery is open 6-8 p.m. and is located at 533 Cherry Street.

After visiting The 567, head down the street to the corner of Second St. and Mulberry for a second opening reception at the Contemporary Arts Exchange Gallery. Macon artists Kenneth Shearer and Heidi Clinite recently spent time exploring the United States and have brought their experiences home to share through "People and Places."

Yellowstone Sunset" By Kenneth Shearer

Shearer spent the summer hiking through Yellowstone National Park and captured many of its colorful landscapes in chalk pastel and watercolor. He risked a continual plague of mosquitoes, hail storms, bear encounters and an exploding car only to return with treasures of wonder. His landscapes are majestic and as lively as many of the dangers he hazarded on his journey to create them.

On a different adventure, Clinite spent the past year living in New York City while attending the Art Students League of New York. Like Shearer, Clinite also risked continual hazards, albeit battling the daily grind, tedious subway rides and crazy situations one could only find in the big apple. Aside from the dirt and drama, she was able to experience and appreciate much of what the city has to offer. Clinite's body of work consists of figure drawings and paintings created in her personal style of surrealism.

While there, take the chance to peruse open the studios of several of Macon's most prolific artists. The arts exchange is open late, 6-11 p.m.

The First Friday Gallery Hop includes:
• "Entwined" at The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance, 5-8 p.m., 486 First Street
• "The New Folk Photography" at The 567 Gallery, 6-8 p.m., 533 Second Street
• "People and Places" at the Contemporary Arts Exchange gallery, 6-11 p.m., Corner of Second and Mulberry, above Michael's.

"Thriller Dance" Practice Schedule Announced

2011-10-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Once again, the 11th Hour and Hayiya Dance Theatre is proud to announce the practice schedule and date for the 6th annual Downtown Zombie Parade. This is a free event where participants of all ages have the chance to learn Michael Jackson¹s iconic Thriller Dance and parade down Cherry Street during Friday Fest on October 28.

Last year, the Downtown Zombie Parade saw over 80 dancers perform at Cherry Street Plaza, where thousands came to watch the streets come alive with ghouls and zombies for Macon¹s coolest Halloween event. We replicate the complete 14-minute Thriller video with the help of students from Miller Middle School and our instructor Pilar Wilder of Hayiya Dance Theatre. A dance party is encouraged before and after the parade, where the intersection will be blocked off from 8-10 p.m. before Macon¹s zombies take over the streets to "terrorize y¹alls neighborhood."

All ages are welcome to come practice every Thursday starting October 6, with a final practice before the Parade on October 28. Practice times are 7-8 p.m. at Tattnall Square Park, across from Mercer University.

This is a free event, and fun for the whole family!

Fall Cultural Arts Class Schedule for Macon-Bibb County Parks & Recreation

2011-10-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Beginning in the fall of 2011 Macon-Bibb County Parks and Recreation will be offering a variety of art courses at several of the community centers in Macon. This introductory series of programs is mainly geared for children and focuses on visual arts, theater, and dance.

Starting January 2012 we will be expanding our courses and offering classes in all of the arts for community members of all ages. In addition to courses Parks and Recreation will be hosting quarterly workshops and seminars to keep the arts alive in Macon!

All classes offered are taught by formally trained artist and educators. Classes run for 8 weeks and begin mid-October, the cost for these introductory class is only $10 per participant/per class! Additional supplies may be needed but will not exceed $5.

Below you will find the Fall Cultural Arts Schedule as well as additional information such as dates, times, and locations.

For additional information or to register please contact the appropriate community center or Ellen Banas at 478-751-9280 or by e-mail at ellen.banas@macon.ga.us

All centers also offer a free after-school program.

For more information visit http://cityofmacon.net/citydept-pr-recctr for a list of community centers.

North Macon Park

815 North Macon Park Drive

(478) 477-8526

Tot Theater Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 Ages 3-5

Watercolor Painting Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 Ages 7-12

Fun with Clay! Thursdays 6:00-7:00 Ages 7-12

North Macon also offers Ballet and a Mommy and Me class. Please contact Graci @ North Macon for more information.

L.H. Williams Community Center

325 Pursley Street

(478) 751-7036 or 751-7037

Artmania! Mondays 6:00-7:00 Ages 6-8

Cheer Tuesdays 5:00-6:00 Ages 6-12

Hip Hop Tuesdays 5:00-6:00 Ages 6-12

Into to Theater Thursdays 6:00-7:00 Ages 6-9

Lanier Center for Literary Arts to host "Sidney's Salons"

2011-10-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

“Civil War to Civil Rights: A History Seeks its People”

The Lanier Center for Literary Arts will kick off its upcoming Sidney’s Salon Series on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Sidney Lanier Cottage. The series, entitled “Civil War to Civil Rights: A History Seeks its People,” will include five sessions.

The first speaker, Dr. Sarah E. Gardner, professor of history and director of the Southern Studies Program at Mercer University, will speak on Oct. 11. She will discuss the important role of women during the Civil War. Gardner is the author of “Blood and Irony: Southern White Women’s Narratives of the Civil War, 1861–1937” and co-editor of “Voices of the American South.”

Conie Mac Darnell, principal of Center City Investments, will speak on Nov. 8. He will discuss stories collected for his latest project, a Civil War and Emancipation Era guide to Macon, entitled “Walking Back to Georgia.” Darnell wrote a short history of Macon for the “Macon Sketchbook” and was president of NewTown Macon from 1999–2004.

Albany Civil Rights Institute Executive Director Dr. Lee W. Formwalt will lead the salon on Dec. 13. He will discuss the transition from the Civil War to the civil rights movement. Formwalt was a professor of history at Albany State University from 1977–1999 and was founder and editor of the Journal of Southwest Georgia History.

The fourth salon will take place on Jan. 10. The speaker for that date will be announced at a later time. The program on March 13 will feature a performance by the Albany Freedom Singers.

The series will take place in the Sidney Lanier Cottage at 935 High St. All salons will include refreshments at 5:30 p.m. prior to the programs at 6 p.m. Admission is free for Historic Macon members, $5 for non-members and $3 for students. Parking is available on the street and in the First Baptist Church parking lot on High Street.

“Our Sidney’s Salon series has become a popular event, often with overflow crowds,” said Historic Macon Director of Development Janis Haley. "We are happy to showcase an amazing array of local talent and to bring in fascinating speakers from all over the Southeast. The upcoming series is not to be missed!”

About the Lanier Center for Literary Arts

Sidney Lanier (1842–1881) was a writer, poet, musician, soldier and mathematician. He was born in the Sidney Lanier Cottage at 935 High St. in Macon, Ga. In honor of Lanier’s legacy, Historic Macon Foundation, the owners of the Cottage, have established the Lanier Center for Literary Arts. In addition to sponsoring writers’ workshops and other literary events, Historic Macon has a regular series of book signings. For this series, entitled Sidney’s Salons, Historic Macon invites well-known authors and bright, up and coming authors to read, answer questions and sign books. A reception begins at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478/742-5084.

About Historic Macon Foundation

Historic Macon Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Macon’s historic and architectural heritage, facilitates preservation and revitalization efforts in the community and educates and inspires appreciation for Macon, Ga. The Middle Georgia Historical Society and the Macon Heritage Foundation merged in 2003 to create Historic Macon Foundation. The Foundation maintains and promotes the Sidney Lanier Cottage, which is open for public visitation Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historic Macon Foundation’s offices are located in the Sidney Lanier Cottage at 935 High St., Macon, GA 31201. For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478/742-5084.

Macon Concert Association presents Tiberius String Quartet Monday, October 3

2011-09-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

Macon Concert Association presents Tiberius String Quartet

Monday, October 3, 7:30 pm

Burden Parlor, Olive Swann Porter Bldg., Wesleyan College

Program includes quartets of Mozart, Beethoven, and Dvorak

Season tickets $80 adults, $40 students; individual tickets $25 adults, $15 student

Tickets available at the door or 743-6940.

Season remainder includes baritone Mischa Bouvier on November 6, 4pm; pianist Bertrand Giraud, February 27, 7:30pm; violinist Tim Fain, April 25, 7:30pm

Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Announces 2012 Induction Class

2011-09-26T12:13:00.000-07:00

Pair of Braves Headline All-Star Group of Athletes, Coaches, and Officials

MACON, GA - The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Honors Court met at the museum on Friday to select the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2012. After extensive deliberation, the committee chose Jack Bauerle, Sally Smalley Bell, Bob Boylston, Tom Glavine, Tracy Ham, Cliff Kimsey, and John Smoltz to be the next inductees into the GSHF.

The seven members of the 2012 class were selected from a pool of 35 finalists who remained in consideration following the Hall’s Consulting Committee meeting in August. “The members of the Honors Court are faced with some very tough decisions each year”, said Ben Sapp, the GSHF’s Interim Director. “The high level of talent represented by the finalists this year is a testament to the past and continued excellence of our state’s athletic programs.”

Jack Bauerle is the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Head Coach at the University of Georgia. His women’s teams have captured 4 NCAA Team Championships and over 50 Individual Championships. His men’s teams have finished in the top ten nationally for eight consecutive years and have produced nine Individual Championships. Between the two teams, Coach Bauerle has mentored over 200 All-Americans while garnering 13 SEC and 5 NCAA Coach of the Year Awards. In 2008, Bauerle was named Head Coach of the United States Women’s Swimming Team for the Beijing Olympics. His swimmers won a record 14 medals.

Sally Smalley Bell is a native of Dublin who has become one of the top women’s basketball referees in the world. She began her career working for the Georgia High School Association going on to become one of the most respected referees on the college, professional, and international circuits. During her officiating career, she worked 15 Women’s Final Four tournaments, the 1996 Olympics, and multiple playoff and All-Star games in the WNBA. In 1991 she received the Naismith Award as women’s basketball’s Official of the Year.

Bob Boylston grew up in Atlanta playing football before going on to become an accomplished high school, collegiate, and professional football official. Boylston began his career with the Georgia High School Association refereeing prep contests from 1964-1974. He also refereed 110 games in the SEC including seven bowl games and one national championship game. In 1978 Boylston became an NFL referee where he officiated 405 games before retiring in 1998. During his time in the NFL, he called a record nine Conference Championship Games and officiated two Super Bowls. Boylston attended college at the University of Alabama where he played offensive and defensive line for Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Tom Glavine is a Massachusetts native who was a Major League Baseball pitcher for 22 seasons – 17 of them with the Atlanta Braves. Glavine was drafted by the Braves in the second round of the 1984 draft, and he made his Major League debut in 1987. During his career, he posted a 244-147 record (.624) with a 3.41 ERA. He won the National League Cy Young Award twice (1991,1998) and was named to the NL All-Star team 10 times. A member of the 1995 World Series Championship team, Glavine was selected as the World Series MVP. He made 35 postseason appearances and led the league in wins five times.

Tracy Ham grew up in Gainesville, FL before moving to Statesboro to attend Georgia Southern University. As the Eagles’ quarterback, Ham led GSU to back-to-back NCAA I-AA National Championships in 1985 and 1986. A prolific runner and passer, Ham left Georgia Southern as the only player to rush for more than 3,000 yards and throw for over 5,000 yards in a college career. Ham passed on opportunities to play in the NFL to remain at the position of quarterback in the Canadian Football League. He played on two Grey Cup championship teams and was named the league’s Most Outstanding Player in 1989. Ham is also an inductee of the College Football and Canadian Football Halls of Fame.

Cliff Kimsey was born in Cornelia where he played fullback on Cornelia High School’s undefeated 1936 football team. While at Cornelia, he was selected to play in the first Georgia High School Association All-Star Game and was a three year letterman on the baseball team. At the University of Georgia, Kimsey shared a backfield with GSHF inductees Frank Sinkwich and Lamar “Racehorse” Davis and played tailback, fullback, and blocking back during his collegiate career. In 1942 Kimsey was the recipient of UGA’s Outstanding Senior Athlete Award. Following his graduation from the university, Kimsey served as an infantryman in the Pacific during WWII.

John Smoltz played Major League baseball for 21 seasons spending 1988-2008 as a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He compiled a career record of 213-155 (.579) with a 3.33 ERA. He was selected as the National League Cy Young Award winner in 1996 and was a 7 time All-Star. He amassed an outstanding postseason record of 15-4 (.789) and was named the National League Championship Series MVP in 1992. Smoltz led the league in strikeouts in 1992 and 1996 and was a member of the Braves World Series Championship Team in 1995. In addition to his role as a starting pitcher, Smoltz also spent several seasons as a closer saving 154 games for the Braves and leading the league in saves in 2002.

The Class of 2012 represents the very best Georgia has to offer in athletics, coaching, and officiating. Each member of the Class of 2012 will be honored at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on February 25, 2012 in Macon.

Bartram Trail Conference to Hold Biennial Conference in Macon

2011-09-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Macon State College is one of the hosts of this year’s Bartram Trail Conference, scheduled for the weekend of October 21-23, 2011.

Founded in 1976, the Bartram Trail Conference is dedicated to marking the path and preserving the legacy of William Bartram, whose 1791 Travels is a classic of American, environmental, and southern literature. The conference this year is hosted by Macon State College, Mercer University, and the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences, and is open to all members of the public.

Among other conference activities, acclaimed author Janisse Ray will read from her latest book, Drifting into Darien, at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at the historic Woodruff House, 988 Bond Street. On Saturday, Oct. 22, a full schedule of presenters at Macon State’s Professional Sciences and Conference Center will discuss topics related to Bartram and archeology, botany, contemporary writing, and the arts. A guided tour of the Waddell Barnes Botanical Gardens at Macon State and a gallery talk with landscape artist Philip Juras at the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences will follow. Sunday, Oct. 23, will feature a ranger-led hike to the Lamar Mounds and Village Site at Ocmulgee National Monument.

Registration is $100, with selected options for those who wish to attend only part of the conference. For registration information and complete listing of conference activities go to the Bartram Trail Conference website: www.bartramtrail.org.

Letterpress poster exhibit, lecture and book signing to be held at The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance

2011-09-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

MACON —The Gallery at Macon Arts Alliance, in conjunction with the American Advertisers Federation, iMedia and Golden Bough Vintage Books, presents a one-day-only letterpress poster exhibition, lecture and book signing with Jim Sherraden of Hatch Show Print, one of America's oldest surviving show poster and design shops, Wednesday, September 28 from 5:30-7 p.m.

Sherraden is manager, chief designer and archivist at Hatch Show Print, which was founded in 1879. Since1992, the shop has operated as a non-profit division of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.

"What makes Hatch a unique place is the fact that everything is done here by letterpress by hand, hand cranked, hand inked, hand trimmed, hand wrapped, and we call the customer from a rotary telephone," he explained.

Since 1984, Sherraden has overseen the business' transition from a cultural survivor to a widely-recognized graphic design icon and destination for letterpress enthusiasts. Known for its country music posters, the one-of-a-kind poster and design shop still prints and designs more than 600 jobs per year, using original wood type. Recent customers include musical artists such as B.B. King, Neil Young, Coldplay, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, The White Stripes and businesses such as Wired Magazine, Nike, Taylor Guitars and many more.

Jim Sherraden

"It could be Bessie Smith, it could be the Beastie Boys, there is a heritage that we try to relate to the customer and to the viewer when they see a Hatch poster," explained the shop manager.

Sherraden is a co-author of Hatch Show Print, The History of a Great American Poster Shop, published by Chronicle Books. In conjunction with the exhibition, Golden Bough Vintage Books will provide copies of the book for purchase and signing after a presentation by Sherraden in The Gallery at Macon Arts.

The presentation will begin with the very first poster printed at Hatch and continue with a quick overview of more than 100 years of hand-set graphic design. An exhibition of Hatch Show Print posters is currently on a four-year road trip with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service which will continue through 2012 and is currently on display at The Georgia Museum of Art in Athens.

The event is free and open to the public.

Constitution Day 2011 Presented by the Southern Studies Program and the College of Liberal Arts

2011-09-15T17:06:00.001-07:00

Orville Vernon Burton

The Constitution in the Age of Lincoln

Dr. Burton is a prolific author and scholar, having written or edited 16 books, most recently The Age of Lincoln, and has published more than 180 scholarly articles. Dr. Burton is a professor of history at Clemson University and the director of the Clemson Cyberinstitute. From 2008‐2010, he was the Burroughs Distinguished Professor of Southern History and Culture at Coastal Carolina University.

He was the founding director of the Institute for Computing in Humanities, Arts and Social Science at the University of Illinois, where he is emeritus University Distinguished Teacher/Scholar and Professor of History, African American Studies and Sociology. Recognized for his teaching, Dr. Burton was selected nationwide as the 1999 U.S. Research and Doctoral University Professor of the Year and in 2004 he received the American Historical Association’s Eugene Asher Distinguished Teaching Prize.

Dr. Burton’s research and teaching interests include the American South, especially race relations and community, and the intersection of humanities and social sciences. He has served as president of the Agricultural History Society and is currently president‐elect of the Southern Historical Association.

7:30 p.m., Monday, September 19, 2011

Presidents Dining Room, University Center

Free and Open to the Public

Annual Ocmulgee Indian Celebration Draws Thousands For Tribute

2011-09-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

Celebrate the culture of the Muscogee, Seminole and Miccosukee people at the annual Ocmulgee Indian Celebration on Sept. 17 and 18. It's a fantastic event for all ages, drawing thousands of visitors each year for food, music, dance, storytelling, crafts and demonstrations by Native Americans as well as exhibits about the first cultural community in Macon. It's an excellent chance to rediscover the grounds, artifacts and nature within the 702-acre national monument, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Ocmulgee Indian Celebration
Ocmulgee National Monument
Saturday & Sunday, September 17 & 18
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Southeastern Native Americans gather at Ocmulgee for dance, storytelling, music, crafts, & food.

Admission is $5.00 for 13 & up; $2.00 6-12; Free for 5 & under.
Active Military with ID $2.00.

For more info please call 478-752-8257 or visit nps.gov/ocmu.

Allman Brothers Fan Fest This Weekend

2011-09-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

The Georgia Allman Borthers Band Association (GABBA), a group of music-loving devotees, gather each year to celebrate all things Allman at GABBAFest. This year's three-day weekend event is set for Sept. 16-18, with three huge concerts punctuating each night at the Cox Capitol Theatre.

On Friday night, Sept. 16, Cowboy (Scott Boyer and Tommy Talton) kicks off the tunes followed by Devon Allman's Honeytribe on Saturday, Sept. 17 and The Long Run on Sunday, Sept. 18.

The weekend of festivities also includes tours of The Big House Museum, Rock Candy walking tours of Macon's music history with Jessica Walden and much more. For more details, visit gabba.org or coxcapitoltheatre.com.

Doors at 6 p.m. / Show at 7 p.m.

Admission:
$25 (General Balcony Admission)/Friday Night, September 16
$25 (General Balcony Admission)/Saturday Night, September 17
$45 (Package, includes General Balcony Admission both nights and includes admission to Friday & Saturday night shows, as well as Saturday morning’s Southern Rock Urban Hike and the Saturday afternoon GABBA Members Jam at the Big House.

All Floor and Box seating is reserved and must be purchased through GABBA at gabba.georgia@gmail.com

Sphinx Virtuosi Launches National Tour at The Grand Opera House; Ethnically Diverse Ensemble Highlights Music by Composers of Color

2011-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Nationally acclaimed music ensemble Sphinx Virtuosi will launch its 2011 national tour with performances at The Grand Opera House on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 19 and 20. The orchestra features some of the top African American and Latino musicians in America performing classic works, as well as rarely performed music by African American and Latino composers.

Talented young Sphinx Laureates, Randall Goosby and Gabriel Cabezas, who won the national Sphinx Competition for young black and Latino string players, are also highlighted in the program, which includes classic works by Bartok, Bach and Schubert, as well as pieces by Alberto Ginastera, Alberto Golijov, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Juan Bautista Plaza and others.

“The Grand is honored to be able to present this talented and diverse group of musicians whose music overcomes adversity and enriches the lives of those who hear it,” said Betsy Fitzgerald, executive director of The Grand. “Sphinx musicians are exemplary role models, particularly for Macon's youth. Their lives mirror many of the same struggles and obstacles our young students are currently facing, but through the help of Sphinx they have been given opportunity to realize their dreams of becoming professional musicians.”

As part of the GrandKids Series, Sphinx will perform a one-hour concert twice daily, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 19 and 20. Tickets are $7. There will also be a longer evening concert on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, $15 for adults.

Tickets may be purchased by phone at (478) 301-5470, online at www.TheGrandMacon.com, or in person at the Mercer Ticket Sales office, 400 Poplar St. in historic downtown Macon.

Gray Station Better Hometown Presents "Music Under the Stars 2011"

2011-09-13T11:41:00.000-07:00

Join Gray Station Better Hometown for the second "Music Under the Stars of 2011" at the Jones County Lions Club Fairgrounds Saturday, September 17, 7-11 p.m., with Harold E. Thomas and Danger Zone performing.

Harold E. Thomas and Danger Zone is a musical group possessing a unique style tailored by Harold E. Thomas and mastered by each musician and vocalist. Their style covers every genre from Jazz, Top-40, Beach, R&B, Reggae, Rap, Oldies and even country.

The group is based in Macon, Ga., but travels the world. Some of the places covered are Denver, Tampa, New Orleans, Miami, Pensacola, Freeport, Dallas, Nashville, San Jose, Chicago, Memphis, Jacksonville, (Do you get the point?) Harold E. Thomas and Danger Zone excels as a Headline Act for their style Draws, Mesmerize, and Satisfies everybody. They have been in the lineup on many tours like Guy, MC Hammer, Gladys Knight, Sinbad, Kool & The Gang, The Ohio Players, Gerald Albright, and many others. Over the years Harold E. Thomas have released 3 solo CD’s and Danger Zone have released one CD entitled “ALL OUT” Danger Zone is the band of choice for your special event or for any venue.

You are invited to experience the unique and soulful sounds of Harold E. Thomas and Danger Zone as they whisk you away on a mystical, magical, musical journey. Before you experience the unique and soulful sounds of Danger Zone we are required to post this message “Warning… This Band Is HOT!”

Pack up the entire family and bring your lawn chairs/picnic blankets for a fantastic evening of music and community fun. Additional children's activities including bounce houses and face painting will be available. Bring your own food or purchase amazing, home-cooked meals from the Jones County Lions Club.

Admission is free for children 15 and under, and only $5 for ages 16 & up.

For more information visit www.gsbht.com or call 478.986.5199.

"Nuremberg: Its Lesson For Today" screening presented by Macon Film Guild

2011-09-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Screening Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Nuremberg: Its Lesson For Today (U.S., 1948/2010, Documentary, 78 minutes)

One of the greatest courtroom dramas in history, NUREMBERG shows how the international prosecutors built their case against the top Nazi war criminals using the Nazis' own films and records. The trial established the "Nuremberg principles" -- the foundation for all subsequent trials for crimes against the peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Commissioned by the U.S. War Department's Civil Affairs Division, it was completed in 1948 and is now being shown publicly for the first time.

Watch the trailer: