Alabama River Region Arts Center

Volume 1, Issue 7
May 2011

The ARRAC Update

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
ARRAC GRAND OPENING Held April 9th
Board / Officers /
Coordinators 2

Timeline 2 ARRAC celebrated its new home

by opening its doors to the
Volunteer Stats 3
community Sat. April 9, from 9 to
Classes 3
3. Artists and craft stations were
ready in all of the classrooms,
Newsletter News 3 welcoming the community and
demonstrating everything from
Bluegrass Jam Coming! 3 watercolors to wood-carving.
Forge workers set up in the shade
About us 4 on the front lawn, greeting over 75
visitors who followed the sidewalk
chalk art into the Center. Once
inside the Gallery, friends found
themselves not only surrounded by
walls of art created by River
Region-area artists, but also by
guitar music.
Carol Barksdale’s watercolor station had diligent artists.
Artists in the classrooms (named
after famous artists) hosted clay and woodworking; weaving,
Dawn Sullivan showed a spinning, and quilting; and watercolors, finger weaving, and
visitor piecing techniques. jewelry beading. Many visitors made their way from one station
to another learning a new skill along the way.

A father with his two

daughters even came
back after their lunch-
break just to continue
their art “projects.”

Marilyn Winborn helps visitors make
a beaded bracelet
Dylan Goodsen
Guitar playing by Jon Masters
demonstrated woodcarving.
made for a relaxing atmosphere.
 Page 2
Board of Directors,
and Coordinators
Our Founding Board has now
transitioned to the following
Board of Directors.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Doris Bell – ECAG seat,
Painter
Rick Bowman – Business
owner, Potter
Don Mobley – Business
owner, Musician
Austin Thompson – Youth
Minister, Puppet Troupe
Owner/Creative Director
Marilyn Winborn – Business
owner, Jewelery Artist
Coordinators
Shirley Esco – Volunteers
dsesco9696@dishmail.net
Carol Hickman –
Classes/Workshops
cdhickman@charter.net
Toska Courbron (right)
volunteered to conduct an internal
audit with Dawn Sullivan, interim
treasurer.
It will take all to make the Center a success!
The ARRAC Update/May 2011
ARRAC Timeline: From a Dream to Reality
Sometimes a dream is given 10/1/10 Search for ARRAC location
to one, but usually we find 10/30/10 ARRAC Facebook page launched
many share the same 11/1/10 Awaiting to hear on former Wetumpka High
dream. Such is the strength
of dreams that rise to
School site
become reality. It takes 11/1/10 Classes/syllabi developed for core group of 6-8
work. It takes patience. It classes
takes persistence. It may 11/1/10 14 Members
take money. Surely it takes 11/6/10 First Bluegrass Jam held at Bath Builders; 17
Community. musicians
12/1/10 former Wetumpka High School site selected
Many total hours were
required to bring the Ala- 12/1/10 22 Members
bama River Region Arts 12/1/10 New Founding Officers appointed
Center to the point it is 12/1/10 Classes first published on web site (for Feb.)
today. But this is only the 12/1/10 ARRAC website up & running
beginning of our involve- 12/18/10 first Workday at ARRAC: walls scraped, primed,
ment with the community as
etc.
an arts center for the entire
community. 12/18/10 Coosa on the River Silent Auction raises $840
1/1/11 28 Members
By its very name, we state 1/5/11 Start up grant $1000 rec'd from: Mildred
our mission and our focus. Weedon Blount Education and Charitable
The “C” in ARRAC stands Foundation of Tallassee
for “Center,” in this River
1/7/11 $2500 program grant rec'd from: Alabama State
Region Community.
Council on the Arts
We have seen growth in all 1/23/11 Workday: painting of the ARRAC (10 gallons of
areas from number of paint)
members to attendees at 2/1/11 ARRAC insurance obtained
our Bluegrass jams. May we 2/1/11 Lease finalized with ECSS
continue to strive to 2/1/11 40 Members
encourage each other as
we work toward our mission:
2/28/11 Hallway 3/4 painted; 2 classrooms ready for
painting
The Alabama River 3/1/11 Final layour of Handrail confirmed; Alabama
Region Arts Center is Forge Council to commence fabrication
committed to stimulating 3/5/11 Bluegrass Jam held at ARRAC
individual expression and 3/10/11 Call for entries to area artists for ARRAC
appreciation of the visual Gallery
and performing arts by 3/13/11 2 Classrooms finished; ready for use
providing high quality, 3/14/11 Membership meeting held
affordable programming. 3/24/11 Gallery opening
The Center is a support- 3/31/11 Ribbon Cutting with Elmore County School
ive environment where Systems & City of Wetumpka
people of all ages, back- 4/2/11 Bluegrass Jam held at ARRAC
grounds, and abilities can 4/9/11 Community Open House at ARRAC: Artist &
study, create and present Craftsmen demonstrations
art. 5/7/11 Bluegrass Jam held outdoors at ARRAC
5/7/11 First Class held: Drawing
5/15/11 Membership meeting held
5/19/11 Second Class held: Beginning Digital
Photography
5/19/11 Internal audit conducted by Toska Courbron
5/21/11 4 Gallery sales as of this date
Page 3
The ARRAC Update/May 2011

News for the Stats: Volunteers

Newsletter
March April May
Laying out a national quarterly
magazine for over 10 years is quite
different from writing this newsletter,
Total Individual
I’ll admit. You can help by your 15 individuals 7 individuals 11 individuals
contribution to the information, Volunteers
observations, ideas and stories we
include in this publication, the goal of
which is to relay news about how the Days worked 54 days 19 days 14 days
arts are impacting the River Region
community. Any of your contributions
are welcome and will be used to
generate information we send out in
First-time Volunteers 4 individuals 1 individual 4 individuals
our newsletter and post online.

Send your ideas to Marty McIntyre,

marty195@gmail.com to get them

Join Our Next

included in the next issue or online.

Classes & Recruiters

Bluegrass Jam!
Two different classes have met to date: Drawing
and a Digital Photography for Beginners.

Doris Bell, instructor for the 6-class Drawing

series, says the goal of the class, “Is to draw what
you see, not what you know.” Doris’ class series
starts with “baby steps” as she trains her students
to see.

Marty McIntyre teaches the beginning Digital

Photography class, which is really more of a
personalized tutoring session. “The goal is to
move beyond the “Auto” button,” Marty says.

Many other classes are offered besides these. Our

classes will continue to meet, thrive and serve the

June 4
needs and wants of this community if each of us is
promoting the Center, not just our own classes.

Once someone hears about your volunteer efforts 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
to help bring the Arts Center into being, many
want to get involved. You can tell them how to do Place: On the ARRAC lawn! Bring a chair or two.
that. Tell your friends and co-workers how to find
us online. Many have come through our doors
because of our online presence. Carry a class
schedule with you in your purse or backpack. A
file will be uploaded with basic contact information Get Involved!
and web site address. Check our web site for this
file, which you can download, print up and
artistically embellish to make it uniquely “your art.” The ARRAC is looking for persons interested in filling
Give this out. Make more to distribute. Ask what Committee positions including; Marketing, Fund Raising,
classes your friends, family might be interested in. Curriculum/Programs, Gallery design.
Let Carol Hickman, classes coordinator, know.
Check out the huge bulletin board in the hallway
that contains all the information on each individual Contact any Officers or Board Members for more information.
class.
 Page 4
The ARRAC Update/May 2011

ARRAC U PDA TE About Us…

Contact Editor:
The Founding members are composed of local Artist from varied disciplines that have a common goal to
195 Blackberry Rd. create a public non-profit organization based in Wetumpka, Alabama focusing on nurturing all categories of
Deatsville, AL 36022 arts in the River Region.
Phone:
The Arts Center is a volunteer based, community supported organization that will derive it’s funding from
(334) 578-9485 public and private donations, contributions, grants benefactors and the proceeds from memberships, Artist
Space, Rentals, Gallery Art Sales and special events.
E-Mail:
director@arrac.org As stated in our Articles of Incorporation: - Purpose of Corporation
Section 3.01 The Alabama River Region Arts Center is a not for profit corporation whose mission is to bring
We’re on the Web! the People of the River Region together and enhance community life through a supportive environment
where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can study, create and present art. The Center is
See us at:
committed to stimulating individual creative expression and appreciation of the visual, performing and
www.arrac.org culinary arts by providing high quality, affordable programs. To this end, the corporation shall at all times be
operated exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Join our Code of 1986. All funds, whether income or principal, and whether acquired by gift or contribution or
otherwise, shall be devoted to said purposes.
Facebook site:
Alabama-River-
Region-Arts- Volunteer
Center Memberships
Gallery Inquiries
Go to:
www.arrac.org

Editor ARRAC Update

195 Blackberry Rd.
Deatsville, AL 36022

MEMBER NAME
STREET ADDRESS
ADDRESS 2
CITY, ST ZIP CODE