Center for the Arts

Located at Swain County High School

Eugenia (Jenny) Johnson, Director
Phone:  828-488-7843

ART EXHIBIT:  104 pieces of artwork in a variety of media and subjects by students of Swain County High School and Swain County Middle School will be on exhibit during April through May 14.  Media include drawings in colored pencil, marker, scratchboard, mixed media, and pen & ink; paintings in watercolor, acrylic, oil, tempera, pastels, markers, and mixed media; ceramic pottery, weaving, paper beads, baskets weaving, paper cut-out design, linoleum prints, papier machè vases and masks, mixed media sculpture, collage, photography, and altered books.  Sheena Kohlmeyer is the art teacher at the middle schools and Dora May is the art teacher at the high school.  Included in the exhibit is a collection of 16 photographs in a traveling exhibit, Power of the Image, from the North Carolina Museum of Art.  Six Swain County students have photographs in this traveling art exhibit with other students from across the state.  The photographs explore how images have persuaded and influenced society throughout history. 

May 16-July 23 Exhibit:  Expressive acrylic paintings by Laura Elliott of Sylva, NC, and glasswork by Tadashi Torii of Sylva, NC  The imagery in the Elliott’s abstract paintings was inspired by the beauty and wisdom of nature, the energy of life and the soulful meanderings of the artist’s heart.  The style of Torii’s glass art is inspired by his Japanese heritage, nature and the human experience.                                          

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May 18 (Saturday)    Concert & Artist Reception—Thea & The GreenMan of Asheville will perform a concert of original acoustic folk music.  Stellar harmony vocals accompanied by guitar and percussion bring a heart-centered message of love and hope, family and nature to audiences both young and old.  Their lyrics are inspired by Native American imagery, the elements of nature, and the subject of mountains, rivers and canyons.  Immediately following the concert there will be a reception for artist and writer, Laura Elliott of Sylva, NC, and glass artist, Tadashi Torii of Sylva, NC.  The exhibit of abstract paintings and glasswork will be on display at Swain County Center for the Arts through July 23.  The imagery in the artwork was inspired by the beauty and wisdom of nature, the energy of life and the soulful meanderings of the artist’s heart.  The message of the artwork is reflected in the music for the evening.  In addition to the concert by Thea & The GreenMan, Iva Veazey of Durham will play the keyboard during the reception featuring compositions inspired by Laura Elliott’s paintings.  Open edition lithographic prints on low acid paper will be available for sale along with CDs by the musicians.  Sponsored by Swain County Center for the Arts and Swain County Schools, the public is invited to attend both the concert and the reception free of charge. 

                          7:00 pm to 8:15 pm—Concert in the Auditorium.

                          8:15 pm to 9:00 pm—Reception in the Lobby.                                        

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*Click on month of desired calendar under "Calendar of Events" on the right for a downloadable version of this month's calendar.

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Other May Events:   SCHS and SCMS Spring Band Concert on May 3 at 6:30 pm; Art League of the Smokies watercolor painting workshop, “Mist on the Mountains,” taught by Sandra Brugh Moore on May 7 (advance registration and fee required); End of Year Program for Bright Adventures Pre-K on May 9 at 12:00 pm; Arts Enrichment Dance and Guitar Recital on May 13 at 6:30 pm; SCHS Academic Awards Ceremony on May 14 at 6:30 pm; Original Folk Music Concert by Thea & The GreenMan on May 18 at 7:00 pm followed by artist reception for Laura Elliott at 8:15 pm; East Elementary Kindergarten Graduation on May 28 at 10:30 am; Swain County Schools Faculty & Staff Awards Ceremony on May 29 at 1:00 pm; Slide Show for SCHS Seniors and their families on June 1 at 9:00 am.

Call Jenny Johnson at 488-7843 to reserve the Center for the Arts for your own event or to view exhibits.   Go to www.swain.k12.nc.us/cfta for the latest calendar of events.