Al abama Ri ver Regi on Arts Cen ter

UPDATE

DEC. 2011
Vol. I /Issue 13
The River Region's Friendly Place for the Arts

Some say the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and expecting different results." If starting out the New Year with last year's lukewarm resolutions screaming in your ears sounds depressing, we would like to offer a new idea: forget about the resolutions and take action . The Alabama River Region Arts Center is just waiting to help you take action. Here are some ideas: 1. Help your child learn to use their hands for more than just texting. We offer reasonably priced Arts Clubs with something for everyone high schoolage and down. All Clubs meet on Thursdays from 4pm-5pm & 5pm-6pm. During both blocks we offer Guitar Club, for beginning and advanced acoustic guitar players; Clay (polymer, a.k.a. "sculpey") Club, where puppet-master Austin Thompson instructs small hands to create imaginary creatures; and Drawing/Painting Club, where artists as young as 7 years old are welcome to learn to see, draw and paint. 2. Learn to use that great digital camera Christmas gift...beyond "Auto"! Digital Photography for Beginners (note: we did not say "dummies") will meet on Wednesdays from 6pm-8pm. We will use a combination of studio set-ups and the digital projector to learn to work confidently! See "New Classes" page X for more information. 3. Get messy! Our Pottery Studio is up and running (yes, running water to clean up a mess!) and as you can see from the images in the masthead above, local artists are turning out beautiful confections in clay. Anna Thibodeaux will be offering moms & their young children a chance to get messy together doing art. Watch for more on "Mommy & Me Get Messy" classes. 4. Get stuck! Making a fabric doll or sewing your first quilt on a sewing machine sounds intimidating and painful, but under the watchful eyes of Fabric Doll Instructor/Wool Spinner Diana Hiott and award-winning quilter Dawn Sullivan, you can learn to sew without poking yourself too much. See page 4 for more information.
Alabama River Region Arts Center

New Year's Resolutions

Inside This Issue

New Year's Resolutions ...................... 1 News from the Center......................... 2 Board of Directors............................... 2 About Us............................................ 2 The Holiday Bug................................. 2 Out & About....................................... 3 Grant News.........................................3 Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa..... 3 ARRAC Member Christmas Party........ 3 Classes & Workshops.......................... 4 Coming Events.................................... 5 Mugs Fest in January........................... 6 Volunteer Schedule............................. 6 Thanks to Our Sponsors...................... 7 Music Arts News................................. 8 River Region Sunday Special............... 8 Sit & Sew............................................ 8 Arts Clubs........................................... 8

The Alabama River Region Arts Centers mission is to bring 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.

Our Mission Statement:

Providing high quality, affordable programs

The Alabama River Region Arts Center is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization.

TheARRAC

News from The Center

Eclectic High School Premieres "The Holiday Bug"

UPDATE/DEC. 2011

ARRAC Board of Directors

Officers Rick Bowman - Vice President Marilyn Winborn - Secretary Members at Large Geoff McIntyre Austin Thompson
Frank Sullivan - Executive Director

The Arts Center is a volunteer based, community supported organization that derives its funding from public

About Us

Austin Thompson gives Eclectic Middle School students a peek behind the curtains, while he answers their many and varied questions after the Dec. 14th premiere of "The Holiday Bug."

and private donations, contributions, grants, benefactors and the proceeds from memberships, Artist Space, events. Rentals, Gallery Art Sales and special

What's big and day-glo orange and eats a house? The Holiday Bug, also known as the Humbug, was premiered to a packed house of Eclectic Middle School students on Wednesday, December 1 4. The production filled the stage at ECHS with props and puppets. Forty-five minutes later, the children were invited to ask questions about the production. The custom-made puppets were also brought out on stage for closer inspection. The story, written by Austin Thompson and Daniel Burke told the story of a frustrated sheep family whose house is invaded by a series of obnoxious characters threatening to destroy their Christmas. The kids loved the mayhem and special effects. The Holiday Bug, followed up the Eclectic performance with four weekend shows at the Wetumpka Performing Arts Center, adjacent to ARRAC. The ARRAC members stepped up to the plate and sold popcorn and beverages, as well as lighting the way with luminaries Friday night. The audience, which came in through the ARRAC gallery, enjoyed the seasonal lights decorating the halls. Thanks to all for their help in bringing puppetry arts to the River Region area, we look forward to more from ARRAC's own, Austin Thompson and his Crosstitch Production puppet troupe.

Daniel Burke, left, manned the sound booth, while brothers Austin, left, and Adrian Thompson, were puppeteers. Austin Thompson introduces Susan Gill, Elmore County Arts Specialist - Grades K-12, to his "pre-treated" Humbug puppet.

Alabama River Region Arts Center

300 West Tallassee St Wetumpka, AL 36092

Out & About Wetumpka Christmas on the Coosa

TheARRAC

UPDATE/DEC. 2011
Grant News
$1000 from Mildred Weedon Blount Educational and Charitable Foundation to the Arts Center
Thanks to the Mildred Weedon Blount Educational and Charitable Foundation, Inc. for their grant to ARRAC of $1,000. We appreciate their support of the arts. All of our faithful member sponsors are listed on page 7. Please make sure to say a special thanks to the businesses and individuals who support ARRAC.

Dawn Sullivan, warmly greeting Christmas on the Coosa attendees, was joined by Frank Sullivan to represent the Arts Center, while Austin Thompson and Matthew Van Gorkom, pictured right, roamed the street as mobile puppet stage entertainers.

Before

ARRAC Members' Christmas Party

The Arts Center: A beacon (& street light) in the dark
ARRAC ordered a traditional light fixture for our broken lamp pole. We now light up the neighborhood (and our parking area)! Thanks to the After Elmore County Community Foundation's Clara Lull Robison Fund for Wetumpka Beautification for making this a reality. Our night class students appreciate it.

After the Update was emailed last month, plans were made for an ARRAC member soire. It was a quick event squeezed in between the morning and afternoon performance of The Holiday Bug. A good time was had by all and no one resembled the photo above. If you were unable to come on such short notice, we understand; but we did miss you! Hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas.
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Alabama River Region Arts Center

a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization

TheARRAC

Classes & Workshops

Head Drawing Workshop

UPDATE/DEC. 2011
Per day Cost: $30 + *$8 materials fee for paper. Beginning/Advanced Beginning. Open Studio format Beginners learn the basics, Intermediate will build on knowledge of wheel work: centering, opening, pulling up, & trimming. Final class on glazing. $90 + mtls fee. Ages 1 4+ Beginner to intermediate tudents will learn about clays, methods of constructing with clay, techniques for working with slab clay. Student pieces will be bisque fired and basic glazing techniques discussed. Glazing the pieces will be covered in the 2 hour Glaze class which follows the slab class. $55 Learn to make simple repairs without resorting to duct tape. Class will give the basics, but projects must be completed at home. Bring books you would like to repair. $30 Get off the "AUTO" button. Learn to use all the features on your camera. Pre-registration required. Contact instructor with camera model info. Studio set-ups and overhead projector by instructor. $30. This class will introduce you to sewing machine quilting. Students will start their quilt and have the knowledge and confidence to finish at home. $30 Build on knowledge from Buttons I. Create hand-made clay buttons to use on your next craft project. Learn about firing and glazes. Fees vary based upon number of students. See Fee Structure below.

Wed Jan 4, 11, 1 8, 25 1 0:00am 12:00pm

Pottery for the Wheel Intermediate Wheel Pottery Slab Clay

Sat Jan 7, 8 2:00pm 5:00pm Sat Jan 1 4, 15, 28, 29 2:00pm 5:00pm Sat Jan 7, 8 2:00pm 5:00pm 2 classes

Bookbinding & Repair

Tue Jan 1 0, 24 (class repeats) 2:00pm 4:00pm Tue Jan 11, 25 (class repeats) 6:00pm 8:00pm

Beginning Digital Photography**

Beginning Machine Quilting Sun Jan 15 1 :00pm 4:00pm

Buttons II

Sun Jan 15, 22, 29 2:00pm 4:00pm

Number of Students: 4 6 8 10 12 Cost per Student: $45.00 $40.00 $36.00 $29.00 $24.00 Lab/ firing Fee: $1 4.50 $9.67 $7.25 $5.80 $4.83 Per Student cost: $59.50 $49.67 $43.25 $34.80 $28.83

Buttons II Fee Structure Lab fee is fixed at $58.00 and we are discounting the cost per student to make it more affordable.

Fabric Doll Workshop

(Due to a family emergency, this class is being rescheduled from the original date.)

Learn the basics to design and sew a one-of-a-kind cloth doll. $65

** Advance registration is required so that your camera model PDF manual may be incorporated into the materials. No cell phone photography training.

Alabama River Region Arts Center

TheARRAC

January/February Events & Classes

Sun Jan 1 Wed Jan 4 Thu Jan 5 Sat Jan 7 Sun Jan 8 Tue Jan 1 0 Wed Jan 11 Thu Jan 12 Sat Jan 14 Sun Jan 15 Wed Jan 1 8 Thu Jan 19 Sat Jan 21 Sun Jan 22 Tue Jan 24 Wed Jan 25 Thu Jan 26 Sat Jan 28 Sun Jan 29 Thu Feb 2 Sat Feb 4 Sun Feb 5 Tue Feb 7 Wed Feb 8 Thu Feb 9 Sat Feb 11
Thu Feb 1 6

Coming Events

UPDATE/DEC. 2011

All day 1 0:00am 12:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00am 12:00pm 9:00am 12:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 1 0:00am 12:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 1 :00pm 4:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 1 0:00am 12:00pm 2:30pm 4:30pm 4:00pm 6:00pm All day 2:00pm 4:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 1 0:00am 12:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00am 12:00pm 9:00am 12:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 6:30pm 8:00pm 2:00pm 5:00pm
4:00pm 6:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm

CLOSED Head Drawing Workshop Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting Blue Grass Jam/ Sit & Sew Pottery for the Wheel / Slab Clay Pottery for the Wheel / Slab Clay Bookbinding & Repair Head Drawing Workshop Beg. Digital Photography** Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting Brainstorm Dinner Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery Studio Beginning Machine Quilting Buttons II Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery Studio Head Drawing Workshop Art Club Meeting Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting M.U.G.S.* Fest Buttons II Bookbinding & Repair Head Drawing Workshop Beg. Digital Photography** Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting Brainstorm Dinner Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery Studio Buttons II Intermediate Wheel Pottery/Pottery Studio Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting Blue Grass Jam/ Sit & Sew Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio River Region Sunday Special Roots Music fundraiser for ARRAC Bookbinding & Repair** Beg. Digital Photography** Brainstorm Dinner Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio Bookbinding & Repair** Beg. Digital Photography** Brainstorm Dinner Pottery on the Wheel/Pottery Studio
Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

Art class for Mom & child Coming Soon. Contact the Arts Center and watch our web and Facebook page for more information.

Mommy & Me Get Messy

Sat Feb 1 8 Tue Feb 21 Wed Feb 22 Thu Feb 23 Sat Feb 25

Arts Clubs: Guitar, Clay, Draw./Painting

* Making Up Good Stuff ** Advance registration and confirmation by instructor required.

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Alabama River Region Arts Center
300 West Tallassee St Wetumpka, AL 36092

TheARRAC

Volunteer Calendar

UPDATE/DEC. 2011

Volunteer Schedule

Times shown on the calendar for special events outside the Gallery are Event Times - volunteers should be there at least 1 hour prior for setup and approx. 1 /2 hour after for cleanup. The Arts Center is in need of volunteers this month as we are hosting many Special Events at the Center. Please contact Sharon Ervin, Volunteer Coordinator, at 3756374sse@gmail.com or 51 4-3420 (home) or 279-3464 (work). Do your part for the ARTS in the River Region.

Thu Jan 5 Sat Jan 7 Sun Jan 8 Thu Jan 12 Sat Jan 1 4 Sun Jan 15 Thu Jan 1 9 Sat Jan 21 Sun Jan 22 Thu Jan 26 Sat Jan 28 Sun Jan 29

4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00am 4:00pm 12:00pm 4:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00am 4:00pm 12:00pm 4:00pm 1 :30pm 6:00pm 9:00am 4:00pm 12:00pm 4:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00am 4:00pm 12:00pm 4:00pm

AC - Dawn AC - Dawn AC - Theresa AC - Dawn AC - Marty AC - Frank AC - Dawn AC - All Vol. AC - Theresa AC - Dawn AC - Sharon AC - Vanessa

AC = Arts Center

Although it may be cold and dreary this month, ARRAC will be warming things up with our MUGS* Fest! Think, Hot Cocoa/Coffee, Fun Filmfest, Demos, Hands-on & Artsy surprises for all ages! Bring your family! Saturday, January 21 at ARRAC! Follow us on Facebook for up to the minute details. *making up good stuff!

MUGS Fest January 21 st

The Update is published monthly. Your comments, ideas, and story ideas are welcome. Marty McIntyre, Editor artsclub@arrac.org Alabama River Region Arts Center Mailing Address: PO Box 1172 Wetumpka, AL 36092 Alabama River Region Arts Center Gallery/Classroom s 300 West Tallassee St Wetumpka, AL 36092

Alabama River Region Arts Center

a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization

TheARRAC

Committed Members

UPDATE/DEC. 2011

Without our faithful sponsors, we would not be where we are today. Thank you for sticking with us through this year. Your support (on all levels) means more than we can express. Without your encouragement the arts would be the poorer in the River Region. We look forward to a new year filled with many exciting plans and the awareness and gratitude for the dreams that have already come true. Creating and growing a community-supported and community-needs driven arts center is our passion. We are challenged this year, to reach out more to all community members, to encourage them in their pursuit of the arts; music, fine arts, crafts, pottery, performing, and puppetry. It is a big challenge. It is broad in scope. The need in this community is great. Times are tight for all and extra-curricular activities, like the arts, might be the first to be dropped. Let it not be so in 2012. If you or your business would like to help out and do more, please contact our Director, Frank Sullivan at director@arrac.org.

Thanks to our Sponsors!

Thanks to Our Member Sponsors

Businesses BathBuilders LLC - www.bathbuildersllc.com Thank you Donald Mobley Platinum Benjamin and Luanne Russell Gold Mary and James Wolfe Bronze Mayor Jerry Willis Monte and Jan McKinney Jimmy and Yvonne Lee

Your Business Can Make a Difference in the Arts

I would like to make an additional donation of: $__________ Bronze $1 00 ___ Silver $250___ Gold $500___ Platinum $1 000___ 1 0% discount on classes 1 0% discount on Gallery purchases 1 0% discount on custom frames at Zuelzke's Juried Gallery access for artist to display their work.

Membership Benefits

2012 Memberships are due January 31

Forms are available online, see http://arrac.org/Documents/RevARRACmembership.pdf www.arrac.org

Frances Arnold James Parker Frank and Dawn Sullivan Adelia H. Turner

Supporters

Alabama River Region Arts Center

TheARRAC

Music Arts News

UPDATE/DEC. 2011

Bluegrass Jam Jan. 7th

We guarantee great music. All skill levels are welcome. New violinist/fiddle-players welcome! Whether you have a new instrument you are just starting to pluck at or have a passion to sing...we look forward to having you join in the music-making. Join us from 9am - 12pm, Jan. 7th. at the ARRAC.

Gets the New Year Started Just Right!

Coming! Feb. 5th

Roots music fundraiser for ARRAC

Sit & Sew

New Year's resolution: finish up one of the projects on your project stack.
Come and resume work on one of your projects with fellow fabric and quilting fans in the Monet room. We'll meet from 9am 12pm.

Roots Music fundraiser for ARRAC 2:00 pm $3 a person

Sunday, February 5th

Wetumpka Performing Arts Center

ARRAC Arts Clubs

$20 month,

Thursdays starting at 4pm

contact artsclub@arrac.org or director@arrac.org for more information.

Guitar Club Resumes Thursday Jan. 5

Kids 9 and up, it is not too late to get signed up for Guitar Club. Join Jon Masters, Guitar Club leader and his class on Thursdays from 4pm - 5pm. Cost is $20 per month. We meet one time a week, and beginners are welcome. No instrument? No problem, we have instrucments available for use at the Arts Center during class. Contact artsclub@arrac.org for more information. Club registration is available day of Clubs, at 3:45 pm. Parents are welcome to stay or visit in the Arts Center Library.
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Alabama River Region Arts Center

Kids Arts Clubs:

Clay Drawing/Painting Guitar

300 West Tallassee St Wetumpka, AL 36092