By Kate Searcy
Carrboro Commons Writer

Move over, Jonas Brothers. There’s a new boy band in town – literally.

Lord Destiny, far left, dances as members of Miah and the Girl Toyz treat the crowd to their vocal and guitar-playing talents. The group of brothers, including Christopher and Jeremiah, far right, hopes to make their band a household name in the music world with continued daily practice..
Staff photo by Kate Searcy

Miah and the Girl Toyz, a high-energy quartet of young musicians from Carrboro, put on a lively show at McDougle Elementary School on April 20.

The group consists of Christopher, 15, who plays bass guitar; Jeremiah, 14, who sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar; Stori, 11, who plays the keyboards and sings backup vocals; and Vincent James, 10, the drummer.

The “Miah” in the band’s name is a shortened form of “Jeremiah,” according to Jacob Jacobs, the group’s manager and adopted father of the boys.

The performance was part of an entertainment series called Entertainment Adventures that is sponsored and coordinated by the town of Carrboro and the Carrboro Recreation and Parks Department. There is a different performance on the third Sunday of each month, said Robin Jones, the coordinator of the event. Jones is also a recreation specialist for the town of Carrboro.

Jones saw the group perform at the Carrboro Music Festival and asked them to join the series.

“We don’t usually have musical acts,” Jones said. “But I heard a few of their songs, and we decided they would be good for our program.”
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By Shera Everette
Carrboro Commons Writer

If the Carrboro Film Festival were a plant, in a few months it would be getting ready to sprout legs and leap.

“There’s a plant metaphor for plant growth and development that says the first year, ‘steep;’ the second year, ‘creep;’ and the third year, ‘leap,’” said Selena Lauterer, chair of the Carrboro Film Festival. “For plants, their third year is when they’re most robust. In relationships and organizations, you’ll see that in the third year, things just magically grow.”

Committee members of the 2007 Carrboro Film Festival display the event’s fun spirit.
Photo courtesy of Carrboro Film Festival

The Carrboro Film Festival, which began showcasing local artists’ narratives and documentaries in November 2006, will have its third annual competition on Nov. 23, at the Carrboro Century Center.

“Can you believe the growth that we’ve seen?” asked Jackie Helvey, one of the festival’s founders. “Last year was a standing-room-only event and it was incredible. I can’t wait to see what happens this year.”

The deadline for submissions is Aug. 29, with late submissions being accepted until Sept. 22. Films can be no longer than 20 minutes, and the filmmaker has to have had a brush with Orange County at one time in life. They will be competing for one of the Kay Kyser Awards, which is named in honor of the 1940s Chapel Hill big band leader known as the “ol’ professor of swing.”

Lauterer said it is imperative to get the word out now, before students leave for summer vacations.

“We want as many student filmmakers as possible to be participants,” Lauterer said. “Who knows, maybe you will see the next big director.”
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By Kennedy Carruthers
Carrboro Commons Writer

A team of four Carrboro women initiated a community-wide art project in 2001 called “5,000 Flowers” to commemorate the lives lost on Sept. 11.

The project was so successful that Carrboro and Chapel Hill residents created more than 50,000 paper flowers and placed them in venues throughout the towns.

Committee members of the Community Art Project pose at Open Eye Café during the opening reception. Front row (from left to right): Maggi Grace, Barbara Ziff, Janice Tyler. Back row: Jackie Helvey and Andi Sobbe (co-chairs this year), Barbara Jessie-Black, Ann Kendall and Laura Casey.
Staff photo by Kennedy Carruthers

Today, a similar art project continues. In its fifth year, the Community Art Project introduces a theme to Chapel Hill and Carrboro residents and urges them to submit a personal creation inspired by that theme.

“It’s such a great way for us all to be creative,” said Jackie Helvy, co-chair of the Community Art Project and a member of the original team of women who initiated “5,000 Flowers.” “The truth is, we’re all artists, we just have to find it within us.”

This year, “Elements” was the theme. From photos of leaves doused in dew and ducks swimming into the sunset to a picture representation of the elements in the periodic table, the participants’ interpretations were limitless.

Andi Sobbe, co-chair of the Community Art Project with Helvey, said the project has matured every year. “There were so many ways to interpret one simple theme, ” Sobbe said. “It’s the evidence of the degree of creativity in this community.”

Former themes include “Self Portrait,” “Dream,” “Lost and Found” and “Why.”

On Thursday, April 17, these creations, in the form of mosaics, watercolor and oil paintings, collages, flower arrangements, pencil and crayon drawings and ceramics, were featured in a slide show at Open Eye Cafe as a commencement to the community-wide project.
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By Kate Searcy
Carrboro Commons Writer

Question: Where could one find the Rolling Stones, Joan Baez and Johnny Cash sitting together in perfect harmony?

Answer: The Carrboro Century Center on April 6th from noon to 6 p.m.

Gerry Williams showcases some of his records for sale at the sixth annual Carrboro CD, Record and Memorabilia Show. Vendors came to sell their music and talk about their passion for collecting vintage treasures.
Staff photo by Kate Searcy

These were just a few of the artists from various genres whose musical works were both on display and for sale at the sixth annual CD, Record and Memorabilia Show at the center over the weekend. Music lovers came by the dozens to browse, receive tips on buying and selling, or just to chat with fellow enthusiasts.

“This is a gold mine for me,” said Henry Hannon, a visitor to the event who said he has been collecting music for the past couple years.

Hannon said he was interested in the vinyl records for sale, and that he is currently into funk and soul music from the 1960s and early ‘70s.

Around 35 tables were purchased by vendors for the event, and the show was held in the center’s auditorium. It can fit around 40 vendors, according to Gerry Williams, the creator and director of the event. He is also the founder and coordinator of the Carrboro Music Festival.

Williams said that the show is sponsored by the town of Carrboro and its economic development staff.

Though the show was focused on vintage records and CDs, Williams said almost every musical format was available for sale. Cassettes, 8-Tracks and records of different sizes were just a few of the formats available for purchase. Music players, such as turntables, were also for sale.

Williams said rock ‘n roll was the most popular format for sale, but there was music from all genres to suit all musical interests.
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By Kennedy Carruthers
Carrboro Commons Writer

Whether it’s a concert, a poetry reading or an open gallery, Carrboro abounds with a creative flair. This is why author and frequent Carrboro visitor John Villani named it as one of America’s best art towns in his most recent book.

Villani, communications director for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, N.M., and a former art critic with The Arizona Republic newspaper, recognized Carrboro in his book, “The 100 Best Art Towns in America: A Guide to Galleries, Museums, Festivals, Lodging and Dining.”

John Wilner, an arts advocate and executive director of the Arts Center in Carrboro, stands beside one of the gallery exhibits featuring the paintings and drawings by students enrolled in the center’s art classes. Wilner says that the center makes a special effort to reach out to the diverse communities within Carrboro.
Staff photo by Kennedy Carruthers

The book, published in 2005 by Countryman Press, highlights communities in which support for the arts is evident in their culture, according to the book review by the publisher.

For Doreen Ross, this honor came as no surprise. Ross, a Chapel Hill resident, has been going to Carrboro’s The ArtsCenter to take jewelry-making classes for more than 10 years now. “It’s really nice to have the ArtsCenter here that suits so many people’s outlets,” Ross said.

In addition to town-sponsored art events, the ArtsCenter, located at 300-G E. Main St., makes Carrboro an amicable place for artists to live, museums and galleries to thrive, and nearby residents, like Ross, to express their creative side.

“I think it’s the walkability of Carrboro,” Villani said of his rationale for including the town in his book.

“If you combine a friendly retail environment with friendly visitors from Carrboro and Chapel Hill, it makes for an ideal place for gallery owners to set up shop,” he said.

Villani initially came to Carrboro more than 20 years ago when his mother, Lolita Villani, moved to town. During his visits, he observed the beginning of a creative evolution.
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By Shannon David
Carrboro Commons Writer

Carrboro observed National Poetry Month last weekend with a multimedia performance at the ArtsCenter titled, “Black Poetry: Performance Meets Theatre.”

The performance was held daily at 8 p.m. from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6.

National Poetry Month, according to the Academy of American Poets’ Web site, was established “to achieve an increase in the visibility, presence, and accessibility of poetry in our culture.” The ArtsCenter does just that with its Black Poetry performance.

Carrboro ArtsCenter celebrates Poetry Month with a performance of “Black Poetry: Performance Meets Theatre.” Pictured left to right: Dasan Ahanu, Sherita Young and Bernadine Fields.
Staff photo by Shannon David

The show included a combination of music, dance and poetry. It was performed half in light and half in complete darkness.

“We decided to do a play on words with the ‘Black Poetry,’” said co-producer of “Black Poetry: Performance Poetry Meets Theatre,” Leigh Lester Holmes. “The first half of the show is in darkness with a few spotlights, and the artists are moving around the space so your ears start to play tricks on you.”

The performance was split into two parts to complement the lighting. “The first half is in all darkness so the content is heavier and deeper,” said Holmes. “The second half of the show is more upbeat with full light and dancing. It is more exciting, almost like each poem tells a different story. The second half is also more uplifting.”

Each of the pieces was original and written by the artists who perform them with music interspersed throughout the performance.

The show included local and national spoken word artists and poets. “Spoken word is different than just poetry, “said Holmes. “Part of it is in the performance of it. Some of it is rhythmical and some of it is storytelling; that is what makes it spoken word.”
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By Stephanie Kane
Carrboro Commons Writer

Mary Votta, Panzanella Gallery coordinator, stands with some of the paintings featured at the exhibit. Artists featured (left to right) are Sharon Barnes (top), Marcy Lansman and Maureen Detwiler.
Staff photo by Stephanie Kane

The Panzanella Gallery is currently hosting the first ever “Local Farms/Local Art” exhibit in conjunction with the 13^th Annual Piedmont Farm Tour.

The exhibit of 30 paintings, drawings and photography by 26 North Carolina artists will be in Panzanella until June 1.

There were few restrictions stipulated, said gallery coordinator Mary Votta, except “that it had to be evocative of North Carolina farms, ideally inspired by farms anywhere in North Carolina.”

The Piedmont Farm Tour, taking place Earth Day weekend, April 19-20, involves only farms within the Piedmont. This year, five new farms were added to the tour for a total of 35 farms.

How the artists were chosen:

Votta received 170 entries from artists from as far as Beaufort, though most submissions came from Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Durham artists.

Through an electronic screening process, Votta, Barbara Matilsky of the Ackland Art Museum and a small selection team chose 30 pieces for the exhibit that they said “captured the flavor of this region.”

On Monday, April 28, Panzanella will hold a reception honoring the artists and their works. Votta expects all available artists to attend as well.

Panzanella is currently accepting votes for favorite pieces from customers at the restaurant and will announce the top three vote-getters at the reception, which will feature light hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.
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By Colin Campbell
Carrboro Commons Co-Editor

Failed inventions, Victorian dress, literature and a variety of music have become common features on Carrboro radio station WCOM-FM 103.5 in recent months.

Emma Cabrera, left, and Kara O’Dor, known to listeners as Emmett and Klaude Davenport, host “The Clockwork Cabaret” Tuesday nights on radio station WCOM-FM 103.5 in Carrboro.
Staff photo by Colin Campbell

The eclectic mix is a part of “The Clockwork Cabaret,” a new radio show that represents the many facets of a new subculture called “steampunk.” The program airs on Tuesdays at midnight.

Hosts Kara O’Dor and Emma Cabrera, known to listeners as sisters Klaude and Emmett, said they hope the show helps the expansion of the steampunk movement’s local following.

“Carrboro is totally steampunk and it doesn’t realize it,” O’Dor said. “This is a great, artsy town, and a lot of people would jump on it.”

The steampunk subculture is characterized by an affinity for the fashion and literature of the Victorian era as well as modern and futuristic technologies, leading some to describe it as “neo-Victorianism.”

“The Clockwork Cabaret” features readings and book reviews of literature, as well as music from a mixture of styles and periods that evoke an “old-time” aesthetic.

“It’s easy to find songs that fit the genre really well,” O’Dor said. Recent programs have included music from Irish rock band Flogging Molly, Goth musicians In Tenebris and 1950s pianist Joe “Fingers” Carr. Often the music centers around a theme, such as Paris or the sea.

O’Dor and Cabrera said they each own more than 1,000 CDs, and all songs on the show come from their collections, built from years of experience as nightclub disc jockeys.“This is going to help broaden people’s musical horizons a bit,” Cabrera said.

Cabrera and O’Dor have created detailed personalities for their on-air alter-egos, the Davenport sisters.

“They’re pretty much extensions of our own personalities,” O’Dor said.

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By Shera Everette
Carrboro Commons Writer

Life and scenes from the Victorian era will be re-created on Saturday, March 29, when dozens of people dance the night away at the Carrboro Century Center.

The Triangle Vintage Dance will host its 6th Annual Victorian Ball, showcasing a gamut of Victorian dances, from the waltz and polka to the foxtrot and tango.

Dancers wear vintage regalia during the 2007 Victorian Ball at the Carrboro Century Center. Many will be on hand Saturday at the 6th Annual Victorian Ball. (Photo courtesy of Triangle Vintage Dance)

“It’s always a lot of fun,” said Dawn Imershein, who co-instructs Triangle Vintage Dance with her husband, Chris. “The costumes are sometimes amazing for the people who go all out.”

Dawn Imershein said about a quarter of the dancers get into character and dress in Victorian-era costumes, while most dress in modern dance attire, including prom dresses, gowns and tuxedos.

She also said that the skill of the dancers ranges from those with two left feet to experienced dancers. There is a warm-up lesson from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Triangle Dance Studio, 2603 S. Miami Blvd. in Durham.

“Some dances are more difficult than others, and everybody has different methods of learning, but we’ve taught it enough to be able to help everyone,” Dawn Imershein said. “I’m sometimes really surprised to see faces I’ve never seen before come to the ball. But for the people who take lessons, their improvement level is just amazing.”

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