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/495553
8 APRIL 15-21, 2015 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville is an arts-friendly town if there ever was one. With several galleries, resources and support systems for creatives it is hard to imagine an organization that supports art and artists flying under the radar, but for many, Ellington-White CDC has done just that. The group has been active in Fayetteville since 2007. Before that, Ellington-White CDC called Detroit, Michigan, home. At Ellington-White CDC, all art is valuable and one of the main goals is to ensure access and development of artistic experiences for everyone. Currently, the Ellington- White Contemporary Gallery is partnering with the Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County in the show Earthy Abstractions. The show is on display at the Arts Council until May 16. Earthy Abstractions showcases works by artists that use earth elements like soil, clay, wood, stone and other natural materials in their work. The pieces are connected by theme, texture or materials in their relationship to nature. The Arts Council Gallery hours are Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday: 9 a.m. to noon; and Saturday: noon to 4 p.m. "Currently we have a national exhibit on display in the Arts Council's exhibition space entitled Earthy Abstractions. It contains work from more than 35 artists from 14 states and is the first of what we plan to be many national high profile exhibitions," said Calvin Mims, the executive director of Ellington-White. "On May 9, we open another national show in partnership with the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens entitled Art and Flowers: Color, Form and Harmony. This is another national competition that will feature more than 50 floral inspired works of art from 33 national artists, several from this area." Art And Flowers: Color Form and Harmony runs through June 20. Exploring and encouraging diversity in the arts is important to Ellington-White CDC, and the programs it supports. Upon relocating to Fayetteville, Ellington-White CDC reached out to Fayetteville State University and CommuniCare and started programming that provides high-quality, after-school arts education to special-needs youth. It is taught on the FSU campus by professional artists. Other programs provide artists with the information and tools they need to engage the community and use art as a unifying concept in building a strong community. "We bring much needed culturally diverse visual art that is reflective of our community here in Cumberland County. I also think that our Discovering the Arts program for young people is an important program for us," explained Mims. "With our program partner, CommuniCare, Inc., we have been exposing young people to the joys of the arts. Young people are given a positive outlet for their emotions and creativity." In March, Ellington-White CDC partnered with the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Fayetteville State University to bring Moving in the Spirit II: The Griot and Movement, a two-day regional dance conference to the community. "What I love most about our work at Ellington-White is the excitement of discovery for everyone who comes to the gallery and makes a meaningful connection with a work of art," he continued. "We feel that the art scene here in Fayetteville is growing. There is a youthful excitement around the exhibitions we bring and the growing body of support from young local artists that makes me very hopeful for the future." In addition to collaborations with local organizations, Ellington-White CDC offers show space in the Ellington- White Contemporary Gallery. This space features works by emerging and professional artists as well as touring exhibits. The focus is on shows that reflect and respond to cultural arts and diversity in the community. Through outreach, programming and partnerships, Ellington-White CDC seeks to: • Ensure access and development of artistic experiences for everyone; • Promote investment in the arts as economic development; • Publicly champion the importance of the arts in everyday life; • Expand public/private partnerships between schools, the community and arts organizations; • Create an artist corps of professionals; and, • Present after-school and community-based arts programs Find out more about Ellington-White CDC at http://www.ellington-white.com. Ellington-White Gallery Promotes Diversity in the Arts by STEPHANIE CRIDER Lynne O'Quinn is no stranger to the military. Her father and grandfather both served and instilled in her a respect for the sacrifices that service members and their loved ones make. Growing up near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, she watched soldiers and their families carrying out the nation's business. She didn't necessarily plan to start a ministry built around the military, in fact, she had her heart set on a career in music, but when it happened, it was clear that this was what she was meant to do. The ministry, His Little Ones Ministry, was founded in 2008 and is currently in 110 countries. In addition to running His Little Ones Ministry and the His Stars and Stripe subsidiary that focuses on military children, she is set to release the single, "Stand Proud." Now in its second iteration, "Stand Proud" was first conceived during a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. "This song was released one time before during Operation Desert Storm. It was right when Desert Storm had begun. It was actually the 4th of July that I wrote it," said O'Quinn. "All of this stuff was going on overseas … they were burning the flag and so many other things that were hard to see." Inspiration struck when O'Quinn was walking through Arlington National Cemetery looking at the headstones and reflecting on the sacrifices. "There were so many. I was looking at the names and ages on each grave and some weren't even marked," she said. "It just really grabbed me and these words just started coming to me." From there, she visited the National Archives Building, where she found herself overwhelmed with the history of the nation. "God just started working in my heart and I tried to conceive of all the sacrifices that have been made … I was just overcome. I sat on the steps and pulled out whatever was in my pocket and started writing down these words. Within a few minutes it was done. Then the 4th of July parade happened, and I was in tears." When she returned home, O'Quinn teamed up with longtime friend and musician Doyle Wood who wrote the music to go with the lyrics. The song came together quickly and was met with success but was pulled from distribution when Operation Desert Storm ended. Recently, while working on another project, O'Quinn came across the original recording of "Stand Proud." She knew right away that it was time to breathe new life into the song. She brought it up to Wood, who agreed, and the two set out to refine the piece into something quite wonderful. "We have worked very hard on this and were very careful to have something unifying in every sentence to make this a song that can bring America together," said O'Quinn. The response from the music community has been remarkable. The project has taken on a life of its own, reaffirming O'Quinn's belief that this song is about more than entertainment. It is about healing. The CD features powerhouse musicians like Miss North Carolina Beth Stovall and Vanessa Mathis Holland, who has had hits place at No. 2 and No. 6 on the Soul Charts, the Snyder Memorial Baptist Church Choir, Laura Stevens and many more notable talents. "The piece is already in orchestration," said O'Quinn. "We are receiving calls from churches and other organizations that want to perform this piece, and we will have the musical scores so it will be ready for any band, symphony or other musical group to perform." All of the proceeds from the song will be used to support the His Stars and Stripes Ministry in support of military children. "We are wanting this for the country and to help troops and to build their morale and do something to say 'Thanks,' and that 'We appreciate all you and your families have done,'" said O'Quinn. One of the ways that O'Quinn and the other artists who worked on the project hope to help military children is through the release of books that are dedicated to helping the children of parents who served our country in the military. "So many families of veterans no longer have them present in their lives. Many parents came back physically, but they are certainly not the same. The permanent wounds and scars they bear will never allow them the freedom to be who they were before their service to our country. These are topics the books deal with," she said. Find out more about Stand Proud at www.americastandproud.org. Learn more about her ministries at www.hislittleonesministry.org/about/ his-stars-and-stripes. Fayetteville Native Finds Mission In Supporting Troops and Families by STEPHANIE CRIDER STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. STEPHANIE CRIDER, Editor. COMMENTS? Editor@upandcomin- gweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Art And Flowers: Color Form and Harmony opens at Cape Fear Botanical Garden May 9 and runs through June 20. PASTE OFA TAG HERE Writers: Lynne R. O'Quinn and Doyle Wood Recorded, mixed and mastered by Doyle Wood, Daxwood Produc on Co. Neal B. Finn, Vocal and Brass Scores, Trombone; Geron Gambill, Trumpets; Mark Mabe, Bass Trombone; Rob Thomas, French Horn; Carl Greeson, Piano and Orchestra on; Richard Gates, Drums; Doyle Wood, Acous c Guitars and Bass Guitar Lead Vocals: Vanessa Mathis Holland; Beth Stovall, Miss NC 2014-15; Doyle Wood Addi onal Vocals: Sade Billingsley; D. J. Coles; Lynne O'Quinn; Laura Stevens Snyder Memorial Bap st Church Choir Singers: John Crenshaw; Kenny Godwin; Brad Hurley; Kerri Hurley; Karen Ingram; Mark Ingram; Emma Lantham; Landon Lantham; Amanda O'Quinn; Mark Rice; Mary Rice; Richard Suggs; Owen Widman. Directed by Richard Suggs Publicity: Phyllis Houston-Washington, Vision Marke ng Interna onal, LLC A special thanks to Louise Godwin, Brian Adams and the His Li le Ones Ministry Prayer Team All proceeds go to His Stars & Stripes, a ministry to honor the sacrifices made by our military children. His Stars & Stripes is a division of His Li le Ones Ministry. www.hisli leonesministry.org www.americastandproud.org The lyrics to STAND PROUD were originally wri en in Arlington Na onal Cemetery and on the steps of the Na onal Archives Building. This song is to honor America and all who have served our country to protect its ci zens and freedoms. We honor the veterans, ac ve/reserve duty and all first responders as well as those who have made the ul mate sacrifice with their lives. This na on has been built upon all these heroes. His Stars & Stripes honors all the children who have sacrificed so much through the service of their parents to this great na on. May God bless the USA and may we STAND PROUD before our flag and the United States of America. ©℗ O'Quinn/Wood Daxwood Publishing Co. BMI 1991, 2015