Vance-Granville Community College’s first-ever “Fine Arts Day” celebra
From left, VGCC music scholars Kaleb Williamson of Bullock, Charles Keith of Raleigh, Tiffany Barnes of Henderson and Shontiara Williams of Oxford perform. (VGCC photo)
tion on Oct. 14 featured a wide range of examples of creativity and talent by both students and professionals.
Raleigh-based professional visual artist Eric McRay was the special guest and keynote presenter for Fine Arts Day. He kicked off the day’s activities with a master painting demonstration and question-and-answer session with the assembled students, faculty, staff and community members. McRay emphasized “not being afraid to make mistakes, and to try new things.”
McRay then served as judge for the college’s first-ever juried exhibition of art by students from curriculum and continuing education art classes. He awarded first place to Jessie Hartley of Oxford, second place to Chris Nicholson of Bullock, third place to Ashley McEntee of Oxford, and honorable mentions to Megan Arguello of Franklinton, Tracey Carson-Johnson of Oxford and Amy Greene of Oxford.
Others in the spotlight included students in the VGCC Music Scholars program. Shontiara Williams of Oxford, Kaleb Williamson of Bullock, Tiffany Barnes of Henderson and Charles Keith of Raleigh gave their first public performance as a group.
VGCC students were recognized as winners of the first-ever juried student art exhibition. From left, they included Ashley McEntee of Oxford (third place), Amy Greene of Oxford (honorable mention), Chris Nicholson of Bullock (second place), Jessie Hartley of Oxford (first place), Tracey Carson-Johnson of Oxford (honorable mention), and artist Eric McRay, who judged the exhibition. Not pictured: Megan Arguello of Franklinton (honorable mention). (VGCC photo)
Students Jordan Bunting of Macon, Spencer Nunn of Warrenton and Lee Powell of Oxford gave audiences a preview of VGCC Drama’s fall production, “The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shakspr (Abridged).” VGCC Drama then presented an improvisation workshop.
Elsewhere on campus, art instructor Isaac Talley and Eric McRay supervised the creation of a large “VGCC” mural that commemorated the event. Numerous attendees helped add their own unique touches to the mural.
Special guests at Fine Arts Day included Granville Little Theatre, which presented a production of the comedy, “I Hate Shakespeare,” and the show choir from Northern Vance High School, directed by Cindy Clark. Members in the show choir also became students in a master class in ballet dance by
Alecia Lakernick of Henderson-based Ballet Arts.
“I am very proud of all of the students who participated in our first Fine Arts Day and showcased their talents as we celebrated the power of the arts to enlighten, transform and educate,” said Betsy Henderson, VGCC’s Department Chair/Instructor of Humanities and Fine Arts. She said the event was held in conjunction with National Arts and Humanities Month, a time when artistic and cultural organizations traditionally open their doors to connect with their communities. For more information about the arts at VGCC, contact Betsy Henderson at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3371.