| footnotes | july 2022 | letter from the editor
“Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”— Hans Christian Anderson in The Complete Fairy Tales
The month of July — buzzing with beetles and butterflies — often sees a flurry of human activity too, as folks set out to capitalize on the languid stretches of sunny summer days. During a month punctuated by travel and experiences, we hope you’ll visit us and enjoy what we have to offer! While our main campus remains closed for repairs to electrical and HVAC systems, we have plenty to see and do offsite, including a timeless theatre production, a beginning weaving course, our third plein air painting excursion, an impressive tapestry exhibit, and the chance to buy advance tickets to the ever-popular Reevestock Music Festival (giving you an excuse to extend your summer a little longer…)
Skip the line at the door by reserving your tickets in advance for a magical evening of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, presented by the Foothills Theatre. You can view the production at the Elkin High School in the Dixon Auditorium. Performances are scheduled for Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23 at 7:30 PM, with an early final performance on Sunday, July 24 at 2:30 PM.
If you’re interested in learning how to weave, the upcoming Beginning Weaving course offered through the Yadkin Valley Fiber Center will provide an excellent foundation! You’ll have the choice between weaving a rayon scarf or rag-style table runner under the instruction of talented weaver and director, Leslie Fesperman. The week-long course takes place July 25 - 29, and class size is limited, so we encourage you to register early!
This month, our Plein Air Painter’s group excursion is to a private studio and orchard on a historic property in Traphill. We’ll meet in the morning of Sunday, July 24, to work from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, and we welcome both experienced plein air artists and artists who are just beginning to dabble in the art of painting outdoors. Your ticket serves as your RSVP, and you’ll be greeted with a cup of local, freshly ground coffee and our newly formed creative community. If you can’t make it in July but are interested in joining us for a later excursion, we will be meeting on August 21 on a private property that enjoys a spectacular view of the New River in Sparta. We invite you to bring your sketchbook or a canvas and join us for one or both adventures!
Finally, if you haven’t had the chance to check out the Tapestry Weavers South guild’s New Works exhibition, you can find the show on display at The Studio on North Bridge Street in Elkin until August 20. The gallery space is open on Friday from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Sunday from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Stop in on your way to the farmer’s market this Saturday or brunch on Sunday for a little dose of creative inspiration!
Sydney Sieviec, Assistant Director