A! Magazine for the Arts Archive

In This Issue

• The Arts — Changing Lives! To celebrate the 15th anniversary of A! Magazine for the Arts, we asked our readers for quotes, comments, and anecdotes about how the arts have changed their lives or the life of someone they know. Their stories are powerful. Rea
• The Arts — Changing Lives: Public Art Linda Stewart of Bristol is a fashion designer who was featured in A! Magazine (March 2009). She says, "Although I am a designer, I'm an artist first."
• The Arts — Changing Lives: Photography, Music, Sculpture When Neil Staples, Associate Professor of Photography at Virginia Intermont College, saw the magic of the photographic process for the first time, it changed his life.
• The Arts — Changing Lives: Theatre Cindy Gray of Bristol, Tenn., says, "My family has been so positively impacted in so many ways by the arts, especially the theatre! We have met so many wonderful people, made lifelong friendships and have so many wonderful memories!"
• The Arts — Changing Lives: Literature Sylvia Nickels: "In my case, it's literary art that changed my life."
• A! Magazine for the Arts Celebrates 15th Anniversary For the past 15 years, A! Magazine for the Arts has been the voice for the region's arts community.
• Youth Spotlight: J4 Band Last year four siblings from Bluff City, Tenn., formed a band they called J4 and exploded into the national music spotlight by winning the "Singing Family Face-Off" on CBS-TV's The Early Show.
• Book Review: 'The Lacuna' The Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver's new novel, is her best work!
• AiPP announces People's Choice Award The votes are in. The winner of the People's Choice Award in Bristol's Art in Public Places 2009-2010 competition is "Memory Bomb" by Adam Walls.

A! Extra

• Deadlines for JANUARY Print Edition Expect your December A! Magazine on Wednesday, Nov. 25 (the day before Thanksgiving). And plan now to submit press releases and to advertise in the January 2010 edition of A! Magazine.
• New Anthology from Tennessee Folklore Society The Tennessee Folklore Society has announced the publication of A Tennessee Folklore Sampler: Selected Readings from the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, 1935 -2009, issued October 15, 2009.
• Caterpillars Back in Downown Bristol A trio of tiny bronze caterpillars, abducted four months ago from State Street sidewalks, were replaced Halloween morning just as 250 candy-crazed children swarmed the street.
• A! Magazine for the Arts Celebrates 15 Years Ann Holler spoke at the 15th anniversary reception for A! Magazine for the Arts on November 5, 2009, and on November 12 to the Lead Bristol class.
• UVa-Wise Fine Arts Facility Named in Honor of Gilliam Family The new $14.4 million fine and performing arts facility at the University of Virginia's College at Wise was officially named the Gilliam Center for the Arts by the college's board.
• "Arts in the Airport" in Knoxille "Arts in the Airport" opened on Nov. 5 at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville.
• Glass Artist Receives Governor's Award in the Arts As a leader of the studio glass movement for over 40 years, Mark Peiser's aesthetic innovations have had a tremendous impact on the art world and taken North Carolina to the forefront of the studio glass movement.
• Virginia Arts Commission Elects New Chairman
• Tanasi Arts and Heritage Center Receives $50,000 Grant The Tanasi Arts and Heritage Center, a 40,000-square-foot facility to be located at I-26 Exit 32 (Unicoi), has been awarded a $50,000 grant through the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Kresge Foundation, headquartered near
• Proceeds from 'Santa Train' Book Help Fund Scholarships A percentage of the book's proceeds benefit the Santa Train Scholarship and the Literacy Council of Kingsport. Each year a high school senior along the 110-mile route of the Santa Train is awarded a $5,000 college scholarship.
• Virginia Arts Commission Wants Your Advice The Commission is updating its strategic plan and guidelines for funding. If you have suggestions of ways to improve grant programs, services, or procedures, now is the time to let them know.
• UPDATE: Tanasi Arts & Heritage Center Sixty-five Tennessee artists and fine crafters met with members of the Steering Committee for the Tanasi Arts & Heritage Center on Sept. 19, 2009.
• Art Lovers 'Gallery Hop' in Abingdon
• Val Lyle Sculpture Installed in Knoxville The "Light of Hope" sculpture by Bristol, Tenn., artist Val Lyle will be unveiled at 2 p.m. November 6, 2009 at the Knox County Juvenile Court in downtown Knoxville.
• The Crooked Road Establishing a Directory As part of its continuing mission to promote the traditional mountain music of our region, The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail is compiling a Crooked Road Musician's Directory.
• Art Explosion! Art resonates throughout the Mountain Empire like autumn leaves of apple red and golden yellow upon its trees.
• New Online Journal features Literature of the Mountain South Three renowned editors have joined forces to create a new online journal of Appalachian writing.