As Chatham Park continues to develop its community, they remain dedicated to supporting local art in Chatham County. As part of that commitment, Chatham Park is powering our Go See This series. They join us in inviting you to Go See This . . .
Whether you live in a big city or a small town, the arts have a way of bringing people together and spreading joy and beauty. Artists have undoubtedly struggled over the past two years in this pandemic, making it difficult for them to share their beautiful work with their communities. To help support these artists and share their unique artistry, Chatham Arts Council is once again pleased to be collaborating with the arts councils of the Triangle region to bring you Big Night In for the Arts, in partnership with WRAL.
This year’s event features Triangle artists from across many different artistic disciplines, from tap dancing, to poetry, to music, including Chatham County’s own Jabu Graybeal, a talented tap dancer who grew up in Pittsboro, and well-known pottery master, Mark Hewitt. You’ll see Ben Folds, Hiss Golden Messenger, Jaki Shelton Green, and Nnenna Freelon showing up for you, too.
“Artists have been collaborating across county lines for a long time now, and our arts councils can, too,” says Cheryl Chamblee, Artistic Director for Chatham Arts Council. “I love that Big Night In brings the power of regional partnership, especially with WRAL on board, while raising dollars to make the arts possible in ways that are highly localized and specific to the unique needs in each county.”
For Mark Hewitt, as with many artists, these past two years have been difficult. But in the face of adversity, Mark found innovation. “It’s been a challenging time, but artists are resilient,” notes Mark. “In times of difficulty, you need to work harder and be more creative. While artists have struggled, we’ve also dug deep and found the strength to be creative during these difficult times.”
While the number of visitors to his popular kiln openings declined during the past two years, Mark decided to put his effort into his website, allowing people to buy his work online. “Fewer people were coming to the kiln openings, so we were obliged to create an online gallery, which has enabled us to sell pots across the country,” says Mark. “Like many businesses, the pandemic required us to be innovative and flexible in the ways that we do business. It’s been fascinating but a lot of hard work.”
In North Carolina, there is no shortage of talented artists, and many of them take pains to reflect the qualities of North Carolina in their work. For Mark Hewitt, his work represents more than meets the eye.
“A lifetime of practice has allowed me to develop a refined skillset,” says Mark. “My work is a reflection of my love of the local materials I use and the fascinating history of North Carolina’s pottery tradition. When you have one of my mugs, you hold that history in your hand. Pottery is my language, in the same way that playing music or singing is for a musician, or dancing is for a dancer. There’s a communication that every art form has, and each medium speaks of love, hope, and self expression.”
Cheryl had the opportunity to hang out at Hewitt Pottery while WRAL filmed the magic of Mark making a new pot. “It was such a cool two days. I took those awesome folks from WRAL to so many welcoming spots in the county–Chatham Mills, the Plant, Hewitt Pottery, Pittsboro Elementary, downtown Pittsboro, Siler City Elementary, Love’s Creek in Siler,” she says. “I hope tons of folks will tune in to see how beautifully the people of our community show up as we talk about creating space for joy and grief through the arts, at a time when mental and emotional health is so deeply important.”
We encourage you to mark your calendars for Thursday night’s event on WRAL. If you’d like to support local arts, in Chatham and across the region, you can donate prior to the event or live during the event. Audiences and arts enthusiasts who have enjoyed the arts across the Triangle for years can make a gift to benefit the four counties collectively or designate which specific county they would like to support. Every dollar helps ensure the arts in the Triangle will survive and thrive.
Join us on March 10 and show your support of the arts!
- What: Big Night In for the Arts
- When: Thursday, March 10, 7pm
- Where: Broadcast will be live on WRAL-TV and livestreamed (Livestream link can be found at WRAL.com when the event begins!)
- Cost: Free
- How to donate: Click here to donate today!
For more information, visit BigNightIn.org
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