Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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DECEMBER 28 - JANUARY 3, 2016 UCW 11 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM DR. SHANESSA FENNER, Principal WT Brown Elementary School. Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. The Umoja Group Incorporated presents "Kwanzaa 2016" on Saturday, Dec. 31, from 5 - 8 p.m. at the Smith Recreation Center at Seabrook Park. "The purpose of the event is to celebrate Kwanzaa, bring the communit y together, share information about African-American culture and to learn about the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which people can live by every day," said Wanda Wesley, board member of the Umoja Group. "The seven principles are Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani." These translate to Day 1. Umoja means unit y. Day 2. Kujichagulia means self- determination. Day 3. Ujima means working together. Day 4. Ujamaa means supporting each other. Day 5. Nia means purpose. Day 6. Kuumba means creativit y. Day 7. Imani means faith, especially faith in ourselves. Wesley added that for each one of the principles they try to find an African-American person who exemplifies that principle. During the candlelight ceremony, a child will light a candle in honor of the person and share a lit tle bit of information about the individual. They try to add different people who you do not hear about every day and have done great things to impact their local communit y and the African-American culture. The Umoja Group awards a scholarship each year to a high school senior in the E. E. Smith at tendance area. "Our last Kwanzaa was January 1, 2016, and we gave Tyee Thomas a $1,000 scholarship, and she is now a freshman at Fayet teville State Universit y," said Wesley. "This year, on December 31, we are giving a $1,000 scholarship to a senior at E. E. Smith named Arianna Harmon." Wesley added that the Umoja Group finds recipients for the scholarship through recommendations from the high school and they look at students who are actively involved in the communit y, support Kwanzaa events and have already taking steps to beautif y the communit y. The program features a drum call, a unit y song, sharing what Kwanzaa means, dancing, singing, the history of the Kwanzaa event, awarding of the scholarship, candlelight ceremony, a tribute to ancestors and the parade of kings and queens. "Larry Johnson will portray Shaka Zulu and share the history on why Shaka is important," said Wesley. "We will have lit tle children participating as well as older people and seniors." There will be a special section set aside like in a traditional African village where the elders can sit in an area of respect and honor as we value their knowledge, history and struggle." Bring your favorite dish to share and canned goods to donate to Operation Blessing. Free books will be given to students and parents. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. For more information, call 485- 8035 or 527-2460. Umoja Group Hosts Kwanzaa Celebration by DR. SHANESSA FENNER EVENTS Cape Fear St udios is a nonprof it ar t s organizat ion that prov ides a unique space for ar t in historic Dow ntow n Fayet tev ille. The old brick building houses a combinat ion of st udio space and galler y space. It gives member ar t ist s not only a place to create, but also a place to display and sell their work . Even more impor t ant, however, is the communit y that the space creates. It brings together creat ive people f rom all over the area that may not have been able to meet other w ise. They can share their ideas, work and inspirat ions. It fosters collaborat ion. The discussions that members have amongst themselves here promote grow th in the ar t ist ic communit y. There are exhibit s that rot ate out on reg ular basis. The organizat ion also fosters the relat ionship between local artists and the outside public. Everyone is invited to come into the gallery and to engage with the art and artists present. This is especially true during 4th Fridays when the gallery is open late specifically for this reason. This commitment is even part of the organizations mission statement: "Our mission is to involve, educate, and enrich Cumberland County and surrounding communities with the opportunity to create and freely view art." This also includes classes, workshops and mentoring opportunities. There are t wo galleries at Cape Fear St udios. The f irst is the ret ail galler y. Here, members display their work s that are available for purchase. Members are voted in by a jur y based on t heir work . T hey help to r un t he st udio, but a lso benef it f rom t he available space. T here is a var iet y in st yles and mediums of ac t ive member ar t ist s. At any one t ime t he ret ail ga ller y may boast glass ar t , f ine jewelr y, paint ings, sc ulpt ures, pot ter y, photog raphs, wood ar t and more. T his var iet y of mediums is a lso benef icia l for t he ar t ist s. T hey c an gain insight and ex plore new ideas, processes and techniques. Diversit y is impor t ant for g row t h in any ar t ist ic organizat ion. The main galler y is where the rot at ing exhibit s are held. The themes and g uidelines for these exhibit s are cont inually dif ferent, which makes ever y exhibit f resh and interest ing. One month it may feat ure local painters and the nex t it may feat ure nat ional pot ters. Members submit months of their hard work and creat iv it y to be put on display. Buy ing a something here has long-reaching ef fect s because it also suppor t s local ar t ist s and Cape Fear St udios. It has a much more posit ive ef fect on the local communit y than purchasing a gif t at a global chain. It is always f un to shop for gif t s, but don't ignore the potent ial power that ever y dollar has in shaping the communit y. Cape Fear St udios is located at 148 Ma x well St . The galler y is f ree to the public. For more informat ion, including informat ion on how to become a member, classes or work shops v isit the website: w w w. capefearst udios.com. Cape Fear Studios Brings Art to Downtown a STAFF REPORT Buying local supports the economy as well as local merchants and artists.