Children are the future leaders of the community, and because of this, educating them is a community effort. Many brilliant and ultimately successful people have come from low-income families, but it is often only because of the motivation from a member in their community that they’ve risen to positions of infl uence and power. Every child deserves a chance to learn and to achieve their dreams — regardless of their home situation or socio economic status. Since 1908, The Partnership for Children has been supporting just that by helping children from low-income backgrounds succeed in school.

In previous years the organization held a fundraiser in conjunction with the Academy Awards. This year they are trying something new — a Soirée.

“The meaning of soirée is an elegant party that is held in the evening. We created the soirée and each year the theme is a little different, this year we are going to kick this off with a Parisian theme: A Night in Paris. We know people will feel the French flare,” said Partnership for Children Communications and Development Administrator Tina Newcomb.

Tickets for the Soirée are $100 each. This pays for a beautiful dinner, a lovely night of entertainment, and great programs that reach the local community.

“The funds are for two outreach programs that we have. We are funding The Partnerships Kidstuff Activity at the Dogwood Festival as well as working with government and military affairs. This engages elected and military leaders to make sure civilian and military families and children get the support they need. We’ve received much engagement from legislators and local government, too.” Newcomb explains.

For entertainment, there will be a Dueling Piano Show. The entertainers will take song requests for a donation of $5. The pianists compete to see which one can play the most requests. To further support the cause and for a chance to win fabulous prizes, raffle tickets will be sold for $10 and $20. Prizes will feature wonderful travel packages, local dining, a trip for four to Disney and a trip for two to Paris. The event organizers will accept payments in cash, debit and credit cards the night of the event. And for all the sports fans, there will also be a viewing room to check on the score of the ACC Duke versus Carolina game.

The Soirée will be held at the Embassy Suites, with a start time of 6:30 p.m. Attire is semiformal. Cocktails will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., every guest will receive a drink ticket, but there will also be a cash bar. Starting at 7:30 p.m., dinner will be served, and guests will have assigned seats for the dinner. The Embassy Suites is located at 4760 Lake Valley Dr., Fayetteville.

Tickets are $100. To purchase them, stop by The Partnership For Children or go to website, www.ccpfc.org, which is a purchase-secure site. Sponsorship packages are still available. For more information, contact Debbie Holland at dholland@ccpfc.org or via telephone at 910-867-9700.

The traditional and still popularly accepted perception of gaming and simulation establishes two distinct and mutually exclusive spheres using the same technologies: games, purely entertaining, more often than not violent, and largely catering to a group of persons who can only find fulfillment in virtual combat; and simulations, purely occupational, more often than not academic, and largely catering to soldiers, doctors, scholars and an erudite society of persons who can only find fulfillment in calculus solutions. These two spheres have enjoyed immense growth, both financially and technologically, in the last two decades. However, the industry has borne a certain stigma that links it to mass murder, fanaticism, and decadence in the propaganda of politics and pop culture.

What if visiting a virtual world on a daily basis became as esteemed and as essential to modern living as visiting one’s favorite stores? Then we could say that the industry has fulfilled its true potential, and we could expect industry giants to emerge. To achieve this lofty goal, there needs to be a game or simulation for everyone, and for everything, but is this possible? I believe it is because almost any situation in the real world can be morphed into a virtual world.

Then what stands in the way? Certainly not technology: graphically stunning and physically realistic 3D worlds — and 3D controllers that map all the intricacies of human body action onto them — have pushed the virtual envelope much closer to the reality of a Star Trek holodeck. If not technology, then what? I believe the limiting factor is content: although the traditional game repertoire of combat and sport has expanded into many far-flung and unexpected new realms with simulation creeping into a diverse portfolio of professions such as medicine and law. While the commercial successes such as The Sims and Second Life have popularized gaming, the minutiae of everyday life, content-wise, the simulation and game industry seems to be caught on the dichotomous cusp separating frivolity from functionality.

I believe the answer lies in the merger of the two: professionals debate the difference between a game and a simulation, ultimately concluding that the difference lies in the end use of the same technology. But is there a difference at all? Cannot a topic be gamed and simulated at the same time? Can we not find entertainment in simulating and training for reality, and can we not learn from even the oddest of game adventures? Life is already structured as both a game, with competition, levels of achievement, victory conditions, and above all, a never-ending quest for entertainment; and as a learning experience, comprising an ocean of details and procedures, and above all, a never-ending quest for experience.

I propose that we view every aspect of the real world as a source for virtual worlds, that our virtual lives always become a preparatory or experimental examination of real-life choices, and that we maximize the entertainment and satisfaction value of real-life events through the experience gained in virtual ones. In practical terms, this unified approach to simulation design will attract new mindsets to the industry, young and old, male and female, pragmatic and artistic; and a whole new set of life topics — from infancy to senescence — will emerge, continually revitalizing and reinventing game simulations and the academia and industry built around them. Only then will popular perception fully evolve, and only then will simulation and game technology gain the full respect that it deserves.

At Fayetteville Technical Community College, our Simulation and Game Development program is designed to promote this change in perception, not only for the future benefit of the industry, the technology, and those involved with both, but for the benefit of increased student diversity and the full integration of Simulation and Game Development into the mainstream of technology education and research. By assigning a more comprehensive and unified mission for the application of simulation and game technology, we can attract a broader spectrum of minds that will in turn train a more diverse professional pool than the current somewhat cultish one, and that will ultimately provide the broad human experience necessary to apply the technology to every facet of this experience.

We achieve this lofty goal by stressing a philosophical approach to simulation design that examines and integrates not only technology, but also psychology, sociology, engineering and history into the process. We also teach simulation technology as a conceptual tool to be learned and applied independently of the video game in its accepted format. Finally, we strive to diversify our student population by promoting the potential of simulation to enhance the life of every individual, by challenging individuals to come and discover and develop this potential.

Fresh salty peanuts, sweet brightly colored cotton candy and laughter are all tastes, sights and sounds associated with the circus. For people young and old the circus is a place to be awed and entertained by the amazing feats of the performers — animals and humans alike — and from Feb. 28 until March 3, the Ringling Brothers Circus will be in Fayetteville.

The Ringling Brothers Circus has been around since 1919, and is known for its extreme and awe-inspiring shows. Cathy Carden, an elephant trainer with the circus, described the upcoming show for us.

“It’s a really awesome high-energy show called Fully Charged. Everything lights up with color, and it’s very cool. We have a new ringmaster, David Shipman, who sings throughout the show. We have a lot of original music, some pop tunes and we have a live band, which is a Ringling tradition.”

Almost all of the music is original music with a high-energy sound. It is upbeat. The show includes everything an audience expects from a circus. There are jugglers and animals, clowns and acrobats.

“We have high-wire performers, and we have the globe of steel,” said Carden. “A steel globe is made out of strips of metal and you can see inside. The motorcycles get inside and ride in it — even upside down. It is one of the most dangerous acts in the circus world. They have three motorcycles in there at one time! The one we use is the smallest one in the business which means it has to be more precise and the riders have to have a faster reaction time.”

Exotic and trained animals are another major staple of the circus. No circus is complete without an elephant, but the Ringling Brothers Circus has all of that and more.

“We have many animals which include three elephants I have had my whole life,” said Carden. “For 39 years we’ve been together every day. It is very cool to have elephants as part of the family. We also have two camels, two Arabian horses, two Shetland ponies, one mini horse and a baby camel who is 7-months-old named Sable. He is so smart it is scary. I have 16 dogs, six of which are in training and 10 of which are performing,” she added.

Yet the Ringling Brothers Circus has far more than standard circus fair. There are dancers and acrobats — acrobats from Russia perform on a moving platform that is elevated like a trapeze/mini stage. They do fl ips on and off of the platform as it moves.

“We also have an award winning Cirque du Soleil personality from Russia as well,” said Carden. “He does a trapeze aerial act that is amazing. He takes a pad like a mattress and they pull him to the top of the ring and he falls and does incredible acrobatics on the way down. I have never seen anything like it.”

Another way Fully Charged goes above and beyond in its productions is by opening up the experience to the public.

“The one thing the kids really like is the preshow. It is free with your ticket and starts one hour before the show. They can come to the ring, meet the performers, and take pictures with them. You can see the elephants up close and come back stage and see the animals get prepped for the show and see all the props. That is one of the best parts of coming to the show,” Carden explained.

The circus will be in town from Feb. 28, until March 3, at the Crown Coliseum. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or at the Ringling Brothers Circus website www.ringling.com or by phone at 800-745-3000. For more information, call 919-510-0641. Remember, the preshow is free with tickets and begins one hour before the show starts.

Photo: Elephant trainer Cathy Carden has been with her elephants for 39 years.

Fayetteville is a city filled with people and artists who are originally from locations around the world. Gallery 208 celebrates this international benefi t by hosting a one-person exhibition titled New Paintings by Liviana Casotti. Born and trained in Italy, Casotti has resided intermittently in Fayetteville over the past 18 years.

Visitors to the Feb. 28, opening at Gallery 208 will meet the artist and may recognize her as someone who attends most of the gallery openings in the area — she is always in attendance at the Gallery 208 openings. If you don’t know Casotti, her paintings are just as intriguing as her artistic journey.

Born in Lucca, Italy, Casotti studied art in her hometown and later earned an art teaching degree in Florence, Italy. The Italian lifestyle and her early art experiences were steeped in classical western tradition, her studies in art included the rigors of drawing and painting from life, the fi gure and still life. Academics centered on understanding the theory and techniques of masters of the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries.

Her life and art career took a turn when she married and moved to Lawson, Okla. She then studied art and earned a bachelor’s of fi ne art from Cameron University in Oklahoma. Upon completion of her degree, she moved to California and began studying art at San Jose State University. I met Liviana when she moved to Fayetteville in 1996. An exuberant and effervescent individual, Casotti’s passion for art, politics and thinking out-of-the-box was always, and still is, contagious.

Over the years, she has exhibited in group invitationals at the Arts Council and at two venues which no longer exist — the Fayetteville Museum of Art and a one person exhibition at the Architect’s Gallery. Knowing her history in the area, I was interested in sharing her views of the arts in Fayetteville and how studying art in the United States infl uenced her approach to painting.

When I stopped by Casotti’s studio she was working on a still life; the natural light from the window was just right, her canvas painted with patterns of bright turquoise, many shades of green, complements of reds and orange, a dab of yellow here and there. Similar to her earlier work, her palette is still key; but a new system of exaggerated patterns is now part of her work, fixating on the affects of color and light. It is easy to see the patterns in the metal kitchen appliances of her still life; her choice of objects is always symbolic.

Her still life is organized with kitchen tools and appliances, often dog leashes and bowls — all metaphors for, according to Casotti, “part of a world that is in my past and cannot be retrieved but is in my memory. I cannot retrieve better days, nor revive people and animals lost during my life but I can put bright colors on my painting and depict objects of nostalgia to diffuse the longing. A search for order, but the realities of disorder are present in the compositions as in my life.”

Quick to share her views about content and meaning, Casotti explained that her work today is about “truth and life, order and disorder — a painting will evoke both. My painting evokes nostalgia, a feeling or refl ection on a pleasant and safe past, a time of life that was innocent, simpler and even happier.”

I asked her how studying art in the United States was different than when she studied in Italy.

“That’s easy. In Italy they have a very traditional academic approach while the schools I attended in Oklahoma and California focused more on the intellectual idea of exploring meaning and content. Although drawing is taught in the lower-level art courses, in the United States the upper-level courses focus on the many different approaches to contemporary meaning and introduce you to the variety of styles which are still prevalent,” she explained.

Although Casotti often returns to Italy to visit, her home has been Fayetteville for the last 10 years, so I was interested in knowing what she has observed in the visual arts locally and how, if any, it has changed or remained the same.

“I see galleries come and go in Fayetteville, now it seems there are very few left at this time,” she said. “The closing of the Fayetteville Museum of Art has had a huge negative impact on the arts in the area. It seems as if too many art venues are focused on creating revenue instead of bringing exhibitions to the area which broadens our idea of what is happening nationally and internationally in the arts. On the other hand, I think Gallery 208 has always been committed to the arts in the purest sense and hosts excellent exhibitions – art for art’s sake of high quality”.

The public is invited to meet Casotti and view her new body of work during the opening reception of New Paintings by Liviana Casotti at Gallery 208 on Feb. 28, between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Gallery 208 is located at 208 Rowan St. Regular hours to view their exhibits are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For those who cannot make the opening reception, the exhibit will remain open through the third week in April.

Photo: The works of Liviana Casotti will be on display at Gallery 208.

Music is a magical thing. It is a phenomenon uniquely human, but it is popular in every culture in one form or another. In cultures all over the world communities gather and bond over music. Musicians bring people of all walks of life together to enjoy the beauty of song. Fayetteville is no exception. For 76 years Community Concerts has brought various musicians of all different genres to the town to share their art with the Fayetteville community, with the simple goal of “making Fayetteville a better place.” The next musical group coming to Fayetteville is Kool and the Gang.

The band was originally formed in 1964 as the Jazzicas, but changed its name in 1969. Since then, they have sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. Kool and the Gang is a group of talented musicians, who for more than 35 years has created a unique intersection of jazz, rhythm and blues, funk and pop. They have won two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and have 31 gold and platinum albums. Some of their most well-known songs that made them famous are “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame.” The current members of the band are Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown.

It is truly a feat that Kool and the Gang has been able to perform and create at this level for more than four decades. “Kool” explains the success by saying, “Hard work is very important. We are extremely grateful to all of our fans. The business is extremely competitive, but we have been touring a lot and it is great to have been able to perform throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and into today.”

As glamorous and rewarding as the music business is, there are some hardships that the artists must endure for the love of their craft. “

Waking up at 4 and 5 a.m. to go to the airport with all of our bags and go through all the TSA is hard. Tour buses are a lot nicer, but after 40 years there is wear and tear.” Kool said. Regardless, Kool and the Gang still travels and performs all over the country with the same passion and energy they performed with in the ‘70s.

Experiencing music through concerts is different than listening at home. Seeing the music performed by the artists who created it adds an entirely new level to the sound. Kool and the Gang is skilled at bringing music to the crowds in a relatable and exciting way. Whether those attending are long-time fans or new to their sound, the performance is sure to be memorable and engaging.

“We have very high-energy shows. We perform hits from the ‘70s and ‘80s. It is a choreographed show, but we make sure to keep the energy up while we play all the hits,” Kool says.

Kool and the Gang will be at the Crown Theatre on Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the Crown Box office at www.aththecrown.com or call 438-4100.

Photo: Kool and the Gang is set to perform at the Crown on Feb. 23.

With the celebration of Black History Month throughout February, Professor Charles Anderson of Methodist University will share the contributions of African-Americans throughout Fayetteville’s history on Feb. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Museum of the Cape Fear. Professor Anderson is an adjunct faculty member at Methodist University and was an adjunct faculty member on the Fort Bragg campus of Central Texas College.

“The history of the African-American in Fayetteville begins in 1754 when the fi rst black was recorded on the tax rolls. Over the last 250 years, the African-American has been essential in weaving the fabric of Fayetteville,” said Anderson.

The presentation will highlight E.E. Smith, Charles Chesnutt and Lewis Leary among others. E.E. Smith was born into slavery in 1852. He availed himself of educational opportunities and was able to study in public schools and eventually became a teacher at the age of 22. He graduated from Shaw University in 1878 and was licensed to preach. In 1883, at the age of 36 he became the principal of the State Colored Normal School in Fayetteville. He was also Secretary to the State Colored Baptist Convention, commissioned as a Major in the North Carolina Guard and in 1888 he was appointed United States Minister and Consul-General to Liberia. He was a multi-talented man who excelled in all aspects of life.

“The adage of ‘a thousand mile journey begins with a single step’ is apropos. From being sold in the marketplace to occupying the White House indicates the strides African-Americans have made. My vision is we get away from color and get to people. A contribution to the well-being of mankind is colorless,” said Anderson.

Charles Chestnutt is best known for his novels and short stories exploring the myriad issues of racial identity in the post-Civil War South. His parents, both “free persons of color,” were from Fayetteville and moved to Ohio. He had white ancestry and was able to “pass” but elected not to. When Chestnutt was 9-years-old, the family moved back to Fayetteville and at 13 he became a pupil-teacher at the Howard School. He subsequently became an assistant principal at what was to become Fayetteville State University. He was a prolifi c writer whose books focused on the post Civil War South. He was a realist, and on occasion he challenged the status quo. While well-respected by his literary peers, novels he had penned failed to generate sales. In 1901, he became more politically active and joined the newly founded National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and became one of the 20th century’s most prominent activists and social commentators.

“We have made strides but there is a distance to go. I fi rmly believe we are slowly but steadily moving towards ‘we the people.’ Moving towards Dr. King’s hope that ‘no longer will a man be judged by the color of his skin.’ Moving towards Rodney King’s plea of ‘Why can’t we get along?’ In history, there is an underlying message of hope and that is what I wish to share,” Anderson explained.

Lewis Leary was born in Fayetteville, N.C. in 1835. He lived a short but full life. At the age of 22, he moved to Oberlin, Ohio, and married. He became involved in the abolitionist movement the next year and eventually joined John Brown’s ill-fated attack on the Federal Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, W.V. He was shot and survived long enough to get a message to his wife, who did not know he was participating in the raid. Leary passed away at the age of 24. He was a man of deep principle and hope.

“There are many others of note who are part of the African-American history in Fayetteville. Isaac Hammond was a member of the Light Infantry in the Revolutionary War. Henry Evans was the pastor of the fi rst black church in the area. Many of the stones, bricks and mortar in the Market House were laid by a black master brick mason. Fayetteville has a rich history and I am excited about the direction we as a city have and where we as a people are headed,” said Anderson.

For more information, please visit www.nccultervents.com or call 910-486-1330.

Photo: Charles Chesnutt

What Is Hiding in Your Closet?

What is hiding in your closet … not to mention your attic, your basement and your garage? How about your desk drawers?

The Dickson house has no attic. The basement has been turned into a bedroom; the garage is full of sports equipment — fishing gear, waders and a jumbo canoe along with my assortment of gardening supplies, implements and birdseed. Closets are full of clothes, most of which are seldom worn and which someone, usually moi, threatens to clean out and give away. The desks are stuffed with important papers — insurance information, passports, tax returns and the like.

Some families, though, actually have interesting items in their storage.

A childhood friend recently told me about Civil War-era family letters detailing daily life during those agonizing years as well as accounts of the bodies of soldiers lying when they fell on her family’s Alabama land. The letters are written on wallpaper, apparently the only medium available, and stowed in envelopes folded from the same.

My friend and many others like her are just the folks the Museum of the Cape Fear is hoping to meet.

The Civil War unfolded and played out on southern soil, including our own here in the Fayetteville community. North Carolina suffered more casualties than any other state. These historical realities mean that many southern families have kept Civil War-era documents and photographs, handing them down reverently through subsequent generations.

The Museum of the Cape Fear, which is part of the North Carolina Museum of History, wants to know about these photos and documents — letters, diaries, entire books even. More than that, it wants copies of them to preserve for posterity in our state’s archives, and it is making it easy for those who have these materials to share them with the rest of us.

On Saturday, March 9, professionals from the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources will be on hand at the museum to scan such family documents and pictures digitally or to photograph them. This is an opportunity to make sure that individual family histories as revealed in writing and in picture — records of people and events which shaped our state’s larger history — are both known and preserved. The documentation effort is also part of the planning for a proposed statewide North Carolina Civil War Center, which would be built near the current Museum of the Cape Fear adjacent to the grounds of the historic Fayetteville Arsenal. Says Cape Fear Historical Complex Foundation President Tad Prewitt, “We are excited about this program as we believe the documents and photographs people have could potentially unlock some exciting stories that might become part of the story we will tell with the new, proposed history center.”

Interest in the Civil War and its aftermath is high as our nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of this wrenching conflict. It is also high in our own community, which endured a visit from Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, his more than 60,000 troops and 25,000 camp followers for several long days in March of 1865. It is stunning to contemplate what that invasion of humanity must have been like for the maybe 6,000 Fayetteville residents, 2,000 of whom worked at the doomed arsenal. Sherman came to our city solely to destroy that arsenal, which he did with efficiency and dispatch. Visitors today can walk along the stones of its foundations, but that is about it. Sherman executed his job well in the waning days of the Civil War.

The scanning project is a pilot for a larger program, which museum leaders hope to rollout region-wide later in 2013 and statewide in 2014 to gather as much historical material in private hands as possible.

A word about what the scanning project is not.

It is not an opportunity for Civil War documents and photos to be appraised or sold. Your family treasures will simply be copied and put into our state’s archives and returned to you. They must be original and the property of those bringing them in to be scanned. Oversized or fragile documents or items such as multi-page documents may have to be transported to Raleigh for scanning.

Many people in our community and beyond have stories of Civil War-era heroism, suffering, tragedy and healing that resonate through their family histories, and they are also part of North Carolina’s history.

We can share these with each other and the rest of the state on March 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Museum of the Cape Fear on Bradford Avenue, just off Hay Street.

I hope to see you there, even though the Department of Cultural Resources has expressed no interest in a photo of the Dickson’s large red canoe.

For the past nine years GOTDAD Inc., has sponsored the Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl and African Americans in the Military Appreciation Day. This year the celebration falls on Feb. 23, with several events scheduled throughout the day.

The fun starts at 9 a.m. with the Black History 4ever Quiz Bowl. Age categories are 8-9 years old; 10-12 years old; 13-15 years old and 16-18 years old. There is a study guide as well as registration information available at www.blackhistory4ever.com. The questions are in True/False, multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank formats. Students answer the questions independently and earn points for each correctanswer. The event is free to participants and lunch is provided to the contestants. There is a study guide available for each of the age groups. Not only does the guide provide an itinerary of events for the day, it has the information that is required to compete in the quiz bowl.

The study guides contain an alphabetical list of people and important places and events covering everything from Charles Sifford, to Shirley Chisholm to Zulu Nation, theTuskegee Airmen and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In addition, contestants are tested on military ranks of the U.S. Army, government, business and economic terms and definitions. The older contestants are responsible for knowing similar information but at a more advanced level as well as African American college life information like the names of different fraternities and more.

Also starting at 9 a.m. is a health fair that is open to the public. There will be educational information and vendors at the fair. Both the Black History Quiz Bowl and the Health Fair are scheduled to take place at The John D. Fuller Recreational Center.

Don’t miss the African Americans in the Military Appreciation Day Program at noon. This event honors local Fort Bragg active veteran African Americans. Wounded Warriors of all races are also honored at this event.

The activities end with a “Ride to Freedom” convoy from The John D. Fuller Recreational Center to the North Carolina Veterans Park and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. At the park and museum there will be tours, storytelling, and the opportunity to meet veterans from the community.

GOTDAD is a group of fathers — both military and civilian; married and divorced — who recognize the importance of leading a balanced life. They understand the challenges of managing both family life and work even when work sometimes included deployments and hectic schedules. GOTDAD is an acronym for Giving Opportunities Through Dedication and Devotion.

Living up to their mission of finding balance in life, GOTDAD members believes that keeping families safe is a priority and provides anti-abduction and rape prevention classes to women and children. The name of the program is called Flight or Fight.

Find out more at www.BlackHistory4ever.com or www.gotdad.org.

Contemporary approaches to painting and sculpture are often far removed from the traditional approach toreproduce a still life or landscape in paint, to model a portrait in clay. Artists since the early 20th century have explored the boundaries of what a painting and sculpture is and the possibilities of what they can become.

The exhibit, Contemporary Ideas in Art at Rosenthal Gallery, on the campus of Fayetteville State University, is an opportunity for visitors to see the range of what artists are investigating as worthy of a painting and sculpture. It is an opportunity for visitors to the gallery to experi-ence the pleasure of witnessing and understand-ing new approaches to art.

Liselott Johnsson, an artist from Madison, Ga., is exhibiting a painting titled “It is Not Dead, Just Stunned.” The size of the painting, an installa-tion, is 12 feet by 13 feet; the work demands at-tention and reflection from visitors to the gallery. In the work, the artist has stacked, on the floor, a large number of abstract geometric paintings — each different, precise, hard edged. Johnsson’s work exemplifies the dramatic shifts in meaning, which have taken place in the last 60 years in the medium of painting.

To understand one of the many new direc-tions of painting, Johnsson’s artist statement directs us towards her intent: “Intrigued by the formal boundaries of painting as they relate to objects and architecture, I use materials, space, color and geometry to study the qualities of these limits … By integrating painting with architectural space; I negate a fixed view of the work.”

The paintings by local artist Aaron Wallace are created by applying spray insulation foam on canvas before he applies his layers of paint. Visitors may be stunned into sensing a painting can be gooey and puffy, playful and tactile. A painting can be about contradictions and teeter between something industrial and a delicate sensitivity at the same moment. A painting can be something you may want to scoop up like ice cream and eat!

Robert Bern, an artist from Santa Fe, N. M., is exhibiting a sculpture titled “In America.” Looking up at the 12-foot-tall table, one can see the tabletop has a trap door that has fallen open. The words cut into the sides of the edges of the tabletop indicate a hopeful futility for many who try to break through the glass ceiling. The text reads: “In America the doorway to success is within reach for those who work hard and believe”.

Another exceptional local artist, Marcela Casals, is exhibiting three sculptures. The most popular seems to be her dramatic 12-foot-tall sculpture suspended from the ceiling; as if floating, the weight and beauty of chiffon material exude through hollow ceramic tubes. White on white, gravity and material give way to what is expressed in the title “Gift” (Earth Bones Series).

Other artists in the exhibit include painter James Biederman from New York City, pho-tographer Jeff Brown from Upper Darby, Pa., painter Dana Pasila from Provincetown, Mass., and Diane Wiencke from Peaks Island, Maine.

Until the closing of the exhibit on Feb. 27, visitors to Rosenthal Gallery will have the opportunity to explore the complexities of contemporary art, experience a new full range of meanings and ways of ex-pressing meaning being explored by the artists in Contemporary Ideas in Art. For information call Dwight Smith at 672-1795.

Photo: Contemporary Ideas in Art is on display through Feb. 27 at Fayetteville State University’s Rosenthal Gallery.

Music Makes a Difference

Listening to a good song can help turn an okay day, or even a not-so-good day, into a great day. The key is finding a song that we can really relate to. This week we’re going to look at the story behind a few new songs out on Christian radio. Hopefully you’ll find one or two that relate to you right where you are.

“Strangely Dim” - Francesca Battistelli

When talking about “Strangely Dim” Battistelli wants it known that the song was inspired by her dad. She shares, “He’s in a place in his life where he is just waiting on God for a lot of things. We’ve all been there to some extent. I’ve found in my life that if I’m looking down at the things I can’t control and the things that stress me out, I can get discouraged. Just like the old hymn said, if I turn my eyes on Jesus, that’s where hope is, that’s where clarity is, and that’s where he is. No matter where you are, if you focus on Him, the things of this earth will pass away.”

“Kings & Queens” – Audio Adrenaline

Written by Juan Otero and Kevin Max, the title track from their upcoming release personifies everything Audio’s Haitian project Hands & Feet represents as an organization. “We shot the music video in Haiti at our homes in the village of Cyvadier with all these beautiful Haitian children,” Will McGinniss says. “It’s so amazing to think of how God surrounds these children, the vastness of their potential and how he’s writing this huge story in their lives. They are God’s little ones, and they will impact their culture from the inside out with God’s love. We tried to capture that idea in the vastness of the landscape, the ocean and the cliffs, the greenest greens and in purple the color of God’s majesty.”

“You’ll Find Your Way” – Andrew Peterson

This song is based on Jeremiah 6:16:

This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls...”

As Peterson was thinking about his 12-year-old son Asher, with everything that was in store for him, his heart began to melt. He was wishing he could protect him from the darkness in the world. Knowing he can’t, Peterson still hopes that Asher “will remember that church matters, and the gospel is true, and that there’s a God that’s the source of everything beautiful… and that he’ll have a place that he will return to. And it’s the old roads that lead you home.” Some thoughts on a few new Christian songs from the artists who wrote them.

Photo: Francesca Battistelli

The Fayetteville FireAntz, through 40 of 56 games played, had a tremendously successful season, so far. They boast the Southern Professional Hockey League’s leading scorer, Josh McQuade (34 goals and 26 assists), as well as one of the elite goaltenders in the league, Marco Emond, who has been among the goaltending leaders all season. Add the fact that they have the top-scoring offense and one of the best defensive units, things have looked good this season.

The FireAntz also have had the luxury of remaining relatively healthy throughout the season, only losing a handful of man-games due to injury. Additionally, due to the fact that they’ve been amongst the league leaders in the standings all season, their roster has remained mostly intact. They’ve had players called up to higher leagues who have returned, and some who have stayed but Head Coach Mark DeSantis did such a good job assembling the roster, from day one, that they haven’t had to cut a single player.

The FireAntz, collectively, have a much bigger goal in my mind, however, than success in the regular season. With only 16 games remaining, seven at home, the playoffs are right around the proverbial corner and that is where the FireAntz are placing their focus.

“We are just trying to win each and every game.” Defenseman Kyle Frieday said, “Obviously, we are trying to stay healthy but we just want to keep rolling into the playoffs.”

The FireAntz, in their 11-year existence, have won one SPHL Championship, in 2006-07. They are looking to repeat that feat this season.

“We are playing hard every shift, every night.” Forward John Clewlow added, “We are trying to play our best hockey as we get to the playoffs.”

With the FireAntz only four points out of first place, they are trying to capture home-ice advantage for the playoffs. Each round of the playoffs contains an odd number of games and the higher seed will host the deciding game of the series, should it go that far.

There are only seven home games remaining for the FireAntz this season. Come out and support your Fayetteville FireAntz as they look to capture another SPHL Championship. For more information about tickets go to the FireAntz Web site at www.fireantzhockey.com.

Photo: The FireAntz are playing hard to make it to the playoffs.

Since 1957, a small club in Los Angeles has been rocking the music world. The Troubador has welcomed and launched the careers of musicians like Bob Dylan, Elton John, the Eagles, Neil Young, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, The Knack, Guns and Roses and Pearl Jam. It’s stage is legendary, a place where the dreamers, the poets, the singers and musicians go hoping for a chance to make it big. A lot of them do.

You might ask what The Troubador has to do with Fayetteville, N.C., and the answer is simple. Fayetteville is also a place where dreamers, poets, singer and musicians are looking for their big break. And for a lucky few that search starts on the wooden fl oor of Huske Hardware House.

Since 2011, Huske has played host to a singer/songwriter competition that brings some of the areas brightest and best to downtown to share their talent and their souls. Held each Wednesday night, the competition has grown with each iteration, and this year it’s gone over the top. The first iteration, was put together in the hopes that it would draw area performers. The idea was brought to Huske owner Josh Collins by Greg Biltz, a musician and emcee of the event, who saw the need for such a venue in the community. Over the years, the competition has brought hundreds of talented writers/performers to the Huske stage, many of who have gone on to bigger and better things. Biltz thinks this year will be no different.

“Nobody does it any better,” said Biltz, prior to the second night of the competition, “not in Raleigh, not in Wilmington. This is where it’s happening.”

From its small beginnings (Collins put up a $2,000 cash award), the competition has bloomed and taken on a life of its own. This year, Huske has teamed up with PCG Nashville, a Nashville-based development company, to give performers a leg up in the industry. PCG Institute is an innovative artist development company dedicated to addressing the unique needs of the recording artist. The artists and managers at the institute take what they call a “customized scientifi c approach to development, producing balance in all areas of the artist’s mind, body and spirit.” They look beyond the music and ensure that aspiring musicians have “the skills, knowledge and strategic planning needed to achieve success in the music business.”

The addition of PCG Nashville to the competition has resulted in changes in the way the competition is judged and the way songwriters enter. There are now two categories for contestants to enter. The fi rst is for performers between the ages of 12 and 30. Performers who enter in that category will compete to win a $15,000, six-month scholarship to the PCG facility in Nashville. Those over 30, will compete for a $3,000 cash prize. Collins explained that the addition of the scholarship category will allow young artists to gain the experience and shaping needed to really succeed in the industry. Collins’ daughter, Summer, is currently enrolled in PCG, and is learning a lot about the industry and is making the necessary contacts to move forward with her career.

The finales of this year’s event will be judged by Bernard Porter, who is the president of PCG. With more than 25 years in the industry, Porter is recognized nationwide for his skills in artist development, and in fact, was instrumental in signing Jason Aldean to Broken Bow Records. Collins believes having someone of Porter’s standing in the industry involved in the competition will bring more attention to the performers who are competing.

As in year’s past, performers have the opportunity to sing two songs. The fi rst song can be a cover, but the second song must be an original. Each week, the top two performers will move forward in the competition, with everything coming down to the fi nale in late March. Sign-ups for the event begin at 7 p.m. each Wednesday night, with the showcase beginning at 8 p.m. For updates on the competition, visit Huske Hardware House on Facebook and check out information about the competitors in upcoming editions of Up & Coming Weekly, one of the sponsors of the competition.

Photo: Nathan Fair at the grand finale of the 2011 competition.

MOVIE 43 (RATED R) 3 Stars

Way back in 1977, a little anthology movie called Kentucky Fried Movie hit the scene and appealed to the 12-year-old boy living in all our hearts. It featured such classic skits as “Catholic High School Girls in Trouble” and “A Fistful of Yen.” Anthology movies are more likely to go direct-to-video, but for one brief shining moment in 1977 this tasteless little gem won the hearts and minds of the people.

If you have fond memories of Kentucky Fried Movie, or your sense of humor is that of a 12-year-old boy, you’ll probably love Movie 43(90 minutes). It is completely and utterly without redemption, hitting all the envelope-pushing buttons imaginable. Now, I admit I wasn’t totally in love with it but I am willing to bet there are a ton of people who will snort soda out their noses at least once or twice during the movie.

In total, the American release includes 14 skits, each with its own director and writers (too many to list here). “The Pitch” is the book-end skit that ties everything together, with a guy named Charlie Wessler (Dennis Quaid) pitching a variety of offensive plots to a movie executive named Griffen Schraeder (Greg Kinnear).

First up is “The Catch,” with Kate Winslet on a blind date with Hugh Jackman. She is enchanted by his every word and gesture until she fig-ures out why he is still single. It is a pretty disgusting joke that might work in a five-minute-long SNL sketch, but was already done to much better effect on the “Freak Strike” episode of South Park.

Next, “Homeschooled” features Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts trying to carry a sketch while Jeremy Allen White does his best to suck the life from it. All in all, one of the weaker entries, and the one that follows isn’t much better. Anna Faris is a coprophiliac and Chris Pratt is her reluctant partner. They are married in real life, but have zero chemistry onscreen.

Next, Kieran Culkin plays opposite Emma Stone in a wanna-be Lynchian piece, “Veronica,” that was at its funniest when the actors were making the least amount of sense. Trying to tie it together with a classic romantic ending detracted from all the beautiful absurdity.

“iBabe” goes for cheap laughs (in a movie admittedly full of them). I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say it was sexist on purpose, but poor directing took away the satire and flattened any social commentary into pancakes. “Superhero Speed Dating,” featuring Kristen Bell, Jason Sudeikis and Justin Long, was probably my favorite entry. It wasn’t that great, but superheroes trying to live real lives are always good for a laugh and I really like Kristen Bell.

The skits got weaker as the film progressed, although “Middle-School Date” was good enough that I wouldn’t object to seeing Elizabeth Banks direct a feature film. Objectively speaking, Terrence Howard in “Victory’s Glory,” was the sharpest tool in the shed, but it went on a bit too long. Just when it seemed the movie was over, a final skit aired, “Beezel.” If you leave when the first set of credits roll you won’t miss much.

Overall, with so many big name stars this is worth checking out, even if it has been called the worse movie of the decade. Yes, it is not great — but that is because the writers held back. They danced along the edges of taboo, but never quite manage to hit the nerves they’re aiming for. Perhaps if they had left in the skit featuring the necrophiliac morgue attendant, we would have seen the magical moment of complete repulsion that would have redeemed the whole thing. Maybe if the skits had been tied together (as they were in the British release) by the three teenagers searching for a film so of-fensive it would end civilization, more Americans would like it. But then again, perhaps not.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

For many in our community, it seems as though the search for a great job will never end. While thissituation may in large part be the re-sult of a slow-moving economy, it may also be that many simply do not know exactly what they want as a profession/career and may not know how to get there.

Fayetteville Technical Community College offers many solutions to this occupational dilemma, with opportuni-ties available to anyone interested in improving their oc-cupation or wishing to simply start over and pursue a new career path. A new program offered by FTCC’s Continuing Education division is the Natural Hair Care Professional program. Whether you desire a career change or you are currently working in this field and would like to continue and seek your licensure, FTCC has a perfect solution for you!

Natural hair care is a growing business because many people have begun moving away from chemical use on hair and are wearing hair naturally, in the form of twisting, wrapping, ex-tending or locking. The North Carolina Board of Cosmetology is the governing board of Natural Hair Care specialists, and as a result of rise in this business, the board is requiring that all specialists currently practicing in the field and all operating natural hair care shops become licensed. Individuals who began practicing before July 1, 2010 can submit proof to the board that the natural hair care specialist was actively engaged in the practice of natural hair care prior to July 1, 2010. They must also pass a practical and written exami-nation conducted by the board and pay the required fee to be issued a license without having to go to school for the 300-hour Natural Hair Care curricu-lum. However, specialists who began practicing after July 1, 2010, will be required to attend a 300-hour training course before they can sit for the state board’s examination.

The Natural Hair Care Professional program at FTCC has been built around the high standards of the N.C. Board of Cosmetology for those entering or currently practicing in the field. Each aspect of this program has been carefully planned, from those representing the very best of instructors to areas represent-ing top-notch facilities. A major benefit through this program is that it is offered to the community at an affordable cost. FTCC offers support and encouragement to individuals in the community who want to improve their lives through edu-cation that will result in a positive, rewarding career path. Students in the Natural Hair Care Professional program will not only gain a full understanding of the Natural Hair Care profession, but also the knowledge needed to successfully pass the state board exam. Major topics covered in the class will include safety and sanitation, business ethics, manage-ment styles and the most current styles and techniques of natural hair. Students who complete the program at FTCC will gain a strong knowledge and understanding of how to run a successful Natural Hair Care business.

Are you are interested in a career that will allow you to utilize your creative abilities and comfortably support your family financially? Would you like to become licensed and increase your chances for success in this field? Do you need a career that will be flexible with your busy schedule? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then don’t delay, call us today! To learn more about FTCC’s Natural Hair Care Professional program or how to register, please call Kim Allen at (910) 678-0033 or e-mail to allenk@faytechcc.edu. Contact us today and let us help you be on your way to a new career!

Photo: Natural hair care is a growing business because many people have begun mov-ing away from chemical use on hair

For the past 14 years the Home Builders Association of Fayetteville has hosted the Carolina Home Show every spring. Vendors and experts in all things home-related gather at the Crown ready to assist in making every house a home and every home a more personal and distinct place. This year the event takes place Feb. 23-24, and there are some exciting changes that are designed to make the show even better.

“We are not charging admission this year, we think it is better for our vendors and will attract more people,” said Kevin Shore, event chairman. “We always have about 3,000 people show up but the vendors have always said ‘Let’s not charge admission and see who else will come,’ so we are giving it a try this year.”

Home Builders Association Executive Officer Natalie Fryer added that, “This year we really tried to pull in the real-estate community. There will be real-estate agents there that can answer questions about home buying and selling. We also have some builders in the show.”

So whether you are looking to buy, sell, build, update or improve a home, there will be experts at the Crown ready to answer questions and share their expertise.

While many areas of the country have not hosted home shows this year because of the economy and the national dip in home prices, Shore noted that this is not the case in Fayetteville.

“It is amazing to me how this community always pulls together and continues to put on great events for Fayetteville and the surrounding area. We pull people from Wilmington, Raleigh, Southern Pines and even South Carolina. We get a lot of people coming from outside this area, which is exciting,” said Shore.

No matter what a person has in mind — from indulging in the latest technologies and trends in home design to getting ideas for how to organize a room — there is no project, idea or budget too big or too small. This event has something everyone can use.

“If you think you have seen it before, you should still plan to come, every year there is something new,” said Shore. “It is good to see what you can do to your home and get ideas about what you can do to make your house a home. We have such a variety of vendors from bath renovation specialists to masons to handymen and home improvement businesses to carpenters. There will be vendors who can take you from start to finish and do an entire project or even build a house for you to people who can show you how to do things yourself and give you the tools and ideas you need to be successful in your project.”

In addition to great vendors, the weekend is packed with informative talks and presentations.

“These are local people who are experts in their fi elds, and they will be speaking on a variety of topics,” said Fryer.

Saturday’s topics include “Potted Plants: Problems and Joys” by Roger Mercer; “Yes! You Can Buy a House” by Steve Cohen; “Yes, You Can Get Money to Buy a House” by Kevin Rodriguez; “The Finishing Touch Your Home May Be Missing” by CJ Malson; “Stage, Show, Sold!” by Jay Dowdy; “Plan. Plant. Protect.” By George Quigley; “Staging Your Home to Sell” by Lorna Ricotta; “You Can Build Wealth by Investing in Real Estate” by Zan Monroe; “Year Round Color for Your Yard” by Charles Allen; and “Organizing Your House to Function” by Lorna Ricotta. Sunday, the topics scheduled are: “Plants in Pots: Problems and Joys” by Roger Mercer; “Buying a Home is Easier Than You Think” by Doug Nunnally; “Build Wealth by Investing in Real Estate” by Zan Monroe; ”Why Shade Matters” by Charles Allen; “Staging to Sell and Beyond” by Donna Clayton-Lloyd; “How to Get Money for the Home You Want to Buy” by Melody Spaulding; and “Grow What You Eat” by George Quigley.

Besides all the vendors, the products, the experts and the education, many of the vendors are offering raffles and giveaways at their booths. All in all, the presenting sponsors, First Alliance Mortgage and Carolina Mortgage, along with Shore and Fryer are expecting a big crowd and a top-notch event.

“What I have enjoyed about being a part of this is the amount of local vendors that are willing to come together in one venue to promote their trade,” said Shore. “There are a lot of proud vendors and tradesmen in our area. If you think you have seen it all before, come anyway. There is always some new technology, idea or trend that comes from home ownership and renovation. It is good to see what you can do to your home and get ideas about what you can do to make your house a home.”

The show lasts from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 24. It’s free. Find out more about the Carolina Home Show at www.carolinahomeandgardenshow.com

Step aboard the bus at the Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum and immerse yourself in the rich history and cultural diversity for which Fayetteville is known as you tour the downtown area and learn of the signifi cant contributions of African Americans to our community.

Led by Professor Charles Anderson of Methodist University, the African-American Heritage Tour on Thursday, Feb. 21, leaves the museum at 325 Franklin St. in Downtown at 9 a.m. for a three-hour trip that visits historic sites dating from Revolutionary times to the 20th century.

“One of the things that is great about these tours,” said Museum Specialist Heidi Bleazey, “is that they bring together a collection of the Fayetteville public and take them on this eye-opening look at the Downtown landscape. They take another look at the buildings they pass by day-in-and-day-out as they’re roaming around Downtown Fayetteville and see it in a new light. It’s fun and exciting. Professor Anderson is a wonderful tour guide and has a knack of bringing information and making it digestible and fun and interesting to a wide range of audiences.”

The tour will visit a number of sites in the Downtown area, including cemeteries, churches and the outsides of historic homes.

“We’ll go to Brookside Cemetery,” Bleazey said, “where a number of Fayetteville’s prominent and famous citizens are buried. Some of the sites we are physically unable to go into, such as the home of the Chesnutt sisters. Anne Chesnutt is one of the sisters after whom a local middle school is named. Her brother Charles Chesnutt was the well-known African-American author. We’ll go by that home as well as the home of E. E. Smith to take a look at the outside. One of the things that last year’s tour really fostered was a lot of interest in E. E. Smith’s home in terms of renovation. It inspired a group that were on the tour to try and push toward getting a working group to the E. E. Smith home to fi x it up.”

While participants will not be able tour the inside of the homes, other sites will encourage a little exploration.

“We will actually be able to go inside the Evans Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church and see the grave of Henry Evans, as well as Saint Joseph’s Episcopal Church, which has a wonderful Tiffany stained-glass window,” said Bleazey. “There are some very historic churches in our community. A historically black church, First Baptist Church, was located on the site where the Transportation Museum is currently.

“In keeping with that Downtown landscape, we’ll be stopping at Cool Springs Street at the Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry (F.I.L.I.) Parade Ground to visit the grave of Isaac Hammond, a Revolutionary War soldier and fi fer for the F.I.L.I. who is buried there. Another key site that we’ll go into is the Market House to see a permanent exhibit on the history of the State House and Market House. We’ll see some very old maps and information panels that trace the history of that site from 1788 up through the 20th century.”

Bleazey noted that African-American businesses also contributed much to the Downtown community.

“As we drive through the Downtown area, all the principal streets in the area that radiate off of the Market House had African-American businesses within them, Gillespie Street being a good example, so we’ll be mentioning some of the prominent businesses that were there as we drive around. We’ll be going to Fayetteville State University to see the gates. It’s going to be the most fun history lesson you have ever had!

“We actually have a couple of tours that generate a waiting list, so we do another tour. Fayetteville is certainly interested in history and African-American heritage, and we’ll offer this tour as many times as the public wishes to see these sites and know all about them. There is just such a rich history of African Americans in our community. This tour, focused on the downtown area geographically, will help tell both a local and broader story of African Americans in our city.”

Space is limited for the event, which costs $3 per person payable at the beginning of the tour. Preregistration is required, and participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes for moderate walking.

For more information or to preregister, please call (910) 433-1457, 433-1458 or 433-1944.

Photo: Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church.

I have been waiting for Legally Blonde to hit the stage at the Cape Fear Regional Theatre since the afternoon last summer when Tom Quaintance, the artistic director at the CFRT, announced the new season. Let me say upfront, it was well worth the wait.

The musical, tells the story of Elle Woods, a blonde beauty from Malibu, who gives up tanning and shopping to attend Harvard Law School in order to win back her boyfriend, who is looking for a serious girl. The premise is, in and of itself, shaky. Because really, how would she get into Harvard Law when her main recom-mendation is being a sorority queen and what guy is giving up Malibu Barbie for lawyer Barbie? But that’s an argument for another day.

I’d much rather talk about the phe-nomenal cast of the show, the great music, punchy one-liners and over-the-top acting. Yes, the show has all of that and a lot more!

Shorey Walker, the New York City-based director, did an outstanding job in casting this show. She brought to-gether a diverse group of actors, most local, some regional for a tour de force that has not been seen in the area in quite some time. While all of the actors brought something to table, I would be totally remiss, if I didn’t say that two of the actors in supporting roles really stole the entire show.

The first set of kudos goes out to Samantha Fabiani who played the role of Paulette, the hairdresser/lonely heart who befriends Elle in Boston. Fabiani was last seen on the CFRT stage in Jesus Christ Superstar, where she played the role of Herod. I ab-solutely loved her in that role, as she strutted the stage in leopard pajamas, but as Paulette, she was unstoppable. She owned the role and her perfect comedic timing brought laughter from the audience every time she deliv-ered her lines. Fabiani, a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is a phenomenal addition to the cast, and it is our hope that she will continue to frequent the CFRT stage in the years to come.

The first time I consciously remember seeing Chris Emano was when he was juggling in the lobby of the Cape Fear Regional Theatre prior to the start of the show Barnum. Since that time, I have seen Emano in a number of shows where he has played small roles, but nothing that has ever put him really front and center. That was supposed to be the case in this show as well. Emano was cast in three distinct supporting roles, but he stole the show lock, stock and barrel. I have never seen him as animated in any other show, but in Legally Blonde, he had the audience eating out of his hand. If you go to the show for no other reason, go to see a young actor come into his own. Chris Emano is center stage with the spotlight on him in this show, and I have to say, he has earned it.

That being said, the entire ensemble did an awesome job singing and danc-ing their way through the show, and the girls who comprised the Greek chorus were divine inspired. I mentioned this after Jesus Christ Superstar, but I have to reenforce it, Quaintance has done an exceptional job in bringing new blood into the theatre and many of those folks fill the ranks of the ensemble in this show, which gives it the WOW factor that actually had the audience cheering in the middle of the act, not at the end.

The obvious enjoyment of the audi-ence also played a great part in mak-ing this show so awesome. Too many times I’ve gone to the theatre and other than polite claps in between acts, the audience could not have even been present. The audience for this show was actively engaged in the show and they made it known that they enjoyed the show from the first, “OMG!” to the last.

Legally Blonde the Musicalat the CFRT is a home run, and is the type and caliber of theatre that local resi-dents should embrace and come to expect from the CFRT.

The show was scheduled to run through Feb. 10 but due to the out-standing response of local residents and the popularity of the show, we are happy to announce that the run has been extended for one more week, and will go through Feb. 17. Grab your phone, go online and get your tickets, this may very well be the best show of the season.

For tickets and information, visit the website at www.cfrt.org.

Pablo Picasso once said that, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

Well, Harvey Littleton seems to be one of the few with the solution. Now 90-years-old, Littleton remains a thriving artist. From pottery to glassblowing to vitreography, he has showcased his talents as a man with multiple crafts. However, it is his mastery of vitreography that will soon capture the eyes of art-lovers all across Fayetteville.

Harvey Littleton & Friends is a new exhibition of vitreograph prints from Littleton and other nationally and internationally known artists, such as Dale Chihuly, Erwin Eisch, Herb Jackson, Clarence Morgan and Tom Nakashima, among others. For the first time ever, Fayetteville has the opportunity to experience these dynamic works first hand at the David McCune International Art Gallery on the campus of Methodist University.

Each print is made its own by the individual techniques the artists use when embedding their images onto a plate of glass that is then run through a printing press, creating the unique art that is vitreography.

Now known as the father of the Studio Glass Movement, Littleton has transformed from the young boy in his father’s lab at Corning Glassworks to famed mentor and legendary artist. It wasn’t known some years ago that little Littleton would stray from his father’s dreams of becoming a physicist and gravitate toward a more expressionist form of work.

While glass as art may seem like a relatively normal form of representation today, it wasn’t always so. Glass was formerly believed to be an industrial material meant only for use in factory facilities. However, in 1962 Littleton helped level the playing field when he conducted two seminal glassblowing workshops at The Toledo Museum of Art. Then just a year later, in 1963, he taught the first university program for glass in the United States at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. But the best was still to come.

In 1974, Littleton developed what is the modern printmaking technique for vitreography. Just a few years later he opened up his own glass studio in Spruce Pine, N.C., where he would invite artists of all forms to come and make vitreographs using his etching press.

Silvana Foti is the executive director at the David McCune International Art Gallery where the exhibit will be held. She had the opportunity to meet Littleton when she was passing through Spruce Pine visiting different galleries.

“I met Harvey Littleton in the ‘80s,” she said. “I never forgot that he had a studio and in 2009, I went back for a workshop.”

During her return trip to the Littleton gallery, Foti was able to study with master printer Judith O’Rourke, another talented vitreographer.

Foti considers herself fortunate to be able to bring such a timely art to Methodist University.

“This exhibition is bringing the Fayetteville area a form of art that has been around for 50 years and we’re very excited to be hosting the show,” she said. “These artists are the cream of the crop in vitreography.”

The exhibit is scheduled to open Thursday, Feb. 7 at the David McCune International Art Gallery in the William F. Bethune Center for Visual Arts at Methodist University. There will be an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m., with a gallery talk at 7 p.m. by Littleton’s daughter, Carol Littleton Shay. Admission is free.

The gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 12 to 4 p.m. Appointments are also available. The exhibit will be on display through April 7. For more information, visit davidmccunegallery.org.

Photo: Moonbeam Dancing by Erwin Eisch.

It’s halfway through the season, and the FireAntz are in top form. After taking on a new coach this year, recruiting strong players and working hard, the team is back on top of their game and currently in first place in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

“This team is far more competitive than last year,” said FireAntz general manager Kevin McNaught. “Three years ago we went to the finals  but lost the final game. We’ve always been a competitive team, but the last two years have been down years.”

The new Head Coach, Mark DeSantis, didn’t waste any time turning things back around. McNaught credits the coach’s ability to build good chemistry between the team members as a key ingredient. DeSantis came to the FireAntz after playing professional hockey for 16 years and then taking on the role of assistant coach in Rapid City, S.D. for three seasons.

For DeSantis, building a good hockey team is as much about character as it is about skill. In the end, coach made the foundation of the team around three key players.

Obviously with a guy like Bobby Reed, our captain, he was a good example of what I want to build our team around,” said DeSantis. “He is a great person, he has good character and he’s a good hockey player. That was my number one thing — getting a guy like him.”

Andrew Small played for DeSantis his last two seasons in the Central League, and joined the FireAntz this year.

“He is a little older, comes with a lot of experience and just wants to play a lot more,” said DeSantis. “He plays 30-35 minutes a game. Bringing a guy like him in has been good for the team.”

Marco Emond was DeSantis’ next pick for building a strong team.

“Marco Emond, our goalie, has won 32 championships. You want to build around this type of person; they are what we need here in Fayetteville … and you just go from there,” said DeSantis.

Once these three players were on board, it was clear what needed to happen next.

“We have a rising star in Josh McQuaid,” said DeSantis. “His talent is off the charts — he brings it every night. The great thing about Josh is that he just loves to score, and you can’t fault a guy for that. “

At the moment, the FireAntz are at 12-1. They’ve worked hard and played their best every game, but with 19 games to go in the season, DeSantis has no illusions about what lies ahead.

“I am very happy, but it is real tough because I know we have a real good fan base and they suffered the last two seasons,” said DeSantis. “It is a tough one to start 12-1, I mean, I love it but it is hard to make changes when you make 12-1. I know that other teams are going to get better and with this record it is tough to make changes. Our fans are great and they want to see us do well every night. But as a coach, I can live with losing if we work the other team hard and give 100 percent.”

Don’t miss the next game on Feb. 8. The Fort Bragg Patriots — the Fort Bragg hockey team formerly known as The Dragons — is playing right before the FireAntz.

“They are playing the Fort Benning team,” said McNaught. “On that night it will be two for one tickets for military members. One ticket will get you in to both games if you are in the military.”

The FireAntz have a strong relationship with the military community and partner with the U.S. Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office to distribute tickets to FireAntz games among other things. Throughout the community the team partners with businesses and organizations, too.

For example, the team has been known to attend and sponsor blood drives, food drives and fundraisers for local charities. The Feb. 10 game is a fundraiser to benefi t the Cape Fear Valley Health Foundation’s Friends of Children. “We’ve visited the hospital and they do more than cancer related things,” said McNaught. “They do a lot of fundraising and a golf tournament to raise money for local children. We are happy to work with them and support their work.”

Of course, the FireAntz love playing hockey and making every game a good time, but the team is also serious about giving back to the community, starting in the rink. FireAntz home games often include themes like military appreciation night, beach night, scout night, ladies night and more. McNaught says that the team asks a lot from the community so it is only right that they give back.

Outside the rink, the team is always looking for ways to make a difference. “We visit about four schools a week. The players go out and visit schools and we do a lot of rec centers, too,” said McNaught. “We really enjoy getting the players out with the kids. In fact, we have more kids at our games than anyone in the league. We do one kid’s night a month.”

After 17 years in the community, McNaught says keeping things fresh and fun is important to the team. “The biggest challenge when you are around it a lot is keeping things from being stale. We try to get the best team that we can on the ice every year. Off the ice we try to do more and more with the community. It is something to always work on and have an open mind about.”

Find out more about the FireAntz at www.fireantzhockey.com.

Photos courtesy of Tom Groves.

If you haven’t made it to hear any of this year’s distinguished speakers in the Fayetteville State University Distinguished Speakers series, it’s not too late. The series kicked off with Dr. Bob Zellner, who spoke on Jan. 22.

“The Distinguished Speaker Series was started by the Fayetteville State University chancellor about five years ago,” said Director of Public Relations Jeff Womble. “His thought was to bring speakers to the campus for the students, faculty, staff and community and to bring more people to the campus to give them and idea of the things we have to offer.”

The program has been a huge success, drawing nationally known speakers like Roland Martin, Donna Brazile and Al Sharpton.

At the end of each spring semester, the chancellor and members of the staff get together and come up with a list that they feel will be a benefit and enjoyment to both the students and the community.

“He wants this to be a process where the audience can come hear the speakers and get something out of it,” said Womble.

Prior to each speaker’s visit, audience members can choose to participate by writing questions on an index card. After the speaker has concluded his talk, questions are chosen from the cards and the audience has a chance to interact with the speaker.

On Feb. 9, Dr. Cornel West is scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. at Seabrook Auditorium. A graduate of Harvard and Princeton universities, West has taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard and the University of Paris. He has edited 13 books and written 20. West appears frequently on the Bill Maher Show, Colbert Report, CNN and C-Spanas well as on Tavis Smiley’s PBS TV Show. West’s books include Race Matters, Democracy Matters, and his latest publication, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, a memoir.

He’s has appeared in more than 25 films and documentaries.

“Dr. West is highly respected in academia and is always making political commentary,” said Womble. “We are not sure what he will speak about, but we are certain it will be enlightening.

”Hilda Pinnix-Ragland is scheduled to close out the 2012-2013 series on March 12. She is the Vice President for Corporate Public Affairs for Duke Energy, the nation’s largest integrated utility headquartered in N.C.

Pinnix-Ragland works with officials at the local, state and federal levels to develop energy policies that are good for both consumers and businesses. Her numerous awards include appointments by former N.C. Governor Beverly Perdue to the Budget Reform and Accountability Commission and to the Governor’s Transition Team; the NC 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award; the Distinguished Alumni Award from N.C. A&T State University. Pinnix-Ragland was recently awarded the 2010 BOBB Award in Energy presented by the American Academy of Business and Commerce.

Pinnix-Ragland was chosen to speak in honor of Women’s History month, which is celebrated in March.

Like previous speakers, Womble expects that Pinnix-Ragland will be warmly received.

“The community certainly enjoys and embraces this program and it is a benefit to our students,” said Womble. “That is most important. Anytime we find a program that works this well for both the students and the community, we want to do everything we can to support it.”

For more information about Distinguished Speaker Series, visit www.uncfsu.edu/govandcommunity/events/Speakers%20Series/speakerartsseries.htm. To purchase tickets, call 672.1474.

Photos: Top left: Dr. Cornel West. Bottom right: Hilde Pinnix-Ragland.

In November of 1991, Disney released the animated movie titled Beauty and the Beast. Immediately, audiences all over the world fell in love with the romantic and heartwarming tale. Not only have audiences loved this story for years, with copies still being sold worldwide, but the movie also won critical acclaim as well.

Beauty and the Beast won a Golden Globe and was also the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award. In 2002, Beauty and the Beast was also selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” The stunning success of this animated musical made it clear that the story was loved, so Disney branched out and also made Beauty and the Beast available for production on the stage.

The NETworks production of Beauty and the Beast, a musical, will be live on the stage at the Crown Coliseum on Feb. 9. NETworks Productions was founded in 1995 by Kenneth Gentry, Seth Wenig and Scott W. Jackson. Since then, the company has produced more than 50 big-name productions all over the globe. Their works include Little Women, The Wizard of Oz,and Hairspray. The company is known globally for its skill in putting on theatrical productions that are exciting, engaging and beloved by audiences. NETworks productions continues to build their reputation of producing excellence by presenting Beauty and the Beast, the musical based on the Disney animated movie.

Like the movie, the stage production appeals to all ages. From 5-year-olds to 70-year-olds, anyone who comes to see the show will be entranced.

Natasha Katz, the lighting designer for the show says, “This particular version is not an exact replica of the film but it is extremely close to allow the audience to use their imagination more.”

Beauty and the Beast is a story of love. Belle is a young French woman who delights in books. The Beast is a prince who was transformed into a beast by a witch who was disguised as a traveler. He must win the love of Belle or face remaining in his altered state for the rest of his life. Belle learns to look past the Beast’s exterior into his kingly heart and falls in love with him, breaking the spell and returning him and his castle back to their original glory.

For the younger audiences, the beauty and magic of the show is sure to dazzle. For the older audience members, there is a play between good and evil that will add meaning and a new layer to the traditional and well-loved story.

“There is a dark side to the show, which makes any fable or fairy tale exciting. From a lighting point of view the dark side needed to be explored. In truth, you can’t have light without dark, or happiness without unhappiness, or courage without fear. “Katz explained.

Tickets can be purchased online at crowncoliseum.com. For more information, contact (910) 438-4100, this number can also be used to purchase tickets. The Crown Theatre is located at 1960 Coliseum Dr.

Mama (Rated PG-13) 5 Stars

When I heard that Mama (101 minutes) had been pushed from a 2012 release to a 2013 release, I got worried. Unless they are avoiding a Harry Potter movie, when studios start playing with release dates it’s usually a bad sign. See: Red Dawn, World War Z. Happily, this was an exception to a normally reliable rule because Mama was pretty darn good.

Guillermo del Toro, sticking close to his comfort zone, produces a film that is thematically linked to his favorite themes of small, sad children touched by the supernatural. Sitting in the director’s chair is first time director Andre Muschietti, who created the short upon which the feature film is based. He does a fantastic job with the story and he knows how to make creepy kids even creepier. However, I was not in love with the big creature reveal of Mama because CGI tends to look like CGI — horror is much scarier when unrealistic effects are kept in the shadows.

The film opens with an abandoned car. It is 2008, just after the finan-cial crisis, and a man named Jeffrey (Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau) has just finished indulging in a killing spree. He takes his children and heads as far from civilization as he can get. Some strange things happen on the way to nowhere in particular, and the children end up alone in a cabin with no supplies.

Time jumps five years forward. A couple of young hipsters are still invested in the case of the missing girls and their dad. Uncle Lucas (also Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau) lives with Annabel (Jessica Chastain, con-tinuing her quest to appear in every movie released this year), and they get very excited when a couple of mountain men find the girls living in an isolated cabin.

So, much as I like the movie … here’s the thing: I can totally buy into supernatural intervention keeping otherwise helpless children alive; I don’t know if I buy into the cabin going undiscovered for five years since it was in walking distance of the car crash that investigators certainly should have found, but did not. I mean, maybe I’m naïve, but I think when it comes to tracking down a guy that kills a bunch of people and then kidnaps a couple of kids, the police would maybe show a little interest in finding them.

Anyway, mountain men. They find the car crash, find the cabin and find the girls. Victoria (Megan Charpentier) and Lily (Isabel Nelisse) are filthy and fast and creepy and have a tendency to sway as if preparing to pounce. They are brought back to civilization with very little language and few basic skills. Dr. Dreyfuss (Daniel Kash) turns them into his pet project and suc-cessfully argues that Annabel and Lucas should get custody. Annabel is thrilled. She tries her best, and despite a few growing pains it seems like Uncle Lucas is going to make it work. But then things get creepy.

The girls make surprisingly rapid progress in behaving like civilized children (Victoria more than Lily), and the family moves into a huge home subsidized by Dr. Dreyfuss and filled with recording equipment. Too bad this is a horror movie be-cause of course, things must become horrible. Uncle Lucas falls down the stairs while investigating spooky goings-on, leaving an ill-prepared Annabel to play mommy with two girls who need more attention than she wants to offer.

Overall, this is a solid horror hit that also plays with themes of forgiveness, loss, change and inadequacy. Chastain delivers one of her best efforts and the two kids do a good job with material that would be beyond the years of most children their age. Heads up, in avoiding the obvious clichés the director made sure there was no standard happily ever after Hollywood ending.

Now showing at Wynnsong 7, Carmike 12 and Carmike Market Fair 15.

Winter Jam Comes to the Crown

The Buzz this week is all about the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular 2013. Winter Jam is returning to the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville Thursday, Feb. 7. Here are a few things you will need to know to be prepared for an amazing evening!

First, arrive as early as you can. The doors open at 6 p.m., but since the admission is just a $10 donation at the door (unless you purchase a JamNation membership*) you will want to be in line well before then. Bring water, snacks and maybe a group-oriented game to help pass the time. You’ll also need ear plugs (it will be loud) and some cash for food and art-ist merchandise.

The concert officially starts at 7 p.m., but the pre-jam party really gets things going around 6:30 p.m. with new bands Capital Kings and OBB. American Idol alum Jason Castro will round out the Pre-Jam experience.The lights go dim at 7 p.m. and the show takes off with a few fun tunes from Jamie Grace like “Hold Me” and “You Lead.” Sing along to the in-sightful ballads from Sidewalk Prophets: “The Words I Would Say,” “You Love Me Anyway” and the new one “Help Me Find It.” Then be ready to “Make A Move” with Royal Tailor!

Newsong, your hosts for the evening and the founders of Winter Jam, will inspire with “The Same God”, their new radio single “Swallow The Ocean” and the classic “Arise My Love” among others. Once your vocal chords are warmed up you will sing along with Matthew West and his wonderful story-songs like “Strong Enough,” “My Own Little World,” and his latest, “Forgiveness.”

Speaker Nick Hall will vividly present the life one can have with the God spoken about in the songs being sung. Then, for the rockers in the house, Red will pump up the decibels and the pyrotechnics! Finally Toby Mac and Diverse City will close the evening as only they can with tunes such as “City On Our Knees,” “Lose My Soul” and the new one, “Steal My Show.”

It’s the largest Christian concert that will come this way all year; 10 bands for only $10 at the door!

*If you want a guaranteed seat with some bonus benefits, details on the Jam Nation memberships is available at www.jamtour.com.

Methodist University’s Loyalty Day is rooted in a tradition of local sup-port older than the school itself. Before the then-named Methodist College opened in 1960, local leaders gathered donations for a small, private, liber-al-arts college that would be built in Fayetteville.

“The institution owes its very founding to community leaders who believed in the philosophy of university-community partnerships,” said President Ben Hancock. “Loyalty Day is rooted in a longstanding tradition of com-munity support, and it provides an opportunity to highlight the promise we make to every new student who comes through our gate that he or she will receive an exceptional education. We are grateful the community is enhancing our ‘culture of ex-cellence,’ as there has never been a great university with-out a great community.”

In 1956, the Fayetteville College Foundation, later renamed the Methodist University Foundation, pledged to raise $50,000 annually. For most years, the second Tuesday in February has served as Loyalty Day, this community fundraiser. This year’s Loyalty Day will be Feb. 12, 2013.

Many families have supported Loyalty Day through successive genera-tions. This year’s Loyalty Day chair, Cumberland County Register of Deeds J. Lee Warren Jr., class of ‘75, is a second-generation supporter.

“I remember my father writing a check every year to Methodist,” Warren said. “This was prior to my decision to even attend Methodist. … like all the rest of the community members, he was trying to support the institution.”

Years later, Warren would also be a Loyalty Day volunteer.

“Early on, it was geared toward going out into the community and mak-ing your visits, and they actually did do that on Loyalty Day. But I was never one for waiting to the last minute to do something. I liked to have a lot of mine in hand prior to the day.”

The Office of Institutional Advancement estimates that more than 550 locals have served on the Foundation since it formed, with thousands more volunteers.

Kickoff events have often been held, such as at the Chamber of Commerce’s Coffee Club meeting. Another tradition is a mayoral proclama-tion, recognizing Loyalty Day in the City of Fayetteville. One change was in 2005, when the focus of Loyalty Day shifted to scholarships.

Loyalty Day volunteer, alumna and retired MU em-ployee Lynn Clark started volunteering in the mid-1980s. To her, Loyalty Day is just as much about the Fayetteville community as the university.

“Methodist was very much meant to be a community-oriented college, and that association has continued,” Clark said.

As the University grows and evolves, the Loyalty Day tradition remains strong. While the school’s reputation has traveled around the world, its roots are still deep in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.

“Methodist has, of course, grown,” Clark said. “But in growing, it has also grown in its appeal to a lot of people. We have sent out excellent graduates all over the world. They represent Cumberland County well. People realize that it’s not the little college down Raleigh Road anymore.”

For more information on Loyalty Day, please contact Krista Lee at 910.630.7169 or klee@methodist.edu.

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