by Molly Matlock, Executive Director of ChathamArts
This was a proud weekend in Chatham. 1. ChathamArts and the Bluegrass Experience dazzled an audience of nearly 600 music fans at the band’s 40th Anniversary Concert with special guest, Clyde Edgerton. They played nearly ’til midnight, and 25 of Tommy Edwards’ former co-workers from Chatham Middle School showed up to surprise him, which of course, choked him up. Check out Dynamo Muse Productions’ commemorative slide show, “Bluegrass Experience, This is Your Life:” http://chathamarts.org/downloads/Bluegrass Experience.ppt
2. Piedmont Biofuels, the Abundance Foundation, and Miraverse Power and Light unveiled their new Solar Double Cropping Venture: http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/nov/06/3/solar-double-cropping-unveiled-pittsboro-ar-1580494/.
3. Amy & Michael Tiemann cut the ribbon/recording tape on their new world-class Manifold Recording Studio off of Seaforth Road in Pittsboro. The studio has already hosted some of the top recording artists in the world, like Croatian Marimba virtuoso, Ivana Bilic. The Tiemann’s want to allow musicians the freedom to create the art *artists* want to create in the absence “market” limitations. They also wish to share the magic that happens at the very moment of creation by inviting intimate audiences to witness the recording act in progress in a sort of listening-room concert experience.
Manifold hosted a professional recording of local school groups from the Community Chorus Glee Project: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrcfZukRH6U, and they have invited elementary and middle school students in to also experience performances and interactive discussions with their recroding artists. Manifold is truly a special and vital addition to the rich creative atmosphere that we enjoy in Chatham County and NC. Please read the Tiemann’s wonderful introduction speech here: http://blog.miraverse.com/2011/11/06/speech-text-from-miraverse-power-light-solar-double-cropping-ribbon-cutting/.
Many state and national leaders attended the ribbon cutting on November 5th, including:
Senator Ellie Kinnaird
Representative Verla Insko
NPR’s Dick Gordon
Musician, Pierce Freelon
Lyle Estill of Piedmont Biofuels
Pittsboro Mayor Randy Voller
NC Arts Council Director, Mary Regan and Arts in Education Director, Banu Valledares
Wonderful event. Wish I had been up-to-speed and aware of it. My new website, listed above, will hope to feature Chatham in theme statements and blog. Ciao. d
Amy and Michael: what an honor to meet you at Jane Brown’s and James
Protzman’s annual 4th of July picnic – I have heard you names so many
times through mutual friends in Chatham (Jeffrey, Randy, etc.) – enjoyed
chatting with you both and looking forward to our paths crossing again
soon. I have been reading about Manifold Productions and what an asset
you have brought to our beloved County.
Barb