Exhibit opens today with reception
The 2013 Competitive Exhibition, the 32nd annual one sponsored by the Community Council for the Arts, will open with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the arts center, 400 N. Queen St.
Four cash awards and five non-cash merit awards will be posted at the reception. The piece selected as Best in Show will be purchased by the arts center and added to its Permanent Collection.
Artists across North America entered the annual competition. Accepted works are on display in the Hampton and Permanent Collection galleries. Declined works are on display in the upstairs galleries.
Qiang Huang, professional painter and workshop artist, was juror for the show. From China, he has studied art from multiple master artists. His paintings show remarkable accuracy and expressive brush strokes. Since 2004, his paintings have been selected continuously for the 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th Oil Painters of America’s National Juried Exhibitions.
Book signing, reception tonight at LCC
A wine and cheese reception will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Learning Resources Center of Lenoir Community College, 231 N.C. 58 S.
Kinston native and author B.J. Vaughan will discuss and sign copies of her latest historical novel, “Blue Waters,” and visit with the public. Copies of her first novel, “Muddy Waters,” also will be available. Both are set during Civil War time in North Carolina. Much Lenoir County history and family stories from that time flavor her writing.
The event is free and open to the public. For information, contact Carenado Davis at 252-527-6223, ext. 504, or lrcinfo@lenoircc.edu.
Bates offers concert, message
Country musician Jeff Bates will present a free concert at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Christian Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, 1312 Jonestown Road.
Bates shares his story about his battle with meth addiction. He took a detour from his career in the late ’90s, when drug and alcohol use landed him in jail. The day he woke up behind bars was when he knew he had to turn things around. He stayed strong in his choice to change. Just two years after being released from jail, he signed his first record deal with RCA Records and released his debut album, “Rainbow Man.”
For more information, call 252-670-0188.
