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.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/354806
JULY 30 - AUGUST 5, 2014 UCW 7 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Music plays an important role in the Army. Not only does it lift the spirits of soldiers abroad and at home, it also acts as a bridge between the military and the rest of the nation. Simply put by Capt. Dae Kim, the commander and conductor of the Army Ground Forces Band, "We are the musical ambassadors of the American combat soldier." The Army Ground Forces Band has fulfilled this role since its inception in 1845 in a city known for its music, New Orleans. The band is now stationed at Fort Bragg and has played numerous shows in the surrounding area, such as the performances in the upcoming Summer Concert Series in Festival Park. On July 31, the Loose Cannons, an ensemble of the Army Ground Forces Band, will perform at downtown's favorite music venue. The Loose Cannons have performed for deployed troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom, but the ensemble's incredible skill and energy put them right at home in any venue. "The Loose Cannons are our more rock/pop group. They perform the newer songs, more like the top 40 of the last five years, but they are also very versatile and if they get requests they can do that," Kim said. The group also performs country, R&B, and Hip Hop. On August 14, the Jazz Guardians will perform at Festival Park. As the name suggests, this amazing group of musicians has a special interest in promoting and preserving Jazz. They perform the works of many of the great classic Jazz musicians,and have been featured in Jazz Festivals across the nation. "The Jazz Guardians are more of our big band set. They can cover everything from all of the jazz legends and big band songs from the early 40s like Glenn Miller and other pre World War II artists to modern big band songs of today. They are very versatile and perform from Jazz to Funk, but stop just a little before pop," said Kim. August 28 is the concert series finale and the Army Ground Forces Concert Band will perform. This is one of the largest and best groups the Army has to offer. It has received the Col. George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands twice and has performed in notable halls across the nation. The band's performances include varied contemporary and classical pieces. It includes "everything from orchestral transcriptions, marches, instrumental and vocal solos to popular tunes and patriotic music." The passion that these men and women have for their craft is what truly makes these performances incredible. Every performance is overflowing with energy and excitement that inevitably spills into the crowd. Kim expresses his own excitement for being part of the Army Ground Forces Band by saying, "As my predecessor said, this is the best job in the Army, truly. These people are soldiers who just happen to be world-class musicians. They come into the Army with these skills and then use them on behalf of the Army. But probably the best part would be working with these amazing soldiers daily to communicate the Army message." The Loose Cannons perform on July 31 and the Jazz Guardians perform on August 14. The series finale takes place on August 28. All of the performances are at 7 p.m. in Festival Park and are part of the Summer Concert Series. For more information on the band visit http://www.forscom.army.mil/ band/default.htm. Festival Park is located at 225 Ray Ave. Army Ground Forces Band Brings Loose Cannons to Festival Park by ERINN CRIDER ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910.484.6200. The Army Ground Forces band is set to perform at Festival Park on July 31. Katie Crawford, local artist and new gallery owner, is a self-taught mixed media artist living in Linden, NC with her husband and their two dogs. She made the move from Virginia to North Carolina five years ago because of her husband's active military status. Crawford features watercolor paintings with whimsical animals and still-lives over vintage letters and paperwork. This technique is called mixed media; the combination of paint, ink and collage. Her art has been included in many private collections throughout the country. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree from James Madison University, where she studied anthropology and art history. Since graduating, she has been displaying her art at fine art shows, and festivals along the east coast. Art has been her passion from a young age. Her inspiration comes from her parents. "I grew up in an antique store, my parents own an antique store, and my inspirations would be old things. I like stuff that had a story, and you might not have known the story but you knew it had one. I love the feeling of mystery it gives and I like incorporating that into my paintings," said Crawford. Crawford has always known she was going to be an artist. "I found one of those books you make in kindergarten and it says 'I want to be…' and then it says 'an artist.'" Ever since she was a little girl she has been selling her art. She would sell her artwork from her parents' storefront door for a nickel and put the nickels in a silver cup that she still has and displays in her studio. Crawford's little studio is in the back of the gallery where you can see her current paintings in progress. This reason alone should be enough to continue to come and see her gallery; one day there is a sketch, and then the next week it is nearly finished. She has made prints of many of her original artwork to make them more available to anyone wanting a piece of her creative creature paintings. Her artwork appeals to people of all ages. Everyone has a different reaction when they view her art. She has sold quite a few big original pieces this year and is hopeful that she will be able to sell more. Crawford loves to paint animals, and her favorite is birds. She loves giving them personalities. There was a particular painting at the gallery titled, "Robbing the Rich," which featured a bright yellow canary stealing a cherry off of a cupcake. It was such a clever title that the viewer can't help but want to know more about the bird, or the rich family it was robbing. She uses old maps, letters, recipe cards and documents purchased at estate sales and auctions as the collage background to her artwork, making them mixed media. Crawford's goal is to turn something old into something new, making it timeless — and she's done just that, "…they have such depth, and I like to give them a new life, and a new purpose." Her work is available online but that does not do it justice.There are details to these paintings that cannot be seen from a computer screen. The letters and writing in the background is more noticeable when viewing it for your own self. In her efforts of up-cycling these old materials, she's mastered a new and intriguing way of mixed media art. "I took the basic art classes in high school…and I didn't know how to draw…I knew where I wanted to go and couple years ago I said, 'okay, you're going to learn to draw.'" said Crawford. To view her artwork, and then to learn she never took a single professional art class, it is mind-blowing. Crawford plans on having shows on a regular basis to showcase new pieces and hopes to have good turnouts. It'll be an after-hours event for people to come out and see her most recent work. Aiming for one to be in late summer. To visit Katie Crawford and to see her artwork, her gallery Katie Crawford Art, is located at 1220 Fort Bragg Road, Suite 200B Fayetteville, NC 28305. Go through the door, up the stairs and to your right. For gallery hours or appointments visit katiecrawford. wordpress.com or call (910)- 364-3941. Local Artist Brings a Touch of Whimsy to Fayetteville by NICOLE BELCH Crawford posing with some of her works in her Gallery.. NICOLE BELCH, Intern. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200.