Artist, Libba Tracy
Black Mountain Center for the Arts Presents For the Birds
By Jessica Klarp
As in years past, Black Mountain Center for the Arts will once again, throughout the month of September, focus on species that are threatened, endangered, or in decline. The theme for 2016 is For the Birds. The project is supported by a district grant to the Rotary Club of Black Mountain.
Free and open to the public, a bird-themed gallery show will be presented September 9 through October 7 in the Upper Gallery featuring more than 30 works of art, including watercolor, oil, clay, and sculpture. This show kicks off with an artist reception from 6–8 p.m. on Friday, September 9, including a delicious spread of hors d’oeuvres and libations. Around 7 p.m. Tom Tribble, president of the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society of Asheville, will offer a powerful presentation about the future of our valuable local birds. He will share information about creating bird-friendly yards filled with native plants and shine a light on area bird populations in decline due to loss of habitat.
Colorful banners with bird images will also adorn the lampposts throughout the town’s historic district. During the week of September 12, groups of third graders from valley schools will “flock” from town square to the Arts Center to see the Upper Gallery display and enjoy a visit from live birds and a presentation by animal rescuer Carlton Burke, of Carolina Mountain Naturalists.
“These birds are jewels in our own backyards,” says artist and activist Libba Tracy, who organized the event. “We need to raise our level of appreciation for them and advocate for those in decline by learning about the causes for their disappearance and what we can do to help!”
Included in the For the Birds awareness event is a massive barn owl created by fiber artist Teresa Coté. The sculpture will be suspended in front of the Arts Center during business hours and fair weather.
“Chimneys” are also being erected on the Black Mountain Library grounds and the Municipal Golf Course to create roosting places and attract migrating chimney swifts, whose habitats are in decline. According to Black Mountain town manager Matt Settlemyer, “Black Mountain is proud to be the first and only municipality in North Carolina to construct chimneys to accommodate and thus protect chimney swifts. We are excited to be partnering with the Audubon Society and the Black Mountain Center for the Arts for the community-wide effort.”
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. Learn more at blackmountainarts.org or by calling 828.669.0930.
