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Discover What's in Your Own Backyard!
The economy and outrageous travel expenses got you down? Thinking of foregoing the family vacation this year? Maybe it's time you planned a staycation. That term has come into use in recent years to describe staying at home and enjoying all that one's home environs have to offer.
McNairy County is the perfect place to do just that! There are year round heritage and cultural festivals (two more being added this year). We have great local theatre, music and literary programs. You can hear live music and visit with working artists most any weekend. There is rich local history, scenic beauty and an interesting culture out there waiting to be discovered within just a few miles of home.
Get out and enjoy all that McNairy County has to offer. You just might be surprised at what you've been missing! |
| Lawton Spring Art Festival This Weekend! |
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 The latest addition to the McNairy County cultural calendar is the Lawton Spring Art Festival. Artists from all over West Tennessee, including many McNairy County favorites, will converge on the Lawton Community Center to welcome spring and share the creative process; both in full bloom! The event is scheduled from 10:00-3:00 on Saturday April 18, 2009.
High quality painting, pottery, glass, wood carving, metal sculpture and much more will be on display for everyone to purchase and enjoy. Many of the artisans will be on hand to discuss and demonstrate their unique techniques in a fun and friendly atmosphere. The festival will be an educational, fun filled, day for the whole family.
The Lawton community center is located just east of Selmer on Crabtree Road. Exit from Hwy 64 East or Lawton Road and follow the signs. The event is being sponsored by the Lawton Neighborhood club and Lunch will be available on the grounds. All proceeds support future festivals and the Neighborhood Club.
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Starmites Rounds Out 2008-09 Theatre Season Auditions Scheduled for April 27 & 28 |
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 Director Jared Walters has announced audition and production dates for the final show of the Arts in McNairy theatre season. It is an AiM tradition to conclude each season with a Musical and this year will be no exception. Three performances of Starmites are scheduled for June 19-21 at MCHS Little Theatre.
Starmites first debuted on Broadway in April 1989 earning six Tony Award nominations including the coveted nod for Best Musical. It is a musical comedy with a mostly youth and young adult cast that takes the audience on a campy romp across the universe and back incorporating a variety of musical styles along the way. It tells the story of the shy teenager Eleanor who withdraws into the fantasy world of her science fiction comic books only to be drawn into an epic battle with the fate of the earth hanging in the balance. Is it real or all in Eleanor's imagination? You will have to stay till the climactic, "mind bending" conclusion to discover the answer.
The production calls for a large group including cast members, backstage crew and musicians. Stage Auditions are being held 6:00 PM, Monday April 27 & Tuesday April 28 at the Selmer Community Center. Those auditioning for roles in the cast should be prepared to read, sing and practice basic dance steps in a group setting. If call backs are necessary, they will be on May 1 or 2. Contact director Jared Walters for more details.
The Starmite Orchestra consists of piano, keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and drums. Musical auditions will be held April 28 at 6:00 PM at the Selmer Middle School Band Hall. Musicians should bring their own instruments (except for piano and drums) and be prepared to review the musical score and informally play some of the charts with the music director.
Everyone is encouraged to attend auditions regardless of theatre experience. Come out and join the fun with Starmites! |
| National Poetry Month Commemorated with Local Poetry Contest |
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April is National Poetry Month and the AiM Literary Arts Committee has announced a project that will shine the spotlight on local writers. Poets of all ages are being invited to submit original poems for a contest that the committee hopes will become an annual event. They have every reason to believe the contest will be well received. The last AiM poetry contest, more than five years ago, drew 200+ local entries.
The contest will culminate in a catered awards reception 2:00 pm-4:00 pm, Sunday May 2 at the UTM McNairy Center in Selmer. The winning entries will be on display at the college for the first two weeks of May and selected poems will be published in this newsletters and local newspapers. Contest rules are listed below.
Divisions: Youth and Adult. Categories: (Youth) Grades 1-3, Grades 4-6, Grades 7-9, Grades 10-12 (Adults are all one category). Cost: $10 for the first entry/$5 for each additional entry with a maximum number of 5 entries per individual. Acceptable methods of payment are cash, check, or money order. Checks or money orders for should be payable to Arts in McNairy.
Prizes: Ribbons will be awarded to first, second, and third place in each of the categories. First place each category $25. Best in Show Youth Division $50. Best in Show Adult Division $50.
Submission deadline: 4:00 pm Monday, April 27, 2009 at the UTM/McNairy Center just off U.S. 45 North. Poetry must be postmarked by Thursday, April 23, 2009 to: Attn: Deidra Beene c/o AiM Poetry Contest UTM/McNairy 1269 Tennessee Street Selmer, TN 38375.
Submission Requirements: Entry form or the following information must be affixed to the back of each entry: Name, address, phone, title of poem, division and category.
- All entries must be original works.
- Poems may be any type: blank verse, free verse, haiku, etc.
- Poems must be suitable in content for the general public.
- Poems must be type written and printed on white 8 ½ x 11 unlined paper.
- Poems will be judged by division/category.
- Winners will be contacted by phone.
Contact Literary Arts Chair, Leanne Emmons at (731) 646-3851 for further details. |
| April 16 Book Club - Confederates in the Attic |
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 The AiM Book Club April selection is Tony Horwitz's "Confederates in the Attic." The Book club meets at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday of each month (April 16) in the McNairy Regional Hospital conference room adjacent to the main lobby area. There are no participation fees and all readers are welcome to attend. The book is discussed in a fun and informal environment and snacks are provided. Come join the fun!
Book Club Selections and Dates:
April 16 - Confederates in the Attic (Tony Horwitz)May 21- On Agate Hill (Lee Smith)
June 18 - To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) |
| Rockabilly Highway Revival - June 13 |
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 Mark Saturday, June 13th on your calendar. It's a date you will not want to miss as the Rockabilly Highway Revival comes to Selmer. What started as a dedication ceremony for the Rockabilly Highway Mural has grown into a full fledged festival complete with period car cruise in, 5K run, live music, food and a few surprises.
As the Rockabilly Highway Mural continues to draw attention to downtown, the Selmer Business Alliance, McNairy County Chamber of Commerce, Selmer Parks and Recreation and Arts in McNairy are busy planning the dedication ceremony and several complimentary events that will make the day a memorable one for all. The group hopes to make the Rockabilly Revival an annual event that will draw attention to McNairy County's rich musical heritage. An original logo (pictured above) was designed for the occasion by mural artist Brian Tull.
Complete details and a schedule for the days events will be available in the May edition of Taking AiM or you may contact the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce for more information: (731) 645-6360 |
| New AiM Board Members Added |
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| Arts in McNairy is pleased to announce the addition of four new and two returning directors to the board following the annual nomination process last month. New directors include, Constance Beck, Charles Lee, Sarah Lemons and Rusty Petty. Returning directors are Deidra Beene and Joanna Pitts. March also marks the rotation of officers and committee chairs and the updated positions are listed below.
We wish to say a special word of thanks to outgoing AiM President Pam Stackhouse. Pam is well known for influencing, literally, thousands of students at Selmer Elementary over the years through innovative arts in education programs like "Music Makers." She has had a profound effect on the lives of these students and continues to mentor young educators and advocate for the inclusion of the arts in the school curriculum. Pam has had a similar effect on the community through her involvement with Arts in McNairy where she served three years as the Music Committee Chair, a term as Vice President and a term as President. Pam is the inspiration and driving force behind the community chorus programs that bring together people of all ages for choral education and performance twice each year. The annual Holiday Singers concert in December has become one of the most highly anticipated and well attended events on the AiM cultural calendar. Pam's dedication to the arts and her community are unparalleled and her leadership will be sorely missed. Thank you Pam for all you do! You are one in a million!
The 2009-10 AiM Board of Directors and Officers:
Deidra Beene
Constance Beck (Artisan Trail)
Dr. Ron Bell (President)
Ronnie Brooks (Music Chair)
Molly Cheshire (Secretary)
Vicki Cowan
Leanne Emmons (Vice President/Literary Chair)
Bryan Essary (Performing Arts Chair)
Freida Hamm (Honorary)
Richard Howard
Jessica Huff
Charles Lee
Robert Lee (Finance and Fundraising)
Sarah Lemons
Rusty Petty
Joanna Pitts (Treasurer)
Dr. Shawn Pitts (Honorary/Heritage and Culture)
George Souders (Visual Arts Chair)
Barbara Tennyson
Sheila Treece (Honorary) |
| MCHS Spring Show 2009 - "Onces Upon a Time" April 24-26 |
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What are a few things you look forward to each year? The Super Bowl? Christmas? Your birthday? What about your local high school's spring show? More than just a school program for parents and students, the MCHS Spring show has become an event eagerly anticipated by the whole community. Always elaborately staged and wonderfully entertaining, the show features dozens of MCHS theatre students, various band and choir ensembles and a group of talented soloists.
The 2009 show is titled "Once Upon a Time" and it is a heartwarming musical variety show told as a fairy tale adventure, demonstrating that love always triumphs over evil. The show runs April 24-26. Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7:00 and there will be a Sunday matinee at 2:00. Tickets are available at the door for $5.00 (adults) and $3.00 (children twelve and under).
The Spring Show is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a lovely evening or afternoon of music, dance and drama while supporting the MCHS Fine Arts Department. So, come on down to the McNairy Central Little Theatre, and enjoy the show!
Much thanks to MCHS student Ethan Huggins for providing this press release. |
| AiM Artist Spotlight - Mark Shelton |
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 Was it something about the rhythmic textures and simple tones? Maybe it was just the raw physicality of hitting something with a bare hand or stick. Whatever it was, something about percussion music just spoke to Mark Shelton. From his beginnings as a fifth grade band student to performing one man percussion shows or ensemble concerts, that little something still calls to Mark.
Growing up in McNairy County, Mark was influenced by a wide variety of musical styles from Bluegrass to Gospel but notes that joining the school band was a turning point for him. "The teaching of Frank Congiardo in my early years, continues to have a powerful effect on my music," Mark said in a recent interview. "I had some quality music education in those days."
After high school Mark continued to pursue music education. He was the Visiting Artist at Wayne Community College and Costal Carolina Community in North Carolina where he honed his performance and teaching skills at various venues. Mark has taught music in the Jr. high, high school and college settings and currently teaches percussion at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas. He also teaches instructional workshops for all skill levels and appears as a percussion soloist with the Young Audiences Arts in Education roster throughout Texas and the Southwest.
Mark's tastes have always run to the eclectic and in 1986 he co-founded the harp and percussion duo, TALEA, which premiered new works for this unique ensemble. Shortly thereafter in 1987, he began serving as the artistic director for the "world fusion" ensemble Tin Roof Tango and leads that group until this day. "That ensemble gives me an opportunity to perform and explore a variety of ethnic and folk styles," Mark said. Tin Roof Tango has made two electrifying appearances on the AiM Summer Concert Series and is still one of the most requested groups for a repeat performance.
Shelton also performs a one-man show, that draws upon classical, folk, pop, jazz, gospel, ethnic, and new music to create an engaging collage with wide audience appeal. This also affords Shelton the opportunity to show off his skills as a composer since he often performs original material as a solo artist. As one might imagine, such a diverse musical background has taken Mark in many directions and he is skilled at a variety of techniques and instruments ranging from more familiar drums to dozens of ethnic percussion instruments including, marimba, hammered dulcimer, doumbec, bodhran, cajon and many others. This kind of versatility keeps Mark in demand. "As a free-lance musician," he observed, "I am involved in multiple styles of music. I never know what style the next phone call may ask of me, so you might find me on an orchestra job or playing in a swing band. I recently completed recording percussion parts for a DVD project containing over 75 Praise and Worship songs."
Throughout his career Mark has been acclaimed by critics and recognized with many awards. In 1984, he was a prize winner in The National Association of Composers USA Young Performers Competition. More recently he was honored with a seat on the prestigious Percussive Arts Society's Interactive Percussion Committee. But when asked about the accomplishment that gave him the most satisfaction Mark replied, "My only child, Anna plays percussion and is an accomplished dancer. Every now and then, we perform together. 'Nuf said!"
Learn more about Mark's music and get booking information at:
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