Clayton Visual Arts schedules a new exhibit each month of local and regional artworks in the lobby of The Clayton Center in downtown Clayton. The CVA’s Larry Strevig talks with artist Walter Day just before the Artist Reception earlier this month about his works.

Here is a link to the VIDEO

The video is shown several times a day on Clayton’s Channel 11, which is available to Clayton subscribers of Time Warner Cable.

A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) which details the scope of the project and services needed is being made available to firms across the area.  

 The nearly mile-long stretch of street will have curbs and gutters with a five-foot sidewalk on one side and a 10-foot multi-use asphalt path on the other that will be part of the effort to provide walking trails through town. 
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 Ladysmith Black Mambazo bring their incredible, joyous South African harmonies to The Clayton Center for an 8 p.m. performance on Saturday, Feb. 18.

 Best-known for defining the sound on Paul Simon’s groundbreaking 1980s Graceland album, Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s musical efforts have garnered praise and accolades within the recording industry. Led by founder Joseph Shabalala, this group of extraordinary vocalists delivers the poly-rhythmic, complex and harmonious songs developing out of the African Isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-Ya) tradition. Isicathamiya developed in the mines of South Africa, where black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families. Poorly housed and paid worse, the mine workers would entertain themselves after a six-day week by singing songs into the wee hours on Sunday morning. When the miners returned to the homelands, this musical tradition returned with them.

In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his Graceland album – a landmark 1986 recording that was considered seminal in introducing world music to mainstream audiences. Graceland won many awards including the Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year. A year later, Simon produced Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s first U.S. release, Shaka Zulu, which won the Grammy Award in 1988 for Best Traditional Folk Album. Since then, and in total, the group has received 15 Grammy Award nominations and three Grammy Award wins, including one in 2009.

In addition to their work with Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, and Ben Harper. Their 2006 CD Long Walk To Freedom featured guest singers Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris and Taj Mahal, among others. Their film work includes an appearance in Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker video and Spike Lee’s Do It A Cappella. They also provided soundtrack material for Disney’s The Lion King, Part II as well as Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, Clint Eastwood’s Invictus, Marlon Brando’s A Dry White Season, Sean Connery’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and James Earl Jones’ Cry The Beloved Country. A film documentary titled On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, the story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award.

After 40-plus years, one would think that the group would be slowing down, but Ladysmith Black Mambazo is entering what promises to be the busiest years of their career since Graceland. They have six new recording projects they are readying for release, a new concert DVD and a children’s project. They have long wished to release a trilogy of CD’s that sing of their life experiences in South Africa called “Our South African Life.” Volume one, released in January 2011, is Songs From A Zulu Farm.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert are $29 and are available through The Clayton Center Box Office by phone at 919-553-1737, from 10 a.m. until noon and from 1 until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or online at www.theclaytoncenter.com.

All shows in the 2011-2012 Palladian Series are held in the renovated and historic 600-seat auditorium at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton, located about 15 miles east of Raleigh. The next scheduled show in the Palladian Series is a special event performance by WRAL news anchor Bill Leslie & Lorica in an Afternoon of Appalachian Storytelling. Tickets are $20. A concert by legendary folk singer Nancy Griffith on Saturday, April 14, will close out the season. Tickets to that show are $34. 

Other popular artists presented in past seasons at The Clayton Center include Kathy Mattea, Dianne Reeves, Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Winter, Jesse Cook, Jim Brickman, Doc Watson, Eileen Ivers, Riders In the Sky, the Harlem Gospel Choir and David Sedaris.

Day has lived in Clayton since 1983, having moved here fromMassachusetts, and paints in oil on canvas.

His show, entitled “Images from Mental Notes,” will be on display in theClaytonCenterlobby, 111 E.Second St., Feb. 1-Feb. 29, from 9 to 5 Monday-Friday.

Day said, “Painting is the expression of my thought process,” and this led him to entitle his show “Images from Mental Notes.”

His goal “is to extract from the memory and recall actual visual stimulations rather than merely copy” what he sees.

He added, “It is my desire to communicate the subject … with every piece I render. How [I] see images artistically has always been the underlying focus of my work.”

Day’s work inNorth Carolinastarted with what he calls Contemporary Old South, followed by landscapes.

“I sampled and experimented with various schools of discipline in search of my own comfort of expression,” he said. “My work was still evolving as I painted personal portraits, portraits of homes, portraits of pets, and works in Native American context.”

He participated in a traveling group show and then a series of one-man shows.

Today he flirts with different techniques and disciplines and believes there remains a distinct, identifiable element by which his work may be recognized.

Day studied art and design at the Rochester Institute of Technology inRochester,N.Y.,  and left after one year to start painting.

When he, his wife, and son moved to Clayton, they started “The Friends of God” radio and television programs, and he painted to support the ministry.

He has been a board member of the Wake Visual Art Association, served as a member of the Clayton Steering Committee for Public Art, and was commissioned by Johnston Health for the creation of works to be installed in the lobbies and reception areas of Johnston Medical Centers in Clayton and Smithfield .

He has had numerous exhibits throughout easternNorth Carolina, and his work hangs in such places as Banks of America, the former Wachovia Banks, and the former Glaxo Wellcome facility.

Among his awards are first, second, and third places, United Tribes Unity Conference,Raleigh; Regional Artist Project Grant, United Arts & Raleigh Arts Commission; Purchase Award (Glaxo), WVAA Artsplosure Raleigh; and two honorable mentions, Johnston County Art Competition,Smithfield.

 

The Clayton piano festival kicks off its first season at the Clayton Center with four concerts dedicated to different aspects of musical expression.  The festival seeks to create accessible, educational, world-class concerts and music presentations that uniquely enrich Clayton’s cultural life.  “I felt an obligation as a classical musician not only to create opportunities for myself but for other musicians as well and to present what I do in a unique and appealing way to diverse audiences,” says Jonathan Levin, artistic director and founder of CPF.  “Clayton is a great place to create something like this.  It has a very active music community and many residents who are uniquely talented and enthusiastic about the arts. We are also fortunate to have such a tremendous performance venue like the Clayton Center conveniently located in the downtown area.”

The performers hail from all across the country but now reside in New York City.  Jonathan Levin grew up in Clayton and moved to New York to attend school.   In addition to regular concertizing he has been a musical director for the Natchez Festival of Music for the past two years.   Angelo Rondello is a native of Washington State who, in addition to cultivating a successful private teaching studio in Brooklyn, is now actively performing and teaching master classes across the US and in the Philippines where he has toured several times over the past few years.  Matthew Harrison who comes from Florida originally, teaches piano literature at the Manhattan School of Music Prep. Department and has started his own performance company called Masterwork Conversations which gives interactive music presentations in public libraries and other venues throughout the New York metro area.  Christian McLeer grew up in Long Island, NY and is artistic director and co-founder of Remarkable Theater Brigade which produces operas, orchestral works, ballets, musicals, electro-acoustic works, and concerts in NYC featuring works of some of today’s most notable composers. 

Each of the festival concerts has a specific theme and follows a narrative quality where the audience hears directly from the artists about the music they are presenting, the lives of the composers who created it and what this music means to the performers themselves.  “The idea is not just to put on great concerts but to really engage the audience in a personal and meaningful way in order to promote a more relaxed and meaningful experience,” Levin stated.   “There’s no pressure to know a lot about the music in advance – the night flies by, and the audience can discover a new favorite piece or composer along the way.”

“I’m very pleased with the variety, not only of the programs themselves, but also with the difference of styles and approaches that all the performers have to offer”, Levin commented.  “CPF attempts to provide a little something for everyone who enjoys classical music and just maybe something for those who don’t as well.  I don’t believe anyone who says that they hate classical music. But those are the type of people I want to see come to this festival because I relish the opportunity to prove them wrong.  There’s no reason why classical music can’t be entertaining for everyone and I believe that if it is presented in the right way, it can go far beyond mere entertainment as well.  I hope to provide a forum for those who are not classically inclined to discover something new and for seasoned concert goers to listen perhaps with fresh ears.” 

The festival also hosts other free community events.  The week before the festival Jonathan will be performing a special outreach presentation in select locations for school and church groups throughout the area.  “I think it’s important for young children to be presented with a wide variety of music.  There doesn’t seem to be a lot of exposure to classical music in most households these days but I think if the kids see someone like me, who grew up in a similar environment, making my way in music, then maybe that won’t seem like such a remote possibility for them either.”  

Angelo Rondello will be presenting a public master class for local piano students at the First Baptist Church of Clayton.  There will also be a brief forum where Angelo talks about issues pertaining to life as a musician and the various skills required and career paths available to aspiring young musicians today.  “By providing this personal approach I hope to promote positive recognition for younger musicians in the area and to encourage them to be fearless in pursuing their dreams while creating a performance opportunity at the same time,” Levin explains.

In addition Matthew Harrison will give an informal lecture in the lunch hour on Valentine’s Day at the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield.   “He’ll explore some of our favorite pieces like Debussy’s Clair de Lune – the ones we’ve all heard whether we think we have or not. It’s actually a great first date outing!”  Audience members are encouraged to bring their lunch along too and enjoy it while they listen.  ”This is something that is sure to be a rewarding and entertaining experience for anyone who has an hour to spare during the day.” 

Twenty artists will show their work over the course of the year—11 from Clayton, four from other Johnston County towns, one from Garner, and four from out of the Triangle.

Here is the lineup:

February, Walter Day of Clayton;

March, the late William Leslie Jr., father of WRAL-TV news anchor Bill Leslie;

April, Clayton residents Jane Prete and Kathleen Nobles;

May, students atClaytonHigh School.

June, Ann Tahir of Clayton, Jo Tucker of Four Oaks and Lin Frye of Oxford;

July, Doug Strickland of Benson and Dan Lee of Four Oaks;

August, Thurmond Goins II and Keama Richardson of Clayton and Kirk Adam of Smithfield;

September, the 14^th annual Art Faire competition.

October, Dorothy Demboski of Clayton and Tom Hale ofGoldsboro;

November, John and Jovi McFadden and Heidi-Lee Peach, all of Clayton, and Toni Murgas ofGoldsboro;

December, Gail O’Neil of Clayton and Keiko Genko of Garner.

Demboski, who is head of the exhibits committee for Clayton Visual Arts, Inc., said, “This year we made a conscious decision to seek out local artists to showcase.”

Exhibits are free and open to all.

Clayton Visual Arts schedules the monthly exhibits at The Clayton Center, 111 E.Second St. The group is a nonprofit, 501 (c) 3 organization supported in part by grants from the Town of Clayton Cultural Arts Fund, the Johnston County Arts Council, and the Johnston County Visitors Bureau.

Its website is www.claytonvisualartsnc.org.

Along with Champions from 30 other communities, they received a certificate commemorating this designation, presented by N.C. Secretary of Commerce J. Keith Crisco, Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll, Assistant Secretary for Community Development Henry C. McKoy, Jr. and Urban Development Director Liz Parham.

Each of the state’s active Main Street programs is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion. The dedication and hard work of countless volunteers is required to make a local Main Street program successful, and the Main Street Champion designation acknowledges the extraordinary efforts of those persons who have played pivotal roles in the revitalization of their downtowns.

 “A Main Street Champion is the innovative entrepreneur who is bringing fresh ideas to downtown; the reliable volunteer who can be found tending a barbeque cooker at 4:30 a.m. in preparation for a downtown special event; the creative building owner who takes great care to ensure that renovations respect the architectural and historical significance of the structure and the city council member who has worked diligently to preserve and protect the unique, authentic assets of the downtown she calls home. Whether volunteers, business or property owners, corporate citizens, civic leaders, municipal employees or public officials, Main Street Champions are the stewards of downtown, who go the extra mile to restore vibrancy and vitality to the hearts of the communities they love,” said Parham.

In recommending the Clayton Operations Center employees for this honor, Clayton Downtown Development Association offered the following:

Whether it’s a special event, a problem that requires solving or just something that needs to be fixed, the staff and employees of the Clayton Operations Center always handle it without fanfare or public recognition.

Among recent downtown projects, Clayton Public Works Department, Clayton Utility Department and other service employees developed electric bases at each end of Town Square, bringing power closer to stages and activities. They also designed and built the all-brick walkway to the Civil War Trails marker and eliminated many over-head downtown electrical lines. Clayton Operations Center employees regularly mow and clean public spaces and streets, roll-out trash cans, install banners, place street barricades and maintain landscaping in public areas. Whatever task they are called on to perform, the employees of the Clayton Operations Center do what’s required to keep downtown safe and attractive.

It is a privilege to recognize the Clayton Operations Center employees as 2011 North Carolina Main Street Champions.

In mid 2011, the DDA provided an appreciation breakfast for the Operations Center employees. This is the photo that was shown during the conference.

[Top photo left to right: Deputy Commerce Secretary Dale Carroll,  Asst. Secretary for Community Development, Henry McKoy, Jr., Town of Clayton Operations Center employees: Onnie Christian, Mert Woodall, Barry Rose, Rusty Clawson, Craig Wood, Byron Poehlman, Steve Blasko, Dale Medlin, Tim Simpson, NC Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. Photo credit, Garry Hodges]

 Horne Square at Main & Lombard was the winning entry and recipient of an Award of Merit in the category of Best Outdoor Space Improvement.  Members of The Clayton Town Council received the award from NC Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. (Left to right: Councilman Bob Satterfield, Mayor Jody McLeod, NC Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, Councilmen Butch Lawter and Art Holder, Asst Secretary for Community Development Henry McKoy, and Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll.)

In addition to the category winners, there were several other projects that the jury felt were worthy of commendation. One of those projects was 126 East Main Street, which received a Certificate of Special Recognition in the category of Best Facade Rehabilitation for $15,000 or Less. Herman Mitchiner is pictured with NC Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco, Henry McKoy and Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll.

 Members of the awards jury applauded the Horne Square project for its “wonderful attention to detail and quality,” calling it a “very nice improvement” that increased the functionality and visual appeal of this public space. The judges also liked the 126 E. Main Street project, noting that the work that was undertaken made “big, big changes” to the appearance of the building; they also said it “demonstrated good economic impact.”  

The N.C. Main Street program’s annual awards competition recognizes the outstanding achievements of particpating communities in categories reflecting the four areas emphasized by Main Street: organization, design, economic restructuring and promotion. This year’s entries were judged by a panel that included staff from the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments, Appalachian Regional Commission, the Regional Planning Division’s piedmont regional office and the Urban Development Division.

Following the judging, Urban Development Director Liz Parham remarked, “Main Street Awards represent some of the most innovative projects that are happening in North Carolina’s downtowns. They are cutting edge, economic development driven projects that are impacting our downtowns with improved quality of life, economic sustainability and investment, and job retention and creation. Main Street Award winners are the examples that we point to when we describe success!”