Arts

Arts Council Celebrates contributions of our Young Community Members in Spring Exhibitions

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Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Written by Sara Busman, Arts Council of Fayetteville

The Arts Council is showing the impact of youth on our community throughout their Spring exhibitions Fayetteville FutureScapes, the CCS High School Juried Art Show, and The Fourth Grade Project.
To coincide with the 200th anniversary of Fayetteville’s visit from the Marquis de Lafayette, the Arts Council asked the youth artists at Greater Life of Fayetteville to imagine what our city will look like 200 years in the future. Led by President and CEO Georgeanna Pinckney, Greater Life of Fayetteville is a non-profit organization that educates and inspires at-risk and behaviorally challenged youth with innovative and culturally sensitive programs in order that they may thrive academically, socially, and morally. The students’ original artworks filled the Local Artist Spotlight Gallery on March 1-5 with images of flying cars zooming through a highway in the sky, innertubes gliding down the Cape Fear River, and visitors drinking some intergalactic coffee from “Space Rude Awakening.”
Innovative artistic expressions by the next generation continued into March with the return of the annual Cumberland County High School Juried Art Show. The Arts Council Main Gallery was bursting with digital art, sculpture, drawing, multimedia, and painting by students from Cumberland County Schools (CCS). Kemoya Hilton-Young, Administrative Assistant for CCS Arts Education, understands the importance of the Juried Art Show. “I want [the students] to feel pride and self-worth just to know that this is a step closer to where they want to be in life, and I want them to have that sense of ‘I made it,” says Hilton-Young. The annual show gives students a goal to work toward. “Especially if I have a beginning student, they are going to keep producing year after year and making it better and better. It’s a big deal,” remarks Manuela Smith, Visual Arts Teacher at Pine Forest High School. The High School Juried Art Show aligns with Youth Art Month across North Carolina with this year's theme "Healing Through Color."
In April and May, the Arts Council hosts The Fourth Grade Project, a traveling exhibition organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. The exhibition features photographs by artist Judy Gelles. Gelles interviewed fourth-grade students from 11 countries and asked them the same three questions: Who do you live with? What do you wish for? What do you worry about? The exhibit allows students to speak in their own words alongside Gelles’s unique photographic style. “A notable commonality across all schools is that every group of fourth-graders has very little contact with or knowledge of people from cultural or socioeconomic backgrounds different than their own.” Gelles said “The project allows students to learn about others’ lives in a uniquely personal way and to use the project as a catalyst for their own
explorations.” The exhibition hopes to connect viewers to the individual stories of each student while allowing space for them to see connections to their own experiences. The Fourth Grade Project will be on display in the Arts Council’s gallery April 9 until May 28. For regular updates on the Arts Council, follow the organization @artscouncilfay on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube.

All-American Tattoo Convention brings ink, art, competition to Fayetteville

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Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Written by Jamie Bishop

The All-American Tattoo Convention returns to Fayetteville, promising an expanded lineup of events, including a highly anticipated tattoo battle. This year’s convention will be held from April 11-13, at the Crown Expo Center, located at 1960 Coliseum Dr. The event runs from Friday through Sunday, with doors opening at noon.
Founded in 2017 by Ryan Harrell and his wife, Nicole, the All-American Tattoo Convention has quickly become one of the premier tattoo events on the East Coast. Ryan Harrell, owner of the All-American Tattoo Society in Fayetteville, spoke about the motivation behind launching the convention and how it reflects the city’s strong military culture.
“We started going to conventions and I just felt like Fayetteville had a high number of really good tattoo artists,” Harrell said. “We have a lot of tattoo shops here, but we didn’t have an event, so we started working on it in 2015. Our first year was 2017, and we’ve been throwing it every year since then, except for one year due to COVID. We sell out the booths every year — people love coming to Fayetteville for the southern hospitality and the connection to Fort Bragg.”
A Celebration of Tattoos and Military Culture
Fayetteville’s deep ties to the military are central to the atmosphere and structure of the convention. Harrell explained that tattoo culture has long been intertwined with military life, which inspired the broader scope of the convention’s events.
“We’ve been able to overlap a couple of different subcultures,” Harrell said. “In the military, they’re really into fitness, anime, tattooing, and pin-ups. These are all classic things that kind of go hand in hand with the military lifestyle. We’re an All-American city, home of the 82nd Airborne, so it just felt like the right fit.”
The convention isn’t just about tattoos — it’s designed to reflect the broader interests of the military and tattoo communities alike. Events include a weightlifting contest, a pin-up competition, and live wrestling. Harrell believes this combination of activities helps draw in a diverse crowd.
“We have people who come on Saturday to see the strongman and the bench press and deadlift competitions,” he said. “But then they also get drawn into the tattoo culture through the other events happening around the same time. Each element gives people a different experience of the show.”
Ticket Options and VIP Perks
Tickets for the All-American Tattoo Convention are available now, with single-day tickets for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as a three-day pass for those who don’t want to miss a moment of the action.
For an elevated experience, VIP passes are also available, which include a VIP bag and 30-minute early entry each day—a perfect opportunity to meet artists and explore the venue before the crowds arrive.
New Addition: The Tattoo Battle
One of the biggest new attractions this year is the All-American Tattoo Battle, a head-to-head tattoo competition designed to raise the stakes and engage the crowd.
“We have a lot of tattoo artists that have been on TV shows like Tattoo Nightmares, Best Ink, and Ink Master,” Harrell said. “I thought, why not create a live competition where they go head-to-head? We bought a championship belt — solid metal — and we’re making it a true contest.”
The tattoo battle kicks off at noon on Friday, with five artists competing. Each artist will receive a stencil and have free creative rein over how to tattoo it. The judging will take place at 4 p.m., with both the judges’ scores and fan votes determining the winner. Fans can vote by dropping a dollar into a bucket next to each artist’s tattoo display, with all proceeds going to Veterans Inc.
“Between what the judges decide and the money raised, we’ll announce the winner on Sunday and hand out the championship belt,” Harrell said. “It’s going to add a sporting element that I think people are going to love.”
Advice for First-Time Attendees
For those attending the convention for the first time, Harrell offers some practical advice to make the most of the experience.
“Definitely come early and take your time walking through the booths,” Harrell said. “We have tattoo artists from all over the country, and you can sit down and talk to them about their work. If you’re thinking about getting a tattoo, this is the place to see different styles and find an artist who fits your vibe.”
Harrell also encourages first-time attendees to explore the different events.
“Don’t just stick to the tattoo side of things,” he said. “Check out the pin-up contest, watch the weightlifting competition, and definitely catch some of the wrestling. It’s all part of the atmosphere, and you get a real feel for the culture.”
A Community Experience
Harrell emphasized that the All-American Tattoo Convention isn’t just about tattoos — it’s about building a sense of community.
“People come back every year because they feel connected here,” he said. “Whether they’re military or civilians, everyone gets welcomed into the culture. It’s more than just a convention — it’s a celebration of art, strength, and tradition.”
Tickets for the All-American Tattoo Convention are available online and at the door. Weekend passes and single-day tickets are available, with discounts for active-duty military and veterans. More information can be found on the convention’s official website at https://allamericantattooconvention.com/#

Record Store Day: Celebrate vinyl, exclusive releases on April 12

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Tuesday, 01 April 2025

Written by Sheila D. Barker

Since its inception in 2008, Record Store Day has become a cultural phenomenon, drawing attention to independently owned record stores worldwide. Initially conceived to celebrate and support these local institutions, it has grown to encompass a wide array of events, special releases, and community gatherings.
The day is a reminder of the important role record stores play in their communities. They are not just places to buy music. They are cultural hubs where people connect over a shared love of music. The staff, customers, and artists contribute to making Record Store Day a unique and cherished event.
This year's Record Store Day promises a plethora of exclusive releases that will excite music enthusiasts. Highlights include A-HA's Hunting High and Low-The 1984 demos, a crystal clear vinyl pressing of the band's original demos. This edition features unseen images and a design evocative of its 1985 release, including demos of hits like "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V."
Tori Amos fans will be thrilled with Diving Deeper Live (Bonus Tracks), a limited edition vinyl featuring four additional live recordings from her '22/’23 Ocean to Ocean world tour. This release is limited to just 2,500 copies and includes a signed art card by Tori.
Check out David Bowie's double LP Ready, Set, Go! (Live, Riverside Studios '03). On September 8th, 2003, David Bowie created a groundbreaking moment by orchestrating the most extensive interactive music satellite broadcast ever witnessed. The exclusive concert was transmitted via satellite from London's Riverside Studios, reaching 50,000 viewers across 86 theaters in 26 nations worldwide, from Hong Kong to Helsinki, captivating audiences with an unprecedented live showcase of his newest album, Reality.
Record Store Day 2025 marks the debut release of this performance, offered on 180g heavyweight vinyl and CD formats, complete with a reproduction of the original event poster.
There will be special releases from Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, Peter Gabriel, The Killers & Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, Ice Tea, Grateful Dead, Sam Smith, and so many more. For a full list of what is being released, visit https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases
Don't forget to support your neighborhood vinyl shops. Back Around Records, located at 1 Market Square, offers a vast collection of albums from floor to ceiling. You'll find selections matching any musical preference or style. 2nd & Charles, at 1920 Skibo Road, also offers a nice variety of vinyl. To see a full list of record stores nearby, visit https://recordstoreday.com/Stores
In recent years, physical media, especially vinyl, has seen a resurgence in popularity. This trend can be attributed to several factors, including the tactile experience of handling physical records and the superior sound quality many audiophiles believe vinyl provides.
Moreover, physical formats offer a sense of nostalgia and a tangible connection to the music that digital formats often lack. Collectors and new generations of music lovers alike are drawn to the unique artwork, liner notes, and the overall experience of owning a physical piece of music history.

(Photo: The interior of Back Around Records at 1 Market Street. Photo courtesy of Back Around Records' Facebook Page)

Steel Magnolias at CFRT: “Women together can do powerful things”

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Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Written by Kathleen Ramsey

The actors of Cape Fear Regional’s upcoming production of Steel Magnolias sit around a wooden table. They laugh and joke and compliment one another. They almost embody parts of the upcoming show. They all have stories that connect them with the storyline of the show they are performing in. For them, this story resonates.  
“I remember when they announced the season and I felt like it speaks to me,” says Danette Holden who plays M’Lynn. “ … M’Lynn is the one that speaks to me the most … She’s a strong-willed mom. She's a very put-together mom in the 80s.” 
Holden laughs and says that she’s basically playing her own mother -- a strong woman, who was raising a daughter in the 1980s. The others join in on the chuckle. They may have had a similar situation. 
“This role is oddly not a stretch for me,” she says. “Some of this is very easy to picture and embody.” 
Steel Magnolias will run from March 27 through April 13 at Cape Fear Regional Theatre’s new location at 1707 Owen Drive. Like Holden, other actors relate to the storyline, perhaps not by way of their own mothers as inspiration but rather the theme of womanhood. And of course, a penchant for fabulous hairdos since the play entirely takes place in Truvy’s hair salon. 
“It’s a really special place for the ladies of the neighborhood,” says Cara Chumbley. Chumbley plays Truvy and feels as though the character is the glue of the show. “Everything is coming into her space … a very iconic character.” 
Besides Holden and Chumbley, theater goers will experience the work of Director Laura Josephner and actress Mari Blake who plays Shelby. This is Blake’s first show at Cape Fear Regional Theatre. She talks about Shelby's journey and is completely enthralled by her story. 
"I remember going to the salon with my mom ... it felt so grown up and I wanted to be a part of it" she says. "The same for Shelby. She wants her independence."
Josphner, at the head of the table, is no stranger to Cape Fear Regional Theatre and has a deep love for Steel Magnolias. The play and 1989 movie, starring Julia Roberts and Sally Fields, were written by the same person, Robert Harling, Josephner says, who took a lot of the story from his own life. Josephner loves that this story about womanhood and feminine strength was written by a man. The others quickly agree. 
“There is a lot of depth. This show really honors that. It’s fascinating it was written by a man,” Chumbley says. “It feels authentic and genuine. It doesn’t feel made up because
it's not.” 

The play version of Steel Magnolias has a cast that only includes women unlike the movie which included male actors. “The film was expanded to include the men in their lives,” Josephner says.  “ … But it's
really a show of the time. It really was a changing point [the 80s]. These were women who grew up and they were housewives. It was just when women were going to work. It was a turning point too for where the women are.” 
During the play, the audience will experience the changes in the women as they come to the hair salon during a period of about two years. The relationships develop and deepen and everyone will join them on their different journeys even if the setting, Truvy's salon, remains the same throughout the entire play. 
“It’s very interesting that really nothing changes,” says Chumbley. “They change so much. The time changes. It’s where you start and where you end.” 
For Marketing Director, Ashley Owen, she is enjoying seeing the actors during their readings. The production, she says, is both timeless and beautiful.  
“It’s a beautiful representation of the positive relationship between women,” Owen leans forward as she speaks. “I didn’t know the true power of friendship between women until my 20s. This story does such a great job showing that women together can really do powerful and amazing things. They are more than pretty hair and make-up and nails.” 
Although the show has a full cast featuring only women and tells the stories of these families through the lens of the women of the household, Chumbley wants to remind audiences that it is not just for women. 
“It can be assumed to be that. The men are a part of it. It’s important for everyone to come see. It’s about relationships.”
The actors say there will be sad moments in the play but plenty of laughter too. The theatre will offer discount nights for military and teachers as well as some fun pre-show activities to include a floral arranging night and a custom hair tinsel night. For more information, visit www.cfrt.org. 
Oh and one more thing, Chumbley closed with, “You might get more from a side seat than even the center. The director has been making sure that it gets in there … Here’s the secret — pick a side seat.” 
As she finishes saying this, Chumbley and the others all break into smiles.