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As Autumn peers through the canvas, I'm reminded of my high school art teacher who was a huge Vincent van Gogh fan. A poster in our classroom was a quote from him that read "...in all nature, for instance in trees, I see expression and soul..." This feeling describes what is happening now with Arts in McNairy. Artists are sharing bits of their souls with us for our first-ever "Art in Motion," traveling art show. Others are expressing themselves through music as the community band and choir prepare for their next performance. There are also the actors, the director, set designers, and stagehands who will showcase their talents in the next theater performance, Our Town. As the November chill blows into McNairy County, we will also feature our annual photography contest, the year-end book club party, and the Artisan Trail. There is so much to experience this season and we do not want you to miss any of it!
Leanne Emmons
AiM President |
| Art in Motion! Traveling Show Opens This Week | |
 Arts in McNairy proudly presents "Art In Motion" - a traveling exhibit of artwork created by local artists. The exhibition will begin Monday, November 1 and will be on display throughout the month at Selmer City Hall. Artists featured in November include: Vesela Baker, Lyn Barchett, Elaine Chaney, Vicki Cowan, Dixie Decker, Lisa Engle, Patricia Fischer, Jan Huddelson, Amber Kiddy, Tim Pace, and Sheila Treece. Easel and pedestal sponsors to date include: Bill & Shirley Harris, Mike & Kim Reynolds, Selmer Golf & Country Club Ladies Association, Jerry & Leanne Emmons, Bill & Vicki Cowan, Smith Metals Co., Inc., Jack Davis, David Robinson, and Billy & Martha Glover.
The traveling show is a project of the AiM Visual Arts Committee who invite everyone to come visit and enjoy the exhibits. There are no admission fees but many pieces are available for purchase. If you are unable to catch the November installation at City Hall, the exhibit will be traveling to several other locations around the area in the coming months. New artists will also be coming on board as the show moves from place to place so each location is likely to be a little different. The current schedule is listed below:
December 2010 - Bancorp South January 2011 - Home Banking Co.
February 2011 - Regions Bank Selmer March 2011 - Chambers Insurance April 2011 - Goodman Shelter Insurance
If you are interested in exhibiting artwork, sponsoring an easel/pedestal or hosting the exhibit, please contact Visual Arts Chair, Vicki Cowan, 646-1815, or AiM President Leanne Emmons, 646-3851. |
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Our Town - November 19-21 | |
 "This is the way we were," the narrator (Stage Manager) famously says of Thornton Wilder's, Our Town. The innovative drama won Wilder the Pulitzer Prize in 1938 and has, with it's sparse set and memorable characters, become a classic of the American theatre. The sentimental and often touching look at small town America from a bygone era has also been the subject of numerous revivals, most notably in 1989 when it received a handful of Tony Awards. Virtually since it's release, the play has been a staple of community theatre. The universal themes of family, community, joy, longing, loss and ultimately, fulfillment, resonate with a wide range of audiences but seem especially well embraced by rural communities who relate to the small town setting.
Now Our Town comes to our town for three performances, Nov 19-21 at the MCHS Little Theatre. Show times are 7:30 PM, nightly with a matinee at 2:00 PM on Sunday. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, available at the door. The show is being directed by Benjamin Wilkinson who returns the the AiM director's chair for his first production since 2006's Cheaper by the Dozen. The multitalented Wilkinson portrayed Judd Fry in last July's Oklahoma! and most recently acted as musical director and pianist for Nunsense. An all local cast of AiM theatre veterans and several new comers bring the piece to life. Don't miss Our Town! |
| Community Choir and Band Concert December 2 | |
 The Community Choir and Band concert is scheduled for 7:00 PM, December 2 at Lakeview Baptists Church. The annual event has quickly become a seasonal tradition attracting several hundred holiday revelers to the concert each year. It is also a favorite with area vocalists and musicians who turn out in droves. The community choir is typically 75-100 voices strong with the community band adding another 20-30 to the ranks. The concert is always free to the public but donations to Arts in McNairy are encouraged to help cover the expense of music and advertising.
This year's holiday choir is under the direction of Guy Grimstead and Sarah Lemons. Several special guests and soloists will add interest to the program. The Community band is directed by Ronnie Brooks. Rehearsals for both groups are ongoing through month of November. For further information on the community choir, contact Joanna Pitts at (731) 645-1875. To participate in community band, simply come to the rehearsals at the Selmer Middle School band hall ready to play at 6:30 on November 15, 22 & 29 or visit the community band website at: www.aimcommunityband.com |
| Year End Book Club Party - Skipping Christmas | | |
The 2010 AiM Book Club comes to a conclusion with the annual holiday gathering and final book of the season, John Grisham's Skipping Christmas. The group will meet at the home of AiM President and Literary Chair, Leanne Emmons November 18. It is never too late to get involved with book club but be sure to RSVP to Leanne by November 6 if you plan to attend. Finger foods, holiday games, lively discussion and loads of fun are on the agenda this month. The highlight of the evening is sure to be the announcement of the 2011 Book Club selections.
One of the Arts in McNairy success stories of the last few years has been the revival of the Literary Committee through the vision and commitment of Leanne Emmons. She assembled a hard-working group of volunteers and orchestrated a series of literary appreciation events that have made a tremendous impact on the community. In addition to the book club and the poetry contest, the committee has arranged for local interaction with nationally respected authors and made donations of culturally significant books to the local libraries.
The 2011 list of book club selections will be available in the January edition of Taking AiM or at the Jack McConnico Library in December. Several selections from the list and an invitation to join the book club would be a great Christmas gift for the reader in your family. |
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New Book/Exhibit Features Broom Maker, Jack Martin |
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 If there ever was any doubt, a new publication and companion exhibit, just out by the Tennessee Arts Commission, confirms that Jack Martin is numbered among the state's most valued cultural treasures. Tradition - Tennessee Lives and Legacies, traces the heritage and lasting legacy of 25 Tennesseans who preserve a diverse group of our state's cultural traditions. The inspiration for the project draws on 25 years of field work experience by Dr. Robert Cogswell, Director of the Tennessee Arts Commission Folklife Program. Nashville photographer Dean Dixon was contracted to provide images that compliment Cogwell's expressive essays. Dixon traveled across the state photographing the subjects in their homes and communities for the project.
The exhibit opened last month at the Hunter Museum in Chattanooga and will traveling the state on a thirteen stop tour over the next three years. West Tennessee locations readily accessible to McNairy County will include West Tennessee Regional Arts Center in Humboldt and Germantown Performing Arts Center. The hardcover book is now available for purchase at the Tennesseans for the Arts online store. Click on the image above to access the website.
The book is a stunning achievement both easy to ready and beautiful to behold. It will be valued by anyone with even a remote interest in folk art or Tennessee heritage and culture. The essay on Jack Martin gives a brief history of the family business, Hockaday Handmade Brooms, and the photo's picture him in a familiar setting at his shop on the family farm in Selmer. Those who have been privileged to see Jack at work will immediately appreciate how the words and images capture the spirit and substance of Jack's efforts to preserve his family's time-honored craft of broom making.
Congratulations to the author, photographer, publishers and especially the subjects for recognition that is long over due! |
| Fall Artisan Trail November 20 | |
 The Arts in McNairy Artisan Trail fall tour is just around the corner. The trail provides visitors and locals a unique opportunity to sample some the finest of McNairy County's culture while picking up those one-of-a-kind gifts to complete their holiday shopping lists. Artists and artisans of the county will open their studios for demonstrations and tours 10:00-5:00 Saturday, November 20, 2010. Many of the locations have multiple artists and offer holiday sales, specials, refreshments and other surprises. Tour stops will include: 2-B Pottery; Studio 85 (painting); Dennis and Patricia Fisher (woodworkers); Eco-Art by Tim Pace (metal sculpture); Hockaday Handmade Brooms; Firehouse Studio (glass); Village Coffee House (various arts and craft); Duncan Christmas Tree Farm; Appalachian Threads by Constance Beck (Spinning/Weaving); McNairy County Museum; "Seedy Beader" Linda Craig (bead weaving); Marti Thweat & Liz Redmon (fused glass). The Artisan Trail is a great way to support local artists and buy high quality, one of a kind, art objects rather than the ordinary Christmas gift from the mall. Everything from clothing and jewelry to decorative and household items can be found on the trail. Each one will be lovingly made to highest quality standards by a McNairy County artist.
Come for the trail and stay for the show! Many visitors like to hit the trail during the day, find a great local spot for dinner and make the Saturday evening theatre performance. It makes for a relaxed and enjoyable day in the country. See the story above for Our Town show times.
Check out the AiM Face Book page or blog (links in left hand column above) to download maps one week prior to the event. |
| Cultural Assessment Continues in 2011 | | |
 In 2005 Arts in McNairy appointed the first heritage and culture committee to inventory and assess local cultural attributes and make recommendations to the board of directors about the feasibility of local cultural preservation efforts. The committee developed a concise survey and polled hundreds of respondents around the area about cultural features, past and present, that were valued most. The result was a stunning list of assets in musical history, material culture, foodways, community activities, etc.
Since that time, the committee has continued to compile information in several areas of interest. Many families and individuals have graciously shared their oral histories, photos, newspaper clippings, etc.. The above photo of the well known Arnold English Band is one good example provided by the English family. We are indebted to all those who have proudly shared their family stories with us.
More than a mere academic enterprise, the information gathered over the last few years has actually lead to a shift in the organization's programming. The AiM Artisan Trail and Rockabilly Highway Revival projects are a direct result of information gathered through the committee's efforts. Just this year, Arts in McNairy received a Commission Initiative grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission to preserve the recordings of Stanton Littlejohn. These will be used for educational purposes as well as local music programming.
In 2011 the asset inventory will continue with a revised and focused questionnaire to obtain information about a variety of cultural assets. Of special interest are musical heritage and broom making traditions but all information is welcome. Arts in McNairy is now seeking organizations like churches, Ruritan Clubs, lodges and other community groups to host community survey sessions. The process if fun and easy and involves having a representative from the committee go over a list of questions with your group that often sparks lively and nostalgic discussion about the area's cultural past. If you are interested in participating in or hosting a session in 2011, contact heritage and culture committee chair, Shawn Pitts at: drpitts2@att.net |
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