Community Arts Center Announces New ‘Art-A-Thon’ Event

Published 11:52 am Monday, January 30, 2017

There’s something new coming to Danville this spring: the first-ever community Art-A-Thon, hosted by the Community Arts Center. On Saturday, May 13, downtown Danville will be humming with artists of all ages, demonstrating their craft to the public. Visual and performing artists will be found throughout the Arts Center, in Weisiger Plaza and at other downtown locations. Painters and potters, quilters and sculptors, dancers and singers, established professionals and aspiring art students will join together for a day of creative art-making.

Mary Beth Touchstone, executive director at the Arts Center, says, “We were looking for a creative way to raise much-needed funding for our education programs and what better way to do that than by showcasing the many talented artists in the community?”

Highlights of the event will include wheel-thrown pottery demonstrations, a collaborative quilt project, live music, performances by community choral groups, dance demonstrations and the spring showcase of the Arts Center’s ActUp! Children’s Theater Workshop. The Arts Center is working closely with the Heart of Danville to create a festival-like environment to encourage community members to come check out the action.

“The Heart of Danville’s vision is to work collaboratively to create a unique downtown that embraces history, promotes small businesses, sponsors quality events and celebrates the arts to instill a ‘sense of place’ in our community,” says Nick Wade, The Heart’s interim director. “The Art-A-Thon is a wonderful example of our vision coming to fruition and encouraging people to come downtown.”

The Art-A-Thon is presented by Danville Eye Center. Dr. Michael Smith of the center says, “We believe that investing in the arts improves quality of life for everyone in our community. We’re excited that the Art-A-Thon will be a community-wide celebration of Danville’s growing arts identity.”

Registration is now open at communityartscenter.net/art-a- thon for artists of all stripes and all abilities interested in participating in the Art-A-Thon. To participate, artists must commit to a two-hour (children) or four-hour (adult) shift of continuous art-making on May 13. Artists of any skill level and in any medium are welcome to participate. There is no fee to take part in the Art-A-Thon but, as with any “thon-style” fundraising event, artists are expected to secure donations for the Arts Center in support of their participation. Every artist who raises at least $100 will receive a free event T-shirt and be eligible for additional prizes. 

Touchstone says, “We deliberately designed this event to dovetail with other upcoming arts events. Professional artists can use their Art-A-Thon shift to prepare work for the next Gallery Hop. Also, student artists are encouraged to sign up for the Great American Brass Band Festival Children’s Art Fair and can get a jump start on creating their inventory during the Art-A-Thon.”

SO YOU KNOW 

The Art-A-Thon will be 10 a.m.-8 p.m. May 13. Registration is now open. Artists in any medium and of any skill level may participate. To register online, or for more information, visit www.communityartscenter.net/art-a- thon

ON EXHIBIT

New Year New Art – the newest art by 50 of the region’s top artists, open regular business hours (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday) through Feb. 25. Suggested donation $5.

COMING UP

• Starry Night Studio: Together in the Trees. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 7, $35; Rosie Red Apple, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 29, $28 

• Lunch with the Arts: Centre College Amy Frederick and Jay Bloom on art history, noon Feb. 15, $7/door 

• Paint-Your- Own Pottery, drop in noon-5 p.m. Saturdays, pieces start at $7  

• Munchkin & Me Art Classes, 10 a.m. Mondays, free visual arts for children 18 months-4 years with caregiver

• Beginner Ballroom Dance, 6 p.m. Thursdays, no registration or partner needed, $10/door 

Registration/information at communityartscenter.net.