Trips to Norfolk, Va. to see matinee shows at the Harrison Opera House are planned for Feb. 5 (Orphee) and Sunday, March 18 (The Mikado).

The van will leave the center at 11:30 a.m. to attend the 2:30 p.m. show. The group will eat dinner on the way back.

Call the center at 475-9270 to register. Space is filling up fast.

Ticket prices vary and are the responsibility of each participant. Call the Virginia Opera box office at 866-673-7282 for prices and seating information.f

Acrylic painting classes are being held at The Dare County Center Tuesdays, Jan. 24 and 31 and Feb. 7 and 14.

Cost is $20 per class to drop in. The classes will be taught by Hudson Williams. All supplies will be included. The fee is due at class time. You may sign up in the front office of the center. For information, call the center at 475-9270.

SCERBO DRUSIANO is one of the judges for the 34th annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show

FINAL CALL to Artists for submission to 34th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show. This Call for Entry is open to all artists who are residents of Dare County or who are members of the Dare County Arts Council and are 18 years of age or older. Artists can join the Dare County Arts Council at the time of delivery. A non-refundable fee of $20 per artist ($35 for non-arts council members) is due upon delivery of work. All artwork must be received at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on January 24th or 25 th. The gallery is located at 210 E. Driftwood Street in Nags Head. For information visit www.darearts.org or call 473-5558.

For a complete prospectus, please stop by Dare County Arts Council’s interim gallery space at MP 41/2 on the bypass between Trio Wine Bar and Diamonds and Dunes. A prospectus is also available on line at www.darearts.org.

This year more than $1,500 in cash awards will be offered, including “Best in Show”, “Excellence”, and “Honorable Mention”. A “People’s Choice” award winner will be selected by public ballot during the opening reception. All other cash award winners will be selected by the judges based solely on merit without regard to media. The 2012 judges are Drusiano Scerbo and Caitlin Cartwright.

Drusiano earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting with minors in both drawing and art history and a MFA from Old Dominion University. In addition to working as a professional artist, he is currently a professor of art at Elizabeth City State University, where he supports the quests of other aspiring artists. His body of work comprises representations of the human figure placed within targeted settings and panoramic landscapes that fill both physical and psychological space. His artistic content has evolved over time from that of social realism to that of implied existential realism, while endeavoring to evoke emotions and images inspired by his childhood memories of Italy.

Cartwright is the artist in residency at Pocosin Arts. After graduating with a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, Cartwright moved to Madagascar and worked in an orphanage with young women to produce arts and develop sustainable businesses. While there she also taught art, English and spear-headed a mural project. After returning to the States,Cartwright continued to paint and began working with inner city youth development. In 2008 she joined the U.S. Peace Corps and traveled to Namibia, Africa and co-founded Nambula Girls Club, an organization focused on girls’ empowerment, education and health. After returning from Namibia, she refocused on her painting and joined Pocosin Arts in October 2011.”

The opening reception and awards ceremony for the 34th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show will be January 28, from 6-8 p.m. at Glenn Eure’s Ghost Fleet Gallery. The exhibition dates are Sunday, Jan. 29h through Friday, Feb. 24, 2012. Gallery hours are 10 – 5 , Monday through Friday, and noon to 4 p.m.p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

CAITLIN CARTWRIGHT, an accomplished artist who brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her work, will lead the first Wine & Design at Pocosin Arts in Columbia. After graduating with a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, Caitlin moved to Madagascar and worked in an orphanage with young women to produce arts and develop sustainable businesses. She also taught art, English, and spear-headed a mural project while there. After returning to the United States, Caitlin continued to paint and began working with inner city youth development. In 2008 she joined the U.S. Peace Corps and traveled to Namibia, Africa, where she co-founded Nambula Girls Club, an organization focused on girls’ empowerment, education and health. After returning from Namibia, Caitlin refocused on her painting and joined Pocosin Arts in October 2011.

Bring your friends and join Caitlin at Pocosin Arts Folk School for this fun and creative evening. Pocosin Arts will provide all necessary materials, including the silk scarves, dyes and brushes. All you need to bring is your favorite bottle of wine or other beverage of choice! The cost is only $35, which covers the evening, instruction and supplies. The first Wine & Design will take place on January 27, 7-9 p.m. Another Wine & Design will take place on March 2. All classes are at Pocosin Arts Folk School located at 201 Main St. in Columbia, second floor studios. Preregistration is necessary. Visit www.pocosinarts.org or call Pocosin Arts at 252-796-2787 for more details and to register for one or both workshops.

MATT McGUIRE performs.

99.1 The Sound and Dare County Arts Council have partnered to produce the very first compilation CD of local musicians creating original music. Monthly showcases have been taking place since September featuring the selected musicians and will continue through April. There were over 60 submissions to the project making the selections for the inaugural CD a difficult one for the panel of judges. In May the first edition of Outer Banks Sounds will be released to the public. DCAC and 99.1 The Sound is looking for original artwork to accompany the CD. The submission deadline is 3/31/2012. All artwork must be created/submitted in one of the 5 following programs: Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, Quark Express or Corel Draw and emailed toinfo@darearts.org.

The winning artist will receive recognition on 1000 CD’s, posters and all other marketing materials associated with the project and 20 copies of the CD.

THE LINE UP OF ARTISTS  for this year’s Cabin Fever Reliever brings together six nationally recognized artists and crafts people, creating an unsurpassed opportunity for learning and sharing. Presented by Pocosin Arts Folk School in partnership with the Maria V. Howard Art Center, Cabin Fever Reliever encourages artistic exploration and growth for both novice and professional artists. Now in its 12th year, registration is well under way for the February 16 – 19, 2012 event. However, there is still space available in many workshops. 

Mary Hettsmansperger will be teaching “Sculptural Basketry”. Mary is a fiber and jewelry artist who teaches internationally in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Singapore. Across the US, Mary instructs at Arrowmont, Penland, Bead and Button, Convergence, and at national and regional fiber conferences. She is also a published author and her artwork has been featured in numerous books. You can see Mary’s work on her website at www.maryhetts.com. 

Robin Kranitzky and Kim Overstreet are teaching the mixed media jewelry course “Beneath the Surface.”  The creative collaboration between Robin and Kim began in 1985 when a mutual interest in found objects sparked the beginning of their jewelry venture, “Lost & Found.” Their collaborative work in metals has gained them international notoriety, and their exquisitely detailed, narrative brooches are sought after by major collectors and are now included in permanent museum collections. Find out more at www.kranitzky-overstreet.com. 

Amy Tavern’s workshop is “Innovating the Chain” in metals.  Amy received a BFA in metal design from the University of Washington and also holds a BA in arts administration from the State University of New York College at Fredonia. She has taught at the Penland School of Crafts and was a resident artist there. In 2009 Amy  received numerous awards and honors, and her jewelry has been published in books such as New Rings (Promopress). Most recently, her work was featured on the cover of Metalsmith Magazine’s 2011 “Exhibition in Print.” Amy’s work can be found in galleries around the U.S. and abroad, or visit her website at www.amytavern.com. 

Akira Satake will lead the workshop “Inspired by Nature,” hand-built vessels in clay. Akira was born in Osaka, Japan and has been living in the U.S. since 1983. He has won numerous awards here for both visual and music. In 2003 he relocated from Brooklyn, N.Y. to Swannanoa, N.C., where he built a Japanese Kyushu-style oil kiln and a wood-fired kiln. Awards and exhibitions include Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show, National Award for Excellence in Contemporary Clay, and The Smithsonian Craft Show. He is a member of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and Piedmont Craftsmen. You may see his work at www.akirasatake.com. 

Jane Wells Harrison is teaching “Encaustic Collage” in painting. A native of North Carolina, she received a B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her MFA in painting and drawing from East Carolina University, conducting her thesis research using the medium of encaustic. Her work has been shown nationally and internationally. Jane is the director of the visual arts program for Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Visit her website at janewellsharrison.com.

 Kirsten Stingle will be teaching “Size Does Matter” in figurative ceramics. About her work, Kirsten says, “Storytelling connects us to one another and explains who we are. In an age in which the individual is often alienated, my work attempts to cut through the isolation by presenting common threads of the human experience. Early in my career, a fine arts degree in theater refined my understanding of imagery and taught me to use gestures as powerful expressive tools. 

The lineup of artists for this year’s Cabin Fever Reliever brings together six nationally recognized artists and crafts people, creating an unsurpassed opportunity for learning and sharing. Presented by Pocosin Arts Folk School in partnership with the Maria V. Howard Art Center, Cabin Fever Reliever encourages artistic exploration and growth for both novice and professional artists. Now in its 12th year, registration is well under way; however, there is still space available in many workshops.

IMMIE MILES is shown wearing an original Genna Miles hat creation which will be featured at DCAC Gallery this month. Join DCAC members and gallery visitors for a lively opening reception on January 6 from 6-8 p.m., featuring light fare, libations and live music by Chape Whitman.

The Gallery is open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Dare County Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to encourage the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity. For more information about DCAC, call (252) 473-5558 or visit www.darearts.org.

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? There is still time to find it during Dare County Arts Council Gallery’s Holiday Small Works Showing now through December 30 in the interim DCAC gallery space at M.P. 4, Kitty Hawk, between the Trio Wine Bar and Diamonds and Dunes. The show features original works of art, all under 16-inches by 16-inches. including paintings, pottery, glass, photography, jewelry, fiber, metal, wood and mixed media created by local artist members.

You’ll find many one-of-a-kind creations that would make excellent gifts for the holidays, a birthday, housewarming, or just a gift for yourself to enjoy. Dare County Arts Council members always receive 10 percent off their gallery purchases, so please join the Dare County Arts Council at the time of purchase and take advantage of this great opportunity to do some holiday shopping while supporting our local artists here on the Outer Banks.

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10-5, and Saturday 12-4. For more information, please call (252) 473-5558.

A FIGURATIVE CLAY WORKSHOP will be taught by Kirstin Stingle during Pocosin Arts’ Cabin Fever Reliever.

 Pocosin Arts Folk School, in partnership with the Maria V. Howard Arts Center, is pleased to host the 12th annual Cabin Fever Reliever, a four-day, three-night creative arts retreat Feb. 16-19. The retreat is held at the Eastern 4-H Environmental Education Conference Center on the shores of Bulls Bay, just outside Columbia in Tyrrell County. It offers a spectacular rural setting for creativity and  and artistic renewal. Find out more at www.pocosinarts.org/retreat.html, call (252) 796-2787  or email info@pocosinarts.org.

Now in its 12th year, Pocosin Arts Folk School brings nationally recognized artists to northeastern North Carolina to teach in a variety of art and craft media, creating a unique educational opportunity in the region. Overlooking the water of beautiful Bull’s Bay, participants enjoy a supportive and nurturing atmosphere where they can focus on their craft over several days while leaving everyday concerns behind. Cabin Fever Reliever students may choose to enhance existing skills or learn to work with a new medium while renewing their creative spirit. Participants of all skill levels are encouraged to attend, and North Carolina Public School teacher certification renewal credit is available for all studios.

The 2012 line-up features workshops with Mary Hettsmansperger teaching “Sculptural Basketry”; Robin Kranitzky and Kim Overstreet teaching “Beneath the Surface” in mixed media jewelry; Amy Tavern teaching “Innovating the Chain” in metals; Akira Satake teaching “Inspired by Nature”, hand-built vessels in clay; Jane Wells Harrison teaching “Encaustic Collage” in painting; and Kirsten Stingle teaching “Size Does Matter” in figurative ceramics. Each instructor brings tremendous skill and expertise to this event whose participants come for a long weekend of creativity, craft, and inspiration. Limited space is available so register soon to assure a spot, or treat a loved one with the gift of creativity this holiday season. Enrollment is open until January 31, 2012.

Tuition and meals for all three days is only $435, plus a $35 registration fee. Lodging is available on a per person basis for all three nights at the following rates: $65 (group cabin), $100 (4-person room), $150 (2-person room), or $275 (private room). Lodging is limited and available on a first-come first-served basis. Registration is required. Pocosin Arts Folk School is located at 201 Main Street in beautiful downtown Columbia.