Published: 07:00 AM, Thu Jul 23, 2009
Fourth Friday fills downtown with art, culture and entertainment
By Brian Dukes
Staff writer
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then entrants in the Arts Council's latest juried exhibit, titled "Get the Picture?," had plenty to say.
The exhibit opens Friday as part of the monthly Fourth Friday event at the Arts Council. "Get the Picture?" will be on display through Sept. 19.
"I'm impressed with what we've got with this exhibit," said Calvin Mims, art services coordinator for the Arts Council. "There are some real striking images."
More than 50 photographers from Cumberland and surrounding counties submitted more than 130 photos for the juried competition, he said.
"It's going to be a really exciting competition," Mims said.
Among the images submitted, Mims said, several genres and styles of photography are covered, including pictures grounded in realism or with abstract roots. The exhibit also features diverse subjects, Mims added.
"I think people have been preparing for this competition for a while," Mims said, "because we received a lot of images of Fayetteville covered in snow."
Those images, Mims said, were most likely taken during the area's last significant snowfall earlier this year.
"It's interesting to find so many photographers in Fayetteville," said Mims, noting the high number of entries, including many first-timers. "Fayetteville loves photography."
Mims credits the rise of digital photography with the increase in submissions.
"More and more people are doing a lot of creative things with digital imagery," Mims said. "I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised with this exhibit."
A total of $1,000 in prize money will be awarded in different categories for the "Get the picture?" exhibit.
Fourth Friday
Where: Downtown Fayetteville. The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St.
When: Most events are from 7 to 9 p.m.
Street closing: Please note that Hay Street will be closed to vehicles from 5 to 10 p.m.
Other Fourth Friday Activities
Several different vendors and performers can be found along Hay Street.
Beads & Botanicals will feature the acoustic guitar talents of Jenelle Aubade-Caracas.
Cape Fear Studios will host sculpture by UNC-Pembroke art professor Adam Walls and his students.
CJ Designs, Inc. will feature the work of Italian artist Romana Gennaro.
The Cotton Exchange will host live jazz music by the Cape Fear Music Center.
Fascinate-U Children's Museum will have arts and crafts activities.
The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum will have exhibits and artifacts of transportation on display.
The Headquarters Library will offer a mix of blues music from Claudia Swartz and Blues Enigma.
The Market House will feature an exhibition about the role of the local area relative to the Revolutionary War.
Rude Awakening will have the metal art of David McCune on display.
White Trash will have mosaic cakes and cupcakes by Michelle Legler.
Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at dukesb@fayobserver.com or 486-3523.