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What do Ellen Ball and Clayton Joe Young of Hickory, Wyn Flo of Granite Falls, Courtney Long of Morganton, Robert Steadman of Hudson and Susan Taylor and Mark Tomczak of Old Fort have in common? They are the winners of the 2009-10 Regional Artist Project Grant.
In the Catawba Valley, the five-county consortium of arts councils works with the N.C. Arts Council to sponsor artists in the region. State funds are matched by the Caldwell Arts Council, the Hiddenite Center in Alexander County, the Burke Arts Council and Rock School Foundation in Burke County, the McDowell Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Catawba County.
The grants are given to proven artists who submit projects that will take them to a higher professional level. Decisions for grant awards are made by peer panelists from each of the five counties.
Ball will use her grant to buy equipment used for jewelry fabrication. Young will set up a photography exhibit in a museum gallery. Flo's grant will fund instruction in creating structure for sculpted birds.
Long plans to buy kiln equipment to fire pottery. Steadman will record a classical guitar CD.
Taylor will attend classes in basket weaving, and Tomczak will use the grant for construction of an indoor craft show booth.
For more information about these grants, call the Caldwell Arts Council at 828-754-2486 or e-mail info@caldwellarts.com.
30 days of gratitude
On Oct. 27, the Women's Resource Center in Hickory began a 30 Day Celebration of Gratitude, which will continue until Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving.
Clients, supporters and volunteers are making donations of $1 or more and writing notes of thanks, which will be displayed at the center, at 125 Third Street N.E. near the SALT Block, off N.C. 127. The center is housed in the former Corinth Church parsonage and leased through the Hickory Landmarks Society.
In the interest of full disclosure, I should tell you that I am on the board of directors of the WRC.
The money raised from the donations will go to providing services, programs and resources at the center. The number of clients seeking services increased more than 25 percent in the last six months, according to Charlotte Williams, WRC board president. In addition, needed services per client have doubled.
Another event at the Women's Resource Center is the annual Holiday Open House, which will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 10. The Annual Spring Gala, which has been held in May for the past several years, is instead planned for March 18 at the Park Inn in Hickory.
To join the center's 30 days of gratitude, call 828-322-6333 or visit www.wrchickory.org.
