2012 Spring Draw-a-thon to be Held April 28th at Turchin Center
Appalachian State University’s Arts Management Organization (AMO) and the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts (TCVA) Community Outreach Program are working together to present the Annual Spring Draw-a-thon on Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
The Spring Draw-a-thon is a free campus and community event that celebrates and promotes drawing, creativity, spontaneity and artistic collaboration. Students, professors and local artists (of all levels and ages) are invited to gather at TCVA, classroom 3200 to draw from life models during an all day event with the goal of creating a casual, fun atmosphere that is open to the curious novice, the devoted expert and every level in between. Participants are invited to be involved in the entire event or drop in as their schedule allows.
Attendees will have the option of drawing from live models (who will pose in rotation throughout the event) or working on personal sketches and drawing projects of their own designs. This event will include a special model session that will be “all audience friendly” with costumed models and a portrait drawing session on Saturday afternoon from 1– 3 p.m. A complete schedule can be found below.
To further promote and celebrate the vibrancy of our artistic community, these drawings will be put on temporary display in Appalachian State University’s Department of Art in Wey Hall. Email amo.asuart@gmail.com for more info.
Draw-a-thon Schedule
Saturday, April 28 from 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, classroom 3200
9 a.m. Ceremonial “Kick off”
9:15 a.m. Drawing begins! (breakfast from Mountain Bagels, Boone Bagelry, and AMO)
12 – 1 p.m. Break for lunch
1 – 3 p.m. “All Audience Friendly” Model Session (costumed models)
3 – 6 p.m. Model Sessions
6 – 7 p.m. Pizza Dinner (provided by Hungry Howie’s and AMO)
7 – 11 p.m. Model Sessions
11 p.m. Event wrap-up
Sponsors
Organizational and program support is being provided by AMO and the TCVA Community Outreach Program. Community sponsors include: Hungry Howie’s Pizza, Mountain Bagels, Boone Bagelry, Cheap Joes and Art Mart. Each of these local businesses has graciously donated food or supplies for the event. A special thanks, as well, to volunteer faculty members from Appalachian’s Department of Art.
About AMO
The Arts Management Organization is a university recognized club that seeks to promote professionalism and networking within the arts fields by increasing the awareness of the arts on Appalachian State University’s campus and in the community. For more information, please email amo.asuart@gmail.com or visit www.appamo.webs.com.
About TCVA
The Turchin Center is located at 423 West King St., in Boone, NC. Hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, and Noon – 8pm, Friday. The center is closed Sunday and Monday and observes all university holidays. There is no admission charge, although donations are gratefully accepted. For additional details about the Turchin Center or the upcoming exhibition program, please call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Balsam Range To Perform At Grandfather Mountain On April 22nd!
The award-winning bluegrass band Balsam Range will appear at the Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m.
Balsam Range, named after the Haywood County, NC mountains where the members of the group call home, was nominated for the Emerging Artist award by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2010 and 2011 as well as Album of the Year in 2011. They were honored with the IBMA Song of the Year award last year for “Trains I Missed.” This “up close and personal” concert by the Western North Carolina tradition-bearers at Grandfather Mountain is a can’t-miss opportunity.
“We are excited to welcome the members of Balsam Range back to Grandfather Mountain,” said Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation President Penn Dameron. “The group delighted our visitors last September and we hope even more folks will take advantage of this great opportunity in April.”
Advance ticket sales begin Monday, April 9 and end Saturday, April 21 and are available on www.grandfather.com. Adults ages 13 and up are $25 and children ages four to 12 are $15. Children under four are always free. The ticket price includes all day admission to Grandfather Mountain and admission to the concert.
Grandfather Mountain annual pass holders and others who have already purchased admission to the park for the day can buy tickets to the concert online for $7 in advance or at the Nature Museum for $12 the day of the show.
The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship foundation is a not-for-profit corporation established to preserve Grandfather Mountain, operate the nature park in the public interest and participate in educational research activities. For more information, visit www.grandfather.com or call 800-468-7325.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
The High Country Host Welcomes New Member, Blue Ridge Dinner Theater!

The Blue Ridge Dinner Theater is owned and operated by Dick and Linda Copus of Winner’s Circle Restaurant & Steakhouse and former owner’s of Greenfield Restaurant. Dick and Linda have been in the restaurant business since 1990. The opening of the Blue Ridge Dinner Theater has given them the opportunity to take their restaurant experience to the next level by combining good food and good entertainment!
With the conception of the Dinner Theater, Dick and Linda strive to offer name-brand as well as local entertainment to Ashe County. It is their wish to provide something unique and different to the High Country that will bring more visitors to our area.
The Blue Ridge Dinner Buffet is included in your ticket price and provided by Winner’s Circle Restaurant & Steakhouse and is the same great buffet you new and loved at Greenfield Restaurant. You’ll have your pick of mouth-watering entrees and side items including pan-fried chicken like Grandma used to make, roast beef, baked ham, real homemade mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, homemade biscuits and gravy. And you’ll not want to miss the homemade baked apples and cobblers. Buffet meal also includes coffee, tea, and water. Soft drinks sold separately.
Although our mailing address is 9331 Hwy. 16 S., West Jefferson, we are actually located in the small town of Glendale Springs at the old Mountain Music Jamboree.
For more info, visit: http://blueridgedinnertheater.com!
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Blowing Rock’s Christmas in the Park & Lighting of the Town!
November 25th, 2011, Memorial Park, 828-295-5222
In the Gazebo
Hayrides through Blowing Rock ….. 4-9pm
Memorial Park
Airwalks …..2-7pm
Memorial Park
Free Hot Cider and Hot Chocolate ….. 5-9pm
Memorial Park
Caroling in the Park ….. 5-6:30pm
with the “Vagabonds”
Lighting of the Town….. 5:30pm
with Mayor JB Lawrence
Bluegrass Christmas….. 7-9pm
with Diana & Sarvis Ridge
***DON’T FORGET! The Christmas Parade will be held the following day on Saturday, November 26 at 2pm. ***
For more, visit: http://www.blowingrock.com
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Ski And Ride All Six North Carolina Resorts This Winter With The Gold Card!
North Carolina Ski Areas Association (NCSAA), Banner Elk, NC Purchase your North Carolina Ski Areas Association Gold Card and ski or ride at any of the six North Carolina ski areas this winter season.
Gold Card holders may ski or ride at any North Carolina Ski Resort during any session regardless of holiday or weekend rates. Only 100 Gold Cards are available at a cost of $795 each winter season. They sell quickly.
North Carolina ski areas include Cataloochee Ski Area, Sapphire Valley Ski Area, Beech Mountain Resort, Appalachian Ski Mtn., Wolf Ridge Ski Resort, and Sugar Mountain Ski Resort.
For more information or to purchase a gold card, please go online www.goskinc.com/goldcard. Or call 828-898-4521 Monday through Friday from 8am 4pm.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Sugar Mountain Is Expanding Winter Fun!
Sugar Mountain, North Carolina Weather, weather, weather! If Mother Nature cooperates Sugar Mountain Resorts Tubing Park and outdoor Ice Rink will be open for Thanksgiving. New snowmaking machines designated solely for the tubing area will be positioned all season long in the Tubing Park. When temperatures drop, not only will the slopes begin to see their first blanket of snow but the Tubing Park will begin to take shape as well. As weather varies throughout the season, upgrades over the years including the key addition of snowmaking machines in the tubing park will allow for higher efficiency and more consistent conditions.
This year look for the tubing and ice skating season to match the ski & snowboard season. Sugar Mountain Resorts historical opening and closing dates as well as annual natural snowfall can be found at www.skisugar.com/press/stats.
Join us this season as we continue to make Sugar even sweeter. For additional information please call Sugar Mountain Resort: (828) 898-4521 or visit us at www.skisugar.com.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Offers Lectures on Current Exhibitions in November
Appalachian State University’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is holding special lectures for two exhibitions that are currently on display through January 2012.
The first lecture on November 3 at 7 p.m. will discuss the artist and the exhibition, Living in the Light: A Retrospective, displaying a compilation of beloved photographer and former chair of the photography program at Appalachian State University, the late John Scarlata’s work.
On November 9, artist Val Lyle will hold a lecture on her current exhibition, Sanctuary, which emphasizes the aspects of life in the Appalachian mountains. Both lectures are free and open to the public. Call 828-262-3017 or visit www.tcva.org for more information.
Living in the Light: A Retrospective- John Scarlata
November 3, 2011
7-9 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall
*Reception to follow in the galleries
Guest lecturers Jay Phyfer (Professor of photography and digital imaging, Virginia Intermont College), Gil Leebrick (Professor Emeritus and former Director of the Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University) and Pac McLaurin (Photography Department, Appalachian State University) joined by close friends of John Scarlata will gather for an in-depth conversation about the artists life and his work. Other special guests will include Joe Champagne (Professor of Photography & Digital Imaging Virginia Intermont College), Jackie Leebrick, Ben Garfinkle (Oakland California) and Tom Braswell (Photographer and Interim Gallery Director from Wellington B. Gray Gallery, East Carolina University). A reception will be held in the galleries immediately following the lecture.
Sanctuary- Val Lyle
November 9, 2011
7-8 p.m.
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts Lecture Hall
Join artist, Val Lyle as she discusses her latest work, Sanctuary located in the Mayer Gallery. This exhibition and installation continues the artist’s exploration about what it means to be a human being in Appalachia which is in its eighth incarnation of the exhibition.
Other Upcoming Events at the Turchin Center
First Friday Reception
November 4
Free and Open to the Public
7-9 p.m.
Presented in conjunction with Downtown Boone’s First Friday Art Crawl, the Turchin Center will be open for all visitors to come and celebrate the current exhibitions as well as welcome a new exhibition by painter, Gabriel Lehman celebrating the opening of his solo exhibition My World opening on November 4. Painter and installation artist, Val Lyle, will also be in the gallery to talk to guests about her exhibition Sanctuary.
Healing Arts: Yoga in theMayer Gallery
Saturdays, October 15, November 5 & 19
Turchin Center for the Visual Arts
10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m.
$10 per participant
Inside Exhibitions
Free guided tours by one of Turchins volunteer docents one Saturday a month on the exhibition of their choice.
Visit www.tcva.org for more information.
Fall Workshops
Turchin Center offers a variety of arts workshops for kids, older teens and adults throughout the year. Visit www.tcva.org for more information on how you can register.
The High Country Host is a regional travel promotion organization. For more information on accommodations, attractions, dining or shopping in the area please visit www.mountainsofnc.com or call 800-438-7500.




The Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation has lowered the cost of the ‘Keeper for a Day’ Program this year to $150 for guests and $120 for season-pass holders. The Mountain is also beginning to offer a three-hour option in addition to the full, six-hour option.
Advance tickets are now available for the 57th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, July 12-15. The Highland Games are a beacon of heritage and fun where the color of hundreds of tartan plaids and the clamor of half-a-dozen bagpipe bands grace the North Carolina High Country.





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