[LISTEN] For the Arts Podcast Ep. 2: Folk Festival is Coming to Town!
Transcript:
00:00:16:00 - 00:00:36:11
Miles McKeller-Smith: Hello and welcome to another episode of For the Arts, the official podcast of the Arts Council of Fayetteville, Cumberland County. I'm your host, Miles McKeller Smith, director of public relations at the Arts Council, and I am elated because it is officially IFC season. That's right. We're back with the 48th Annual International Folk Festival, and we've got a lot to talk about.
00:00:36:11 - 00:00:49:00
Miles McKeller-Smith: So, we're going to make sure that you're ready for this year's festival. Let's get right into the news and events for this month.
00:00:49:02 - 00:01:10:22
Miles McKeller-Smith: Celebration of Sapphire: Mail Art from Around the World. This powerful exhibit celebrates the boundless creativity found around the world. Via mail Art. The exhibit curators will join us later in the show to discuss the exhibit and an upcoming workshop that they have during if the 48th Annual International Folk Festival takes place on September 25th and 26th in downtown Fayetteville.
00:01:10:23 - 00:01:30:15
Miles McKeller-Smith: This year we're kicking off festivities on Friday in partnership with Coors Spring Downtown District and El Centro Hispano. The crowd favorite Parade of Nations will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 26th, with the festival grounds opening upon the parade's conclusion. To talk with us more about this year's festival, we're joined by Sarah Guzman, Vice President of the Arts Council.
00:01:30:15 - 00:01:31:05
Miles McKeller-Smith: Welcome, Sarah.
00:01:31:06 - 00:01:32:11
Sarah Busman: Hey, Miles.
00:01:32:13 - 00:01:35:06
Miles McKeller-Smith: The Veep (Vice President) is here. We're so excited to have you.
00:01:35:08 - 00:01:47:05
Sarah Busman: So I'm going to try and, raise the, you know, the level by the Veep being here. But Miles secretly knows that, he's the coolest person in the office.
00:01:47:07 - 00:01:55:04
Miles McKeller-Smith: I can't call it, but, you know, for listeners who may not know, you actually in a new position here at the Arts Council, can you tell us a little bit about that?
00:01:55:04 - 00:02:20:06
Sarah Busman: Yeah. So, I've been at the Arts Council almost five years. When I started here, I started as the arts education manager. Managing artists in schools. And, through that position. I had come from teaching at a university. And so, through that position, I kind of learned the ropes of the Arts Council and all the cool stuff that it does in the community.
00:02:20:06 - 00:02:46:05
Sarah Busman: And, so, yeah, that role kind of shifted and morphed, into a director position where I helped with public art and exhibits and all that kind of stuff. And then I started as vice president in July. So, this is crazy new, which is exciting. And there's no, bigger way to, like, jump into a role than to do it during I.
00:02:46:05 - 00:02:47:03
Sarah Busman: Off-Season.
00:02:47:05 - 00:02:49:01
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely. Couldn't pick a better time.
00:02:49:02 - 00:02:50:15
Sarah Busman: Yeah.
00:02:50:17 - 00:03:02:09
Miles McKeller-Smith: Well, we're happy to have you here doing that. And. Yeah, just congratulations on that. So let's get right and see if, just generally, can you talk to us about the importance of this festival in the community?
00:03:02:11 - 00:03:29:21
Sarah Busman: Yeah. So, you know, I think a lot of the folks around our community look forward to if for a whole bunch of different reasons. I mean, we hear them all the time. Whether it's, you know, this is a moment when I get to connect with the people that I know doing something traditional and special, or if it's this is the moment I get to share that with people who maybe aren't aware of it.
00:03:29:23 - 00:04:01:04
Sarah Busman: And so that's the really exciting thing, is that if means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I think for the Arts Council, it really just celebrates the community, the arts that we know we have in this area and that we're trying to share with everybody else. So, and as a person who does, like, also lives here and likes hanging out here, I love if because I like to eat and I like to dance and I like to sing and all of those things happen, and if so.
00:04:01:09 - 00:04:17:13
Miles McKeller-Smith: All in one place, what more can you ask for? Yeah, you know, I love that. So for this year's festival, I know that we're shifting things around a little bit. Traditionally has been on Saturday and Sunday and now moving it to a Friday and Saturday event. Can you explain a little bit about what people can expect with that.
00:04:17:14 - 00:04:43:22
Sarah Busman: Yeah. So you know if Saturday has been kind of our like, you know, really big event that we know everybody looks forward to. But we want folks to know that there's a lot happening on Friday. And if you miss Friday you're missing half the fun. So, some of that fun includes our exhibit folks, which I know will, you know, talk to you later in the episode.
00:04:44:00 - 00:05:02:21
Sarah Busman: But we also are going to have all of our local businesses are going to be open late on that Friday. From 6 to 9. Some of them may have specials, so, like, it's a good time to hit them up, whether you're shopping or you want, you know, to get something to eat. Yeah. I'm going to talk a lot about food today, I apologize.
00:05:02:22 - 00:05:05:15
Miles McKeller-Smith: What we come here for.
00:05:05:17 - 00:05:36:14
Sarah Busman: And we also will have a large stage set up almost right in front of our building, where we'll we're partnering with El Centro Hispano, and they are have programed multiple hours of just really fun, family-friendly music and dancers. So, it'll be a great time to, you know, bring out your family, stop by the Arts Council, see the exhibit, participate in the workshop, go outside, do a little dancing.
00:05:36:16 - 00:05:56:21
Sarah Busman: And you know, if you're so inclined, you know, cool spring downtown district is a social district, so you can get something to drink at one of our, you know, local restaurants or bars. Come out, walk around, have enjoy the beautiful Friday night. So, so, yeah, it'll be a super fun way to kick off those festivities.
00:05:56:21 - 00:06:03:20
Sarah Busman: And, you know, we are the Arts Council, so there's going to be artists all along. Hay Street and Person Street. So, you can check them out, too.
00:06:03:22 - 00:06:20:01
Miles McKeller-Smith: For sure. I am so excited for us to be able to have evening programing for the festival this year. Just, you know, beyond being able to beat the heat, just it's a different kind of vibe to be able to have people on Hay Street in the evening going into the night and just think, I'm really excited to see how people respond to it in terms of those shifts.
00:06:20:01 - 00:06:25:16
Miles McKeller-Smith: So, you started mentioning performances. What kind of performances can we anticipate this year?
00:06:25:17 - 00:06:34:10
Sarah Busman: Yeah. So not just on Friday, but on Saturday. We've got a ton of performances planned. So, there's really a little bit.
00:06:34:23 - 00:06:59:23
Sarah Busman: Something for everybody. So, we have, it's really important at the Arts Council that we highlight all the different artistic mediums. So, you know, we have an art gallery, but we also know that spoken word, poetry, literary arts, and then also dance, theater, music, all that stuff super important to us. And you'll get to see all of that if, which is really cool.
00:06:59:23 - 00:07:10:00
Sarah Busman: So, Friday night it will mainly be, musical performances and the dancing will be left up to you all. So, bring those dance and feet out there.
00:07:10:02 - 00:07:11:04
Miles McKeller-Smith: We need y’all on Hay Street.
00:07:11:04 - 00:07:35:07
Sarah Busman: That's right. You got it. And if you're a bad dancer, that's fine. I'll be there. I'm a bad dancer. So you got to be better than me, I promise. But then on Saturday, if you want to get inspired by some more professional dancers, like, I will be, we've got several of our cultural groups have planned, some more extensive, choreographed dancing.
00:07:35:07 - 00:08:00:14
Sarah Busman: That'll be throughout the festival. We'll also have musicians there. We have some folks doing storytelling in the kid’s area. We've got some magicians roaming around, so lots of different, like, little pop-up performances. And on Saturday, all of those performances will be on the Festival Park stage. So you can walk into Festival Park and you'll be able to hear it and go check them out at any point.
00:08:00:15 - 00:08:15:15
Miles McKeller-Smith: So awesome. All right. And well, actually, before we get into the food, because I know we gotta touch on that. This is a family friendly event. So what kind of kid’s activities will be will there be, either both Friday and Saturday, but specifically on Saturday?
00:08:15:15 - 00:08:40:23
Sarah Busman: Yeah. So, the kid’s area I have two kids, that love going to I love and loved going to if before I worked here. And it's because there's always like some kind of engagement for them. Right. So, they can enjoy walking down the promenade and meeting folks. They can enjoy walking through the arts market and convincing me to buy them cool things, which they do very well.
00:08:41:01 - 00:09:03:16
Sarah Busman: Or they can go to the kid’s area and we'll have, this year we will have this sort of traditional bouncy house, and we always have games from around the world which are really fun to do. But then we also, are partnering with a couple of other folks. So the Fayetteville Symphony will be bringing some instruments out, and they'll do an instrument petting zoo, which will be really fun.
00:09:03:16 - 00:09:32:19
Sarah Busman: So, they'll be able to try out a whole bunch of different instruments and make sort of a beautiful, chaotic sound. And we're also we'll have the, school Lee Art bus, which is a literal bus, that pulls up and will open. It's, sort of those swinging bus doors and, kids can go in, choose an art activity, a visual art activity, and then bring it out on the lawn, and we'll have volunteers and staff there helping them create it.
00:09:32:19 - 00:09:57:04
Sarah Busman: So, it'll be super fun. And I, you know, I sort of in my effort to, like, get to the food talk, which is basically what I'm always here to do. I forgot to mention that Saturday morning, you know, the Parade of Nations is a super great place for families to come. We've got a ton of participants this year.
00:09:57:04 - 00:10:14:14
Sarah Busman: We're really looking forward to it. We've got a few new groups that we haven't seen before and then some old favorites. There's talk of, Hawaii bringing an Elvis impersonator this year. And so, if that happens, like, what do you do? And you got to be there.
00:10:14:14 - 00:10:18:04
Miles McKeller-Smith: For the rest of the performers, man, if they do that. Hey, how does one compete?
00:10:18:04 - 00:10:24:14
Sarah Busman: Yeah. And so, if you got a kid who's, like, obsessed with Lilo and Stitch, like, this is the time to go see, see that.
00:10:24:14 - 00:10:45:20
Miles McKeller-Smith: Love it. That's awesome. Well, and, you know, just in general, I know that the kid’s area every time that I we'll do laps while we're working it, it's just always bustling with energy. You know, there's just kids doing everything from live art. The bouncy house is obviously always a hit. So just, you know, if you've got kids, just know that this is a place you can come for some free family fun.
00:10:45:22 - 00:10:47:05
Miles McKeller-Smith: Now the food.
00:10:47:07 - 00:11:17:01
Sarah Busman: Yes, yes. Finally. No, I'm just kidding. I love my kids, but I love food also. So. So, Yeah, the food is, one of my favorite parts of high, if not all joking aside, but, because I think it kind of ties in with what you're talking about it being a family friendly event. So, most of the food vendors that we have our family run nonprofits, that this is one of maybe 1 or 2 events that they participate in all year.
00:11:17:07 - 00:11:50:06
Sarah Busman: And it could be three generations of folks all cooking this food for you, which is like one of my favorite things. So cool. Yeah. So, I don't know, if you have any of those old dusty cookbooks at home like I do. Yeah. And so, you know, if you're thinking about sort of brushing the dust off the top of that cookbook, and then you flip through and you find a recipe and you make it, and it's never quite as good as what your grandma's was because, you know, she left out.
00:11:50:08 - 00:11:51:00
Miles McKeller-Smith: Something.
00:11:51:00 - 00:12:22:22
Sarah Busman: Something in there because, you know, she's gotta have it. Well, grandma is going to be at that tent on the promenade, and she's going to be cooking it this special way and teaching her kids and her kids, her grandkids how to cook it. And then participants get to just walk up and try this amazing cuisine. So, if you've ever wanted to kind of both experience a whole bunch of different cultural food in one day, like that sounds amazing to me.
00:12:23:03 - 00:12:33:19
Sarah Busman: IFS for you. And if you, you know, enjoy seeing how those things are passed on. This I think it's a great opportunity to see that, too.
00:12:33:21 - 00:12:50:22
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely, absolutely. I'm so excited to see everyone out there just enjoying everything, trying different foods. Just again, you can't find a better place to be able to go and just be able to try so many different things in one spot. So really just I it would behoove you if this is your first time or if this is your, you know, 10th time.
00:12:51:03 - 00:13:09:23
Miles McKeller-Smith: Just try to go try something that you haven't tried before. You never know what you might, come across and experience and really enjoy. So, before we end this segment around, I just wanted to kind of touch on some things that people should know before they actually come to the festival. So, I'm going to list off a couple of things that they should bring, a couple of things they should leave.
00:13:09:23 - 00:13:31:15
Miles McKeller-Smith: I'm going to ask about parking real quick, so bear with me. So for everyone listening that plans to attend things to bring, please bring cash, bring your ID, especially if you plan to, purchase any alcoholic beverages. Please bring a clear water bottle or an empty water bottle. Excuse me that you can be able to refill with water out there.
00:13:31:17 - 00:13:46:14
Miles McKeller-Smith
Excuse me. Bring comfy shoes and clothes. There will be so much walking. You know, everyone gets their steps in during. If so, make sure that you are dressed appropriately and so that you don't hate yourself the next day. Because I've been there.
00:13:46:16 - 00:13:49:16
Sarah Busman: We only want you to hate yourself because you ate too much.
00:13:49:16 - 00:14:11:21
Miles McKeller-Smith: Eat too much and didn't wear the right shoes. Yeah. Clear bags only. Please, please, please. If you plan to bring a bag, make sure it is transparent. Clear bags only will be accepted as you go through the checkpoint. And most importantly, as Sarah just mentioned, there's a ton of food, so bring an empty belly. You're going to need things to leave at home.
00:14:11:23 - 00:14:30:16
Miles McKeller-Smith: Please leave your pets unless you are coming with a service animal. Please leave any weapons or any outside beverages. Drones especially. Please leave those things at the house. This is not the time for that. We have plenty of people getting plenty of photos and everything for you. We, you know, don't need any aerial on that.
00:14:30:16 - 00:14:39:00
Miles McKeller-Smith: And we appreciate the thought. Let's talk about accessibility. Nice for folks. What will there be present for folks? That may have some of those needs.
00:14:39:00 - 00:15:08:03
Sarah Busman: Yeah, absolutely. So first off, we take accessibility really seriously. We will accommodate everything within our absolute possibility. If you know that you have an accessibility need, we would love for you to call us ahead of time. So, we make sure that that's being met. I'm sure that this information will be on the link within the descriptions, but you can call our office (910) 323-1776.
00:15:08:05 - 00:15:34:13
Sarah Busman: And then I'll be happy to accommodate anything that you have. If you have an accessibility need within the park grounds, know that the field and Festival Park is not paved, but there is a paved walkway between the first security checkpoint and that leads all the way through to the promenade. So, if you need a paved area for, any wheels that you're riding, that's your way to go.
00:15:34:19 - 00:15:58:08
Sarah Busman: If you would like to get on to Festival Park. Grounds, but can't make your way onto those grassy areas, please let us know. We'll have golf carts there and we can help you get over there. And then for parking, if you need accessible parking, we have some options. Throughout the city. We'll have some maps on our website of specific places.
00:15:58:10 - 00:16:07:04
Sarah Busman: But please, if there's any needs that you have, we want to make sure that if is, accessible and fun for everybody. So hit us up. We're here to help.
00:16:07:06 - 00:16:16:17
Miles McKeller-Smith: Awesome. Thank you so much for that. Is there anything else that we're leaving off for? If before people come out here, it's going to be here, before we know it, I think.
00:16:16:17 - 00:16:53:04
Sarah Busman: No, I think, you know, we are really grateful for folks who come to if who participate in if it's a huge community event. And so I think the only thing that I, I didn't mention, because Miles and I will be running so much, but if you would like to run before you get to if we do host the, Friends of Civil Affairs run around the world at the Botanical Gardens that Saturday morning at 8 a.m.
00:16:53:04 - 00:17:04:03
Sarah Busman: You need to pre-register for it. But let's say you just want to get one extra empanada and you're feeling guilty about it. Just run on the front end of that, and then you can get knock that out. Oh.
00:17:04:04 - 00:17:05:02
Miles McKeller-Smith: Free empanadas.
00:17:05:02 - 00:17:10:23
Sarah Busman: Yeah. That's what we all want, right? Absolutely. But yeah, please come out and join us. It'll be a great time.
00:17:11:02 - 00:17:36:10
Miles McKeller-Smith: Awesome. And as well I'd like to thank our sponsors for this year's festival. Thank you to T fiber, CBS 17, Cumulus Media, Cape Fear Valley Health, Dogwood State Bank, United Bank, TRP Sumner, The North Carolina Arts Council, Cumberland County and the City of Fayetteville. And for all the other information that you need and if you can find it at TheArtsCouncil.com/iff.
00:17:36:10 - 00:17:37:11
Miles McKeller-Smith: Thank you. Sarah. Thanks.
00:17:37:11 - 00:17:39:12
Sarah Busman: I'll see y'all at the empanada stand.
00:17:39:18 - 00:17:49:17
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely.
00:17:49:19 - 00:18:04:22
Miles McKeller-Smith: Our latest exhibit, Celebration of Sapphire Mail from around the World, is a refreshing take on what's possible in our gallery space. We're now joined by curators Penny Weaver and Michele Davis Pet to discuss this incredible exhibit. Michelle Penny, welcome to the show.
00:18:05:00 - 00:18:06:20
Penny Weaver: Thank you. Thanks, Miles.
00:18:06:22 - 00:18:15:04
Miles McKeller-Smith: So before we get too far into the exhibit, can you talk to us a little bit about your creative connection and, just what that organization does.
00:18:15:06 - 00:18:55:12
Penny Weaver: We curate creative experiences for women. We've done that in small local gatherings, various workshops and offerings. But our flagship event is an annual retreat on the North Carolina coast, where a group comes together, makes magic, discovers new things about art and creativity, and quite often themselves, and leaves as a fully formed group. They maintain contact with each other throughout the year and look forward to seeing each other again in the following years.
00:18:55:12 - 00:19:04:04
Penny Weaver: And it's just it's been a real gift for us as the organizers, as well as the women who come and enjoy what we have to offer.
00:19:04:06 - 00:19:12:03
Miles McKeller-Smith: Nice. And I understand that this exhibit is really a celebration of an anniversary, behind one of those events or one of those get togethers. Correct?
00:19:12:07 - 00:19:28:01
Penny Weaver: Right. It was a celebration of our fifth anniversary. And quite as it's kept, the sapphire was known as the gem or the gift for a fifth anniversary. So, we found inspiration in that.
00:19:28:03 - 00:19:45:09
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely. Well, let's get right into the, theme behind this exhibit. When we talk about the international reach that this had, what were some of the intentions behind the call for art? And can you just talk to us a little bit about the process there?
00:19:45:11 - 00:20:22:23
Penny Weaver: Well, we did a fair amount of research online because male art is a phenomenon, especially in Europe. There are, various groups that and collect male art from all around the world. And we thought, wow, that would be really cool to be able to gather art from around the world. So that was really the impetus. We, as I said, did some research, we put the call out and we kind of crossed our fingers and hoped that someone would respond.
00:20:23:01 - 00:20:36:07
Penny Weaver: And we were just gratified to see and experience what people interpreted when we put out the call for celebration of Sapphire and what to Sapphire mean to you?
00:20:36:09 - 00:20:44:13
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely were. Were there any surprises as you guys started receiving submissions in the mail?
00:20:44:15 - 00:21:23:18
Penny Weaver: Daily almost. I mean, they didn't come actually every day, but checking the mail became a great deal of fun and intrigue at my house. Just the amazing range of art that we received. Everything collage, hand drawn pieces, hand-painted pieces, digital art, traditional art, photography. Oh, yes. Beautiful photography. The just the vast range in the various forms.
00:21:23:19 - 00:21:43:09
Penny Weaver: Because we didn't restrict it to anything. We did ask for a specific size. Nobody needed to worry about that. Yeah, but just the amazing variety of artwork that we received was probably the biggest surprise.
00:21:43:10 - 00:21:56:14
Miles McKeller-Smith: You know, when you say variety, it's just I think that that's the perfect word for this exhibit because beyond the variety of interpretations of the theme, I know you guys had a wide range of ages that were also included in this exhibit. Can you speak to that a little bit?
00:21:56:14 - 00:22:21:03
Michelle Davis Petelinz: Yes. Our age range was three years old to 82 years old. The three-year-old was Penny's granddaughter, and the 82-year-old was one of our creative explorers who has joined us. I think 3 or 4 times at our seaside sessions retreats. So, I mean, within that range, I mean, think about all of the people and all the ages that that represents.
00:22:21:03 - 00:22:24:08
Michelle Davis Petelinz: So we were really gratified to.
00:22:24:10 - 00:22:42:22
Miles McKeller-Smith: I love to hear that. And that's, you know, I think that that really, again, speaks to the accessibility found with, the medium that you chose. Can you speak a little bit more about, why male art is such an accessible medium for people to engage with?
00:22:43:00 - 00:23:05:22
Michelle Davis Petelinz: Well, I think it means that there are no boundaries. You know, as Penny said, we did ask for a specific size. We asked for it to be flat, but other than that, there were really no restrictions. And so the joy of this and what we hope people will see when they, you know, tour the gallery, is that art is everything.
00:23:05:23 - 00:23:31:09
Michelle Davis Petelinz: Art can be anything. There were people that used some of the images, imagery from our call poster, which were some sapphires. And it was just so wonderful to see the interpretations, the various ways people approached the question of what does blue or what does sapphire mean to you? Yeah. So, yeah, I love it.
00:23:31:11 - 00:23:51:17
Miles McKeller-Smith: So we recently opened the exhibit on Friday. And, you know, I know that listeners will be listening to this, about two weeks in advance from then, but it's going to be two weeks after then. But, talk to us a bit about when you saw folks in the exhibit and just taking it in for the first time and just really engaging with everything that you have, you know, spent so much time working on.
00:23:51:19 - 00:23:54:19
Miles McKeller-Smith: What was that like for you?
00:23:54:21 - 00:24:23:19
Penny Weaver: That was where the magic was, really. I mean, you plan, you envision, you figure out the best way to present this vast and varied body of work. But we love it. We loved the idea before a single postcard showed up in the mail. So to see people come in and walk through the exhibit and go back again.
00:24:23:23 - 00:24:57:20
Penny Weaver: I think that was my biggest takeaway from the opening, last Friday night is people made the rounds, they looked at their brochure, they took it all in, and then went back again to for a second look or a third look to really take in the details and see what had been created with, on its face, a very simple prompt, but just the vast differences and all of the work that we received makes it worth a second look, I think.
00:24:57:20 - 00:25:20:10
Penny Weaver: And that was the coolest thing to me about Friday night. Aside from it being done time and all in one place, right? And no longer needing our hands upon it. Yeah.
00:25:20:12 - 00:25:38:13
Michelle Davis Petelinz: The other cool thing that I observed was people in the do you know section who came to me and said, I didn't know that about the penny stamp. I didn’t know about the word for, you know, postcard expert is a delight ologist. I had no idea. So I think we made we tried to make that fun to, you know, not be dry and boring. And I think it worked. And that was a fun thing to.
00:25:38:18 - 00:26:00:05
Miles McKeller-Smith: You know, I feel like you guys have just did such a great job making sure that the pacing of the exhibit makes sense for people as they're going through it. And that was one of the comments that I heard, on Friday as well. But I think that that area in particular, the did you know area where you also have the display, is just so perfectly placed and really just helps give the context of why this exhibit is so important and kind of where it came from.
00:26:00:10 - 00:26:18:04
Miles McKeller-Smith: So just incredible job with that. As we go through it. Yeah. Of course. As we go through it, what else do you like? Just what do you hope future visitors take from this? Now that it's up and going, has anything shifted in your expectations there, or just how are you feeling?
00:26:18:06 - 00:26:49:18
Penny Weaver: I hope that as many people as can will come see it. It is a striking visual spectacle in and of itself. There's over 100 pieces of handcrafted male sized art, and that, in and of itself is an amazing thing to behold. I think beyond that, my hope is that people will see just how accessible making art is.
00:26:49:20 - 00:27:20:06
Penny Weaver: You don't have to be a famous artist. You don't have to have gone to art school. I'm not ditching this and anybody that has done all those things. We need those people too. But the simple accessibility of art, of self-expression, of taking what you have, whether it's colored pencils, crayons, markers, anything, an old magazine and cutting it up and re-envisioning those images to tell a different story.
00:27:20:08 - 00:27:48:17
Penny Weaver: That is probably my most profound hope as a takeaway for people that come and visit the gallery, because you can do it. One lady I spoke to Friday night said, “This is amazing. This is what I want to do. And I said, okay, you can absolutely live there. It's just a matter of. Giving yourself permission. I can do this.
00:27:48:19 - 00:27:58:10
Penny Weaver: And even if nobody else sees it, you have the pleasure of stepping back and saying I made this.
00:27:58:12 - 00:27:59:08
Miles McKeller-Smith: What about you Michelle.
00:27:59:13 - 00:28:23:09
Michelle Davis Petelinz: Well, that's one of the I was just going to piggyback on that and say that's one of the reasons that I teach. You know that moment that I did this where you may not have thought when you walked into the classroom that you weren't good at art, you weren't creative, you didn't have a vision. But then, you know, through what we did, you did it.
00:28:23:11 - 00:28:49:10
Michelle Davis Petelinz: And I think everybody has a creative spark. You know, I think everyone is creative. And I say when people say to me, oh, I'm not creative. I always say, you just haven't found your medium yet. So if you can put together an attractive outfit, if you can cook and you know, a delicious meal, if you can interpret dance, if you can write, that's creativity.
00:28:49:10 - 00:29:03:03
Michelle Davis Petelinz: And I think we get so, you know, categorized or, you know, in a box. And I think this exhibit shows you that, you know, if a three-year-old can do it, you can do it too.
00:29:03:05 - 00:29:20:12
Miles McKeller-Smith: Absolutely. Love that. And, you know, I think that our hinting is something that's really important. And also coming up is that if they all have that creative spark and they all can do it, all they need is a place to do it. And I think we have that for them, don't we? On September 22nd. Tell us a little about the workshop.
00:29:20:14 - 00:29:52:00: Penny Weaver: Yeah, we are inviting people to come out and join us on September 25th from 6 to 9 p.m. here at the Arts Council and make mill art with us. No preconceived notions. You don't have to have an idea when you come in the door. We will have materials galore. We'll be offering demos throughout the evening, but mainly we just want to provide the space and the things needed so that people can get their hands a little bit dirty and make an effort further.
00:29:52:05 - 00:30:26:09
Penny Weaver: All of the postcards that are made with us during our hands on event, we will mail to whoever they're addressed to on October 1st, which is World Postcard Day. So we're really excited. Not only that, our exhibit is partnered with the International Folk Festival, but that we have another way to link it up to an existing event to further the awareness of male art, as well as the boundless possibilities of the simple postcard.
00:30:26:11 - 00:30:43:08
Miles McKeller-Smith: That is incredible. This sounds like such a fun and cool activity for people to do and engage in this space. That's the best part about it. You can just see the mail and then if you need the inspiration from it is there. If you come in, just ready to just make something and just freestyle it, that option is there too.
00:30:43:09 - 00:30:58:21
Miles McKeller-Smith: I'm excited to see how people engage with this. And, you know, again, we're going to have a lot of stuff going on Friday on Hay Street. So you're going to need a break from all that dancing and stuff that you're doing. So come on into the gallery and make yourself some art. Penny and Michelle am I am I missing anything?
00:30:58:22 - 00:31:12:15
Miles McKeller-Smith: There's anything else that you want to share with the folks about this exhibit? Before we wrap up? Well, thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. Just again, I'm looking forward to the remainder of this exhibit. And congratulations on getting it up.
00:31:12:16 - 00:31:13:20
Penny Weaver: Thanks, Miles.
00:31:13:22 - 00:31:33:08
Miles McKeller-Smith: And that concludes this episode of For the Arts. Thank you for listening. You can find our podcast on the Radio Fayetteville Podcast Channel available on your favorite streaming platforms. Be sure to subscribe to listen to every podcast that Radio Fayetteville has to offer. We end this episode with music from one of this year's IFF performers, Alex Weiss, and Different Drum.
00:31:33:09 - 00:32:10:22
Miles McKeller-Smith: Here's a previously recorded live performance of Guantanamera.



Comments