Pool of ideas

Virgina Center for Creative Arts

Virgina Center for Creative Arts

If the Virginia scenery isn’t inspiring enough, there’s always a night at the “dive in movie.”

I’m spending a little time away from home here at the Virginia Center for Creative Arts in Amherst, Virginia. The creative retreat provides quiet time and ample freedom for a small group of writers, composers and visual artists to develop new ideas (or recover from the last one).

Past Fellows are recipients of some prestigious fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as winners of National Book Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and MacArthur genius awards.

Whatever they put in the water here, has good effect.

On the drive up, I had some time to think about this last year. 2010 brought some new and challenging projects, and I wanted to thank all of you who shared in the creation, production, and performance of each of them:

Providence Gap
Beautiful Star
Songs in the Rear View Mirror
Redbird Round
Polecat Creek and Steep Canyon Rangers

A walk around this gorgeous campus is helping me settle in. A few conversations with some Fellow guests will help, too. And there’s always the pool.

Residents here turned the empty pool into a “dive in” movie. Just the kind of creative idea I’d like to dive into.

See you when I get back.

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  • 1 Sep 2010
  • Category: Theater
  • Author: admin
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Redbird Round

Lurelyn1(2)

You all know I love a good songwriter’s round. So last summer when I first met Diana Jones and heard her original songs in the Appalachian style, I knew I had one for the round. As a long-time fan of Alice Gerrard’s work, I also knew she would complete the circle.

The three of us will be taking this short concert series on the road, cutting through the winter’s dismal gray like a bunch of red birds, singing songs and sharing stories. I look forward to seeing what comes of this.

Hope to see you all there. Meantime, you can visit redbirdround.com for more information.

7:30 pm Wednesday, December 9
EMFfringe at Triad Stage, Greensboro, NC.
Tickets: $20. Order online.

Noon, Friday, December 11
Live on WUNC’s The State of Things

8 pm Friday, December 11
House Concert and Potluck Dinner at the Clemens’ house, Cornelius, NC.
Dinner at 6 pm. Music at 8 pm. Advance payment necessary to confirm seating.
Tickets $20 adults; $12 students. Call Bethli at (704) 892-4914, or email emiescher@bellsouth.net

7:30 pm Saturday, December 12
The ArtsCenter’s new performance space at University Mall, Carrboro, NC.
Tickets $15; Friend $13. Order online.

7 pm Sunday, December 13
The Poplar Knight Spot, Aberdeen, NC
Tickets $15 presale, $18 at the door. Order online.

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  • 11 Nov 2009
  • Category: Theater
  • Author: admin
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