Fiber artist shows coat at Folk Art Center

Fabric artist Liz Spear has a Celebration Coat on display as part of the Haywood Community College Professional Crafts program’s 30th Anniversary Show at the Folk Art Center near Asheville.

Spear, a resident of Waynesville, had already spent 13 years as a craftsperson in the pottery field when she enrolled at HCC to learn about weaving. Since graduating from the Professional Crafts-Fiber program in 1995, she made her living as a full-time craftsperson, producing from 100 to 120 garments per year. The garments, or art-to-wear, include shirts, lined jackets, hats, and vests.

“My work is clean and contemporary for working women. It can be worn as dress up or casual,” Spear said.

In addition to her craft work, Spear teaches at Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, John C. Campbell Folk School, and Appalachian Center for Craft.

Spear’s work is always available at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. The special piece shown in conjunction with the HCC Retrospective Exhibition features different works pieced together including those from Neal Howard, fellow HCC graduate, and Catharine Ellis, HCC Professional Crafts-Fiber instructor.

Works from more than 100 graduates as well as current and former faculty are in the Retrospective Exhibition. The show will run through Jan. 7.

For more information on the HCC Professional Crafts 30th Anniversary Show call the Folk Art Center at 828.298.7928 or the HCC Professional Crafts Department at 828.565.4156. To learn more about Spears and her work go to www.lizspearhandwoven.com.

Swain center features multi-art program

The Swain County Center for the Arts presents “Strokes of Art, Stories and Song” at 6 p.m. Nov. 18.

The performance will open with stories, songs and spontaneous art in a fast-paced production, featuring Amy Ammons Garza as the teller of the story inserting the prose and poetry of local writers and singers, with Doreyl Ammons Cain spontaneously illustrating the story as it evolves.

At 7 p.m., The Muses, a three-woman a cappella group, will present an ingenious mix of

Celtic, Americana, traditional Appalachian, and World music. Their repertoire covers a wide range and includes original compositions, spirituals, soul numbers, and songs from Scotland and Ireland.

Admission is $5. The program is sponsored by the Swain County Center for the Arts and the Board of Directors for Catch the Spirit of Appalachia. For more information call Jenny Johnson at 828.488.7843.

WNC Visitor Center hosts painter Nov 17

The Western North Carolina Visitor Center in the Frog Level area of Waynesville will host an opening reception for new works by artist Susan Lanier from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 17.

Lanier grew up in Haywood County and is presently living in Jackson County. She is a member of the Jackson County Visual Arts Association and the Jackson County Arts Council. Her work can be seen in the murals decorating Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee and at her gallery in Cullowhee at the old country store once owned by her grandfather.

The reception will feature music and refreshments. The exhibit will be on display through December. The Visitor Center is located on Depot Street.

Jackson County set for Christmas festivities

A bounty of holiday happenings are on tap as Jackson County offers up its first annual “ChristmasTime in the Mountains” celebration.

Festivities begin with a performance of “The Nutcracker” by the Atlanta Ballet on Nov. 19 at the Western Carolina University Fine and Performing Arts Center. The celebration continues with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad’s Polar Express Dinner Train from Nov. 24 through Dec. 21. The Polar Express Dinner Train embarks on 41 roundtrip excursions from Dillsboro’s depot to the “North Pole.” Along the way, guests enjoy a three-course gourmet meal with menus for adults and children. Hot chocolate and cookies are available during a reading of the beloved children’s book, The Polar Express, while Santa and his reindeer greet children upon arrival at the North Pole.

New this year to the county is the 19th annual Hard Candy Christmas Fine Art and Craft Show. This popular event, held Nov. 24-25, has moved from Franklin to the Ramsey Center on the WCU campus in Cullowhee. Hard Candy Christmas features nearly 100 vendors selling a variety of arts, crafts, holiday items and Christmas gifts. Admission is just $2, parking is free, and local tree farmers will be on hand selling Christmas trees, wreaths and swags.

One of the more popular mountain holiday traditions takes place in Dillsboro. The 23rd annual Dillsboro Lights and Luminaries Festival will be held the first two weekends of December, Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9. Dillsboro merchants and residents line their quaint village with white paper bag luminary candles, buildings are decked in tiny white lights, carolers stroll the streets, Santa Claus visits with children in the Town Hall, and shops stay open late and offer hot cider.

“ChristmasTime in the Mountains” also includes the Sylva Christmas Parade (Nov. 28) and the Cashiers Christmas Parade (Dec. 9).

For more information on ChristmasTime in the Mountains call the Jackson County Visitors Center at 800.962.1911 or visit www.mountainlovers.com.

Kiwanis official grand marshals Waynesville Christmas Parade

The annual Waynesville Christmas Parade will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27.

The grand marshal of the parade will be Howard Kline, current governor-elect of the Carolinas District of Kiwanis International and the 2007 and 2008 governor of the district’s 260 Kiwanis Clubs and 10,000 volunteers in North and South Carolina.

Kline is past president of Kiwanis Club of Waynesville and previously served as Kiwanis lieutenant governor for Western North Carolina in 2004, working with schools, community organizations and clubs to organize a Canton-Pigeon River Valley flood relief project to assist children affected by hurricanes Francis and Ivan. He holds the Carl B. Hyatt Award for distinguished service and is a member of the Carolinas District Foundation Founders Circle. He also serves on the governing council of Kiwanis International.

Entry fees for the parade are $15 for non-profit groups not entering the float contest, $20 for non-profit groups entering the contest, and $25 for all commercial entries. The non-profit float contest awards are $150 for first place, $100 for second place and $50 for third place. Commercial winners will receive a plaque.

There is no specific theme for this year’s parade. As before, the parade begins at Walnut and Main streets, proceeds south on Main Street and ends at the intersection of Haywood and Main streets across from Bogart’s Restaurant. The parade sponsors are the Town of Waynesville, Waynesville Kiwanis Club and the Downtown Waynesville Association.

For more information on the parade contact the Downtown Waynesville Association at 828.456.3517.

Sunday Concert Series concludes

The Haywood County Arts Council’s last Sunday Concert Series for 2006 will feature the Trantham Family at 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Haywood County Library.

The Trantham Family is comprised of Jim Trantham, well-known instrument builder and ballad singer, son Doug, who sings and plays banjo, guitar, mountain dulcimer and hammer dulcimer, and Doug’s daughter, Emily, on guitar and vocals.

“I grew up surrounded by music and began performing at an early age. We are working to preserve our musical and cultural heritage in Western North Carolina,” said Doug Trantham.

Emily, age 20, is a junior at Western Carolina University and has recorded a CD titled, Emily’s Dream. Other recordings by the Trantham Family include: How Can I Keep From Singing, Frosty Morn, Behold a Gift, and New Found Harmony.

The Tranthams are well-known in Haywood County and often perform music for worship in their church and the community. For more information about the Trantham Family visit their Web site at www.tranthamfamily.com.

The Sunday Concert Series is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Library. All concerts are free and the public is invited to attend.

Voices in the Laurel holds benefit auction Nov. 19

Voices in the Laurel, Western North Carolina’s regional children’s and youth choirs, will present their annual Benefit Auction from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, at the Balsam Mountain Inn.

Tickets are $25 each for an afternoon that features a silent and live auction and a coffee-and-dessert mini-concert. Choristers will present Americana songs and holiday favorites, accompanied by the Inn’s signature desserts. Auctioneer Dave Felmet will emcee the event.

Auction items include: bed and breakfast weekends, entertainment and sports packages, art and crafts, cosmetic teeth bleaching, jewelry, and gift certificates to shops and restaurants. Proceeds support expenses for the nonprofit choir.

“This benefit is our primary fund raiser,” said Operations Coordinator Derrick Robinson. “We have 150 items and services donated from individuals, businesses, and student choristers themselves. Creatively, some choristers are donating personal services such as yard cleanup or household chores, which make thoughtful and caring Christmas gifts. It’s a great way to get in the holiday spirit while helping these young people grow in skills and self-confidence.”

In its 11th year, Voices in the Laurel features singers in grades three through 12 from five counties. The group’s performance skills and repertoire have garnered invitations to prestigious music festivals, including Spoleto and World Voices. Students pay their way with fundraisers and trip-related special donations.

Tickets for Sunday’s Benefit Auction are available in advance at the Haywood County Arts Council office and Cedar Hill Studio, in Waynesville, or at the door. To donate items for the auction, purchase full-table tickets, or help sponsor a chorister to Sydney, contact Derrick Robinson at 828.335.2849.

Womansong to perform at Diana Wortham

Womansong, an all-woman performance group with members from throughout Western North Carolina, will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Diana Wortham Theatre at Pack Place in downtown Asheville.

Womansong is a 60-voice chorus whose performances benefit women trying to move beyond difficult circumstances such as abuse, illness, drugs and poverty.

Suzanne Tannehill of Haywood County is the New Start Program coordinator for Womansong.

“The idea is to give a helping hand, financially, to women who otherwise might fall through the cracks,” said Tannehill. “Those we help are referred to us by recognized social service agencies. Often they are mothers struggling to keep their young families together. We are their last hope when the agencies are out of funds.”

Womansong has been in existence for 20 years, and its performances include song, acting and dancing.

Anyone who would like to support Womansong’s New Start Scholarship Fund but can’t attend the concert may send a donation to the New Start Fund care of Suzanne Tannehill, 515 Big Branch Road, Clyde, N.C., 28721.

Tickets are $12 for the Diana Wortham performance. Call 828.257.4530 or visit www.dwtheatre.com.