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The State of the Arts
What a year 2009 was! It was filled with old traditions and new projects that featured amateurs and professionals alike. And, now, we have a brand new year ahead.
As Arts in McNairy continues to grow and strengthen, so do those who participate. Through personal involvement in AiM, I have gained an even greater appreciation for the talent that surrounds me. As the artist Paul Strand said, "The artist's world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep." And so it goes with our organization. We are living in a community where visual and performing artists, musicians, writers, and craftsmen abound.
At each event Arts in McNairy holds, I'm amazed by those who have contributed their time and talent. I know that 2010 will be a phenomenal year for us. From theater productions to the Artisan Trail, the year ahead will be packed with auditions, rehearsals, contests, and shows with each event showcasing talent galore!
I invite you to break out of your comfort zone in 2010 and read for a part in a play, join the community band, attend the book club or enter our amateur photography contest. Together, we can stimulate economic growth, tourism, and cultural awareness in McNairy County. You just may be surprised at how rewarding the experience can be when you help us "take AiM on the arts."
Leanne Emmons
2010 AiM President |
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Tag You're It! - Specialty Tags Benefit the Arts |
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 Tough economic times have impacted U.S. arts agencies at the federal, state and local levels. While Tennessee is no exception, state lawmakers made a wise series of decisions almost twenty years ago that has lessened the impact of the recent financial downturn. Legislation in the late 1980s and early 1990s made it possible for the Tennessee arts community to receive funding directly from revenues generated by the sale of specialty license plates. Contrary to what many think, it is not just the arts plates that are involved in this program. Though the familiar cat, fish and rainbow "arts plates" generate a higher percentage per sale, every type specialty plate that is sold generates revenues for cultural purposes. All proceeds are split between the sponsoring nonprofit group, the state highway fund and the Tennessee Arts Commission.
In the most recent TAC newsletter, Executive Director Rich Boyd commented "Every state agency in the country would love to have a dedicated revenue source like this program. The commission encourages all supporters of the arts to get behind this program because these license plates have a substantial impact on arts funding in our state." The hard data bears Boyd out on this point. Before the program began Tennessee's funding for the arts and culture was relatively low when compared to other states. As demand for the specialty plates has increased, Tennessee now ranks 19th in the nation in per capita arts funding. And all of this without raising taxes or dipping deeper into the state coffers.
Lest you think this is a matter to be considered only at the state level, revenues generated by the sale of specialty plates have allowed TAC to provide grant funding for a variety of McNairy County projects including, arts in education programs, music events, technical assistance and public art to name just a few things. Arts in McNairy values these partnerships with TAC and would not be able to provide the quality programming we are known for without them. Please support the arts in our state and right here at home by bolting on the specialty plate of your choice. Learn more about the program online at:
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A Tale of Two Tailors - February 19-21 |
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 Once upon a time there were two tailors........
Audiences will delight in the upcoming youth production of A Tale of Two Tailors February 19-21 at the MCHS Little Theatre. Show Times are 7:30 nightly and 2:00 PM on Sunday. A special school performance is being staged on February 19 exclusively for McNairy County students. Check with your school's administrator for details.
A Tale of Two Tailors is actually an adaptation of two pieces of classic children's literature involving two tailors, one of them a fraud and the other a hero. It is being produced with an all local cast and crew. There are many young theatre veterans involved as well as several first time cast members. The complete cast is listed below. Don't miss the show!
The Emperor's New Clothes
Father: Zach Martin
Roland (the Son): Logan Mitchell
Mary: Michaela Chambers
Sarah (Mary's little sister): Molly Grace Chambers
Esther: Mara Campbell
Henrietta: Danielle Harstin
The Page: Ryleigh Hilliard
Minister of Fashion: Dillon Rorie
Sultan of Style: Andrea Channell
Duchess of Dressing Up: Laren Alexis Whitley
Grand Poobah of Toiletries: Brianna Wilson
Overlady of Overdressing: Dianna Moss
The Emperor: T.J. Neece
Townspeople: Ruth Harstin, Janie McClanahan, Sarah Rininger, Abby Rininger, Faith Rininger, Bailey Whitley
The Reluctant Knight
Bobbin (the Tailor): Konner Davis
Stitch (Tailor's Apprentice): Noah Wallace
Lord Chamberlain: Dillon Rorie
Conn: Sammy Bakeer
Cerdic: Chaseten Donahoe
Cadal: Payden Donahoe
The King: Zach Martin
The Queen: Makena Parrish
Princess Petunia: Jessica Campbell
Princess Rose: Ana Grace Ashe
Princess Lily: Lily Beth Durbin
Abigail: Raines Parrish
Hannah: Megan Stevens
Ulric the Giant: Ezra McKenzie
Town Crier: Mary Logan Yancey
Messenger: Mary Anna Tucker
Townspeople: Autumn Shackelford, Katie Jo Davis,
Kelsey Mardis, Jewell Cooper, Destinee Wilson,
Mikaylin Donahoe, Gracen Donahoe, Allie Pitts,
Abigail Ashe |
| 2010 Book Club List and Dates Announced |
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 The Arts in McNairy Literary Committee just announced the new book list and book club dates for 2010. The eclectic reading list has 11 titles (the club does not meet in December) some new and some more familiar. So, there is sure to be something to suit every interest and taste.
Book Club meets at 7:00 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month in the conference room of the Jack McConnico Public Library in Selmer. There are no fees to join the discussion and participants are encouraged to check available titles out at county libraries or purchase their own.
Read the suggested title prior to the meeting and come prepared for a lively and informative discussion. Members and the occasional guest speaker moderate the discussion and light refreshments are usually served. Come out and enjoy book club. You'll be glad you did!
1/21 The Whiskey Rebels - David Liss
2/18 Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury
3/18 The Painted House - John Grisham
4/15 The Plague of Doves - Louise Erdrich
5/20 Crazy Ladies - Michael Lee West
6/17 The Secret Holocaust Diaries - Nonna Bannister
7/15 The Chili Queen - Sandra Dallas
8/19 The Red Tent - Anita Diamant
9/16 The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
10/21 In Cold Blood -Truman Capote
11/18 Skipping Christmas - John Grisham
Contact Arts in McNairy, Literary Arts Chair, Leanne Emmons at (731) 646-3851 for further details.
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| Visitor/Cultural Center Planning Session - February 12 |
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 With the generous assistance of the Tennessee Arts Commission, AiM has arranged to have Bill Kornrich, visit the county on February 12. He will be here to meet with the AiM board and all interested citizens for visitor and cultural center education and planning. Mr. Kornrich is one of the top community arts consultants in the state and has a broad base of knowledge in many areas including, programming, cultural tourism and facility management. He is the former director of the Rose Center in Morristown, TN and the principle architect of the Crooked Road, a Virginia heritage music trail that involves 10 counties in Southwest Virginia. He has consulted with dozens of community arts, humanities and tourism groups over the years while sitting on numerous boards and panels for a variety of regional, state and national cultural organizations.
The AiM board and committee members will be having planning sessions from 9:00-12:00 and the community meeting will take place 1:00-4:00. All elected officials, economic development leaders, tourism planners, nonprofit organizers and interested citizens are encouraged to attend this planning session. All meetings will be at the UTM McNairy Selmer Center in rooms 218-220. Please mark your calendar and make plans to attend these sessions as we consider how to take our cultural planning and tourism efforts to the next level in McNairy County! |
| Arts in McNairy Welcomes New Board Members |
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| Arts in McNairy has always been blessed with good leadership. This years board will be no exception. There are several returning directors as well as several newcomers we are excited to have joining the board.
We welcome Jack Martin, Carol Rawlings, Ross Mitchell and Carol Ann Wood to the 2010 Board of Directors. All have exemplary records of service and a commitment to the advancement of arts and cultural in our community. We are honored to have them join our ranks.
We are also sad to say that we will miss the leadership of several directors who are rotating off the board this year after several years of service. Jessica Huff, Richard Howard and Molly Cheshire will be leaving the board. Jessica and Richard most recently served on the bylaws review and nominating committees respectively. Molly has just completed two terms on the board and will be leaving the organization with four years service as the Secretary. They will all be sorely missed.
We would be ungrateful indeed if we did not make special mention of George Souders as he rotates off the board. George is the only remaining director who has been in active service since the inception of the organization. In other words, there has never been an Arts in McNairy without his leadership. It is not stretching the point to say that AiM would not be the organization it has become without him. George has served faithfully as the Visual Arts chair for the last eight years. During that time, he organized showings for some of McNairy County's best known artists and helped shine the spotlight on previously unknown talent in our community. He also gave us the phenomenally successful fall photography show and contest which has become a staple of this community's cultural activity. And all of this while mentoring and nurturing the talents of young artists at MCHS and UT Martin McNairy. Thank you George, we owe you one...or maybe two!
The 2010 Arts in McNairy Board of Directors
Constance Beck (Fine Craft)
Deidra Beene
Ronnie Brooks (Music)
Ron Bell (Past President)
Vicki Cowan (Visual Arts)
Leanne Emmons (President & Literary Arts)
Bryan Essary (Performing Arts)
Freida Hamm (Honorary)
Charles Lee (Finance and Fundraising)
Robert Lee
Sarah Lemons
Jack Martin
Ross Mitchell
Rusty Petty
Joanna Pitts (Treasurer)
Shawn Pitts (Honorary, Heritage and Culture)
Carol Rawlings
Steve Smith
Barbara Tennyson (Secretary)
Shelia Treece (Honorary)
Carol Ann Wood | |
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