Storyteller Connie Regan-Blake (Photo by Mary Catherine Freeman)
December at BMCA: Art, Story and Song
By Jessica Klarp
Small town charm is fully on display as the town of Black Mountain kicks off the holiday season with its big Holly Jolly weekend—and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts (BMCA) contributes to the event with gusto. For the Arts Center, it all starts with a gallery show and pottery market, a sizable showing in the holiday parade by BMCA dancers and then celebrated storyteller Connie Regan-Blake presents A Slice of Life: An Evening of Stories featuring six other storytellers. Later in the month, a family-friendly evening of story and song features Jamieson Ridenhour with a reading of the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.
The halls of the Arts Center are decked on Friday, December 2, starting at 5 p.m. when the Pottery Market and Clay Exhibit open to the public. The free Clay Exhibit in the Upper Gallery will feature the best of Clay Studio teachers Charles Freeland, Mathilda Tanner and Geoff Bird and the excellent work of their students. This yearly exhibition, on display until mid-February, is anticipated by many of these talented potters. On the other side of the hall, potters sell their wares at affordable prices in a festive setting befitting Holly Jolly kickoff night.
At 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, BMCA dancers in their signature red shirts will dance their way across town in the Christmas Parade led by teacher Amy Maze. Maze teaches seven separate dance classes to more than 50 children ages 3–18 and has grown her program for the past three years at the Arts Center.
Once the streets have cleared, the doors to the theater space at the Arts Center will open to welcome renowned storyteller Connie Regan-Blake and her “Taking the Stage” workshop participants for an enchanting evening of storytelling. Guests will enjoy a variety of stories and styles featuring tellers Dottie Jean Kirk, Lee Lyons, Kathy Ramirez, Jane O. Cunningham, Christine Westfeldt and Kirsten Mitchell. Tickets for the show are $10 in advance and $15 at the door and can be purchased online.
On Friday, December 16, at 7 p.m., actor and Dickensian scholar Jamieson Ridenhour will present a Victorian-style reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dickens was an inveterate performer of his own work, and toured throughout England and America during the 1850s and ’60s, portraying each character in succession. Ridenhour recreates this experience—bringing A Christmas Carol to life with just a book and his voice. Following the free 90-minute performance there will be a holiday sing-along led by community members.
The Black Mountain Center for the Arts is located at 225 W. State Street. The Upper Gallery is free and open to the public Monday through Friday 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. For more information or to purchase tickets visit blackmountainarts.org or call 828.669.0930.
