The excitement builds at J.S. Waters School as students eagerly await their performance. They’re sitting in neat rows on the floor, not exactly sure of what they’re here to see, but sure they’ve taken a mini field trip – a break from their normal routine – so something exciting must be about to take place…. Read More →
Artists-in-Schools: Curriculum Come to Life in Two Chatham County Elementary Schools
History, math, science – sometimes everyday curriculum can be difficult to grasp for elementary school students. The concept seems unfamiliar or too far removed from everyday life to grasp. But when a student becomes an integral part of dissecting and reconstructing it in a different way, the ability to connect with curriculum concepts is more… Read More →
Artists-in-Schools: Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana Spanish Dance Residencies Bring Out the Inner Artists in Students at Two Chatham County Schools
Spanish dancing. It’s not the typical after-school activity for students at Moncure School or North Chatham Elementary. When Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana arrived at those two Chatham county schools this March as part of the Artists-in-Schools Initiative, Spanish dancing became THE ticket to eliciting smiles and big participation–and to unleashing the inner artist in students… Read More →
Go See This: Storytelling at Bynum
As new members of our Chatham County community, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series this year because art is an integral part of Chatham County’s identity. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . . As I prepare my digital voice recorder to interview Cindy Raxter, organizer of the Bynum… Read More →
Roadhouse Storytellers®
Meet This Artist: Mike Wiley—The Busiest Man in Show Business
This month’s “Meet This Artist” is written by guest blogger Elisabeth Lewis Corley. Multiple hyphenate Mike Wiley, an actor-playwright- director-arts educator, came to Pittsboro because he and his wife, Jodi Neely Wiley, were living in Apex and expecting a second child when their first was almost four and they needed more room. And Jodi Neely… Read More →
Go See This: Sunday Afternoon Poetry at the Joyful Jewel
This month’s “Go See This” is written by guest blogger Selbe Bartlett. Sunday, September 17th will mark the first in a regular monthly series of Sunday afternoon poetry readings at Pittsboro’s Joyful Jewel. This new series provides an ongoing, consistent time and space for poets and poetry lovers in the area to gather. It will feature established… Read More →
Go See This: Premiere of “The Courthouse”
“The courthouse is on fire!” Many local folks know where they were on the afternoon of March 25, 2010. That was the day the iconic, historic 1881 Chatham County Courthouse on the circle in Pittsboro was almost lost to a fire. Fortunately, local documentary filmmaker Mike O’Connell, of Haw River Films was ready with his gear to capture on film footage from that… Read More →
Meet This Artist: Young Authors, Bright Lights
When Chatham County’s media coordinators put out a call for original stories, more than 500 elementary and middle school students delivered. Autobiographies, works of fiction, pop-ups books, poetry – they arrived in many forms. From this pool of literature, 50 were selected – representing the top picks from each public school. The authors of these… Read More →
Meet this Artist: Liz Bliss is a Cirque Performer with a Flare
Chatham County artist Elizabeth Robertson (aka Liz Bliss) is a cirque performer, aerial artist, acrobat, stilt dancer, fire dancer and instructor. “I tend to think of myself more as a professional smile maker. My goal is to inspire others to move, express and be,” she said. Though she pursued a career in public health and… Read More →