NEWSLETTERH I G H L A N D C O U N T Y A R T S C O U N C I L / / I S S U E 1 1 / / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 1
Mom, Martha, played the piano, Dad, Jacob,
sang bass and carried all the equipment,
Lori sang alto and played bass guitar and
Lisa, her younger sister, sang the lead.
The family sang for 15 years, travelling up
and down the east coast. After the family
quit singing, Lori continued on her own. “It
just gets in your blood” she says.
Lori Botkin is also the Executive Director for
the Highland Historical Society. Donations
from the "Free will" concert on the 11th will
benefit both the Arts Council and the
Historical Society.
Entries fromArts AcademyParticipants
The Highland County Arts Council will host a
concert on September 11th at the Jones
McCoy House in downtown Monterey (142 W.
Main Street) featuring local vocalist Lori
Botkin.
Her program includes a variety of different
styles although her first love is still southern
gospel. She plays the piano or guitar as
accompaniment and also uses pre-recorded
music.
Lori started singing in 1974 at the age of 13
with her family- they often spent time
together singing their favorite southern
gospel songs.
IN THIS ISSUE
Lori Botkin in Concert-Sept 11th, 7p
Creativity Corner: EmilyConnor
AMSP Enrolling!
A Harvest of Activities
...and more!
Mark your CalendarSeptember 11th, 7pm -Lori BotkinThe Jones McCoy House
Mary Dunn Connor-
1st Place Barn Quilt
Lorraine White1st Place/Runner Up
Best in Show Eco Printing
Ellen Phillips-
2nd Place Pottery
Lorraine White1st Place (top)
Sarah Collins-Simmons 2nd Place (bottom)
Eco Printing
Margie Fullerton-
3rd Place Pottery
At the Fair!
Activities take place at:
Garth Newel Music Center in Hot Springs
(403 Garth Newel Lane, Hot Springs, VA 24445)
The Highland Center in Monterey (61
Highland Center Drive, Monterey, VA 24465)
Clifton Forge School of the Arts in Clifton
Forge (518 Church St., Clifton Forge, VA
24422)
Contact:
Jaime McArdle - Program Director & Instructor
for Bath & Alleghany Counties
Gretta Sandberg – Orchestra Director &
Instructor for Highland County
This project is funded in part by the Allegheny
Foundation, the Bath County Arts Association
and the Highland County Arts Council.
The Allegheny Mountain String Project
(AMSP) offers a comprehensive string
music education program, including
private lessons, chamber music
ensembles, and a youth orchestra to all
children of school age within driving
distance of activities in Alleghany, Bath,
and Highland counties. The AMSP is
sponsored by the Garth Newel Music
Center.
The core values of AMSP align with the
National Association for Music Education
standards of excellence. AMSP students
learn a wide variety of musical styles,
based on the guidelines of the American
Music System which includes American &
Appalachian folk songs and fiddle tunes
for early instruction. Students learn to
improvise and to learn by ear as well as to
read music. They play both Bach and
Bluegrass.
Scholarships are available through
funding from the Alleghany Foundation,
Bath County Arts Association, the
Community Foundation of Central Blue
Ridge, the Highland County Arts Council,
the Bolar Ruritan Club, and private
donations.
Allegheny Mountain String ProjectEnrolling for the new school year!
Larnell Starkey and the Spiritual Sevenare well-known gospel singers who arecoming to the Highland Center onOctober 9th at 2 pm.
You’re invited to gather a group of four ormore to attend this joyful event for $5 perperson. Groups will be seated together ina reserved spot in the Center’s spaciousauditorium.
In order to use this benefit, groups mustmake reservations in advance by sendingan email to [email protected] give us the names of guests in thegroup.
Congregational Special!
When we moved to Highland County in January
of 2017, I was just a simple crocheter who loved
going to Joann’s with a coupon and coming
home with a garbage bag size stash of yarn that I
got at a discount. My grandmother taught me to
crochet when I was young. Since she passed, it is
a way for me to still feel connected to her.
Once we moved here, I started raising my own
alpacas, merino sheep and recently added finn
sheep to the farm for their wool and fiber. The
Fiber Arts is truly a deep and dark rabbit hole
that I gladly threw myself down. I have now
gotten into processing my own wool from start to
finish, although I do still utilize a fiber mill to
have some of it commercially spun. I dye my own
fiber and yarn to make one-of-a-kind pieces for
projects, I hand spin some yarn but my absolute
favorite is weaving. To be able to tell a story with
my work, to know which animal it came from,
and make something beautiful out of it that
someone can wear and love, brings me incredible
joy. It is a time for me to just meditate and relax
and connect with myself and our farm. It is
incredibly time consuming but it is so worth it
when the final project is completed. When I can
take a project off the loom, go to fairs or festivals
to sell my wares then meet folks who appreciate
my work and take home a piece of our farm…
there isn’t much better.
There are so many different aspects to the fiber
arts. Whether it is felting, spinning, dying,
weaving, crocheting, knitting… the list goes on.
And there is truly something for everyone. If
anyone is ever interested in learning more I
would gladly talk your ear off and show you the
ropes. To see more pictures of my projects or just
life on the farm feel free to visit our facebook or
instagram page - @millgapfarms
Creativity Corner: Emily Connor
Larnell Starkey and The Spiritual Seven
concert (postponed earlier this summer
due to inclement weather) will perform on
October 9 at 2 pm at The Highland Center
On October 9 & 10, demonstrations and
exhibits of art produced during the
summer Arts Academy will be on display
in the Highland Center pavilion.
Let Donna Bedwell know if you are
interested in exhibiting or sharing your
projects. (E: [email protected])
If you missed taking a workshop in 2021,
stop by and see what was made and be
inspired to learn a new skill in 2022.
The splendor of the fall landscape in
Highland is inspiring for the artist in us all.
It is also an attraction for regional artists
to enjoy painting these vistas.
Arrangements are being made for special
opportunities for those interested in
painting outdoors at some select farms
and orchards around the county. Follow
us on Facebook or visit our website for
more information as these plans are
developed.
The Highland Arts Council invites you to
share in the beauty and inspiration of
music and art ready for picking in our
community this month.
October will be an exciting month for The
Highland County Arts Council.
The month kicks off with another popular Arts
Academy workshop. At the conclusion of the
June 2021 session of the Ecoprinting
workshop, participants pulled out their
calendars and asked when the instructor,
Theresa Brown, could return. The result is a
Fall workshop where she will lead a series of
three workshops for people interested in the
ability to print using materials from nature.
On Oct. 1, Theresa will show the group how to
print on paper using nature’s elements from
their yards and surrounding woodlands.
On Oct. 2, participants will be using these
materials to print on silk and wool. While
both of these workshops are perfect for
beginners to the art.
The third workshop on October 3 will be for
anyone who wants to expand their skill to
printing on larger pieces.
Experience in at least one of her previous
workshops will be necessary for this Sunday
session.
A Harvest of Activities Planned for Fall
September 11, Lori Botkin, The Charles
Pinckney Jones House, 7 pm
October 9, Larnell Starkey & The
Spiritual Seven, The Highland Center, 2-
4 pm
November 13, Annual Meeting, Richard
Adams Trio, The Highland Center, 7 pm
December 11. Christmas Carol with
John Hardy, The Highland Center 7 pm
Feb 12, Valentine’s Day with Bill Heid,
Lew Freeman and Claire Sax The
Highland Center 7 pm
March 12 Scuffletown, The Highland
Center, 7 pm
April 9 After Jack, The Highland Center,
7 pm
May 14, Robert Jospe Trio, The
Highland Center, 7 pm
June 11 The McCoy Sister’s Annual
Concert with Zuzu Hot 4, The Highland
Center, 7 pm.
Thanks to support from The Community
Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge,
The Virginia Commission for the Arts, The
National Endowment for the Arts, The
Little Swiss Fund, The Charles Pickney
Jones Fund, and members like you!
2021-2022 Season
Thank you to HCAC Board Member Renee Vandevander!Special thanks to board member Renee Vandevander for her continued efforts as Chair for theArts & Photography Category of the annual Highland County Fair. Without her leadershipHighland County wouldn't have the opportunity to showcase its creative and artistic talents. Thank you Renee!
Tickets & information at:www.highlandcountyartscouncil.org