Merry Oaks prepares for annual art crawl

It's back!

As part of a full day of holiday celebrations in Merry Oaks, neighborhood artists are offering their wares during an art crawl from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.

It's a great chance to shop really locally and support neighborhood talent.

Here are the artists, with links to their web pages when available:

Adrienne Dellinger and Greg Scott
Pots with Purpose
2109 Arnold Drive
Ceramics
Adrienne is studio manager for Charlotte's Clayworks, has studied at Penland and has fired pots and dug clay with the legendary Carolina potter Burlon Craig. Greg Scott is a potter and has also created large projects such as a mural on Central Avenue (that's a detail of the mural at the top of this post.)

Meredith Hebden
the laughing earth
1911 Graybark Avenue
Photography
Meredith won a "Critic's Pick" as Best Local Artist from Creative Loafing's 2006 Best of Charlotte awards. She's also an amazing gardener.

Alex Clark, Rebecca Jones and Kurt Gabriel
3430 Draper Avenue
Paintings (Alex), encaustics (Rebecca) and jewelry and sculpture (Kurt)


Raed Al-rawi
3540 Draper Avenue
Paintings


Patty Perkins
The Princess Beads
2301 Arnold Drive
Jewelry

Patty created a map of where the artists will show their work.

Also Saturday, groups are getting together for caroling between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the neighborhood, followed by a gathering with hot chocolate and dessert at Cate Martin's home at 2301 Arnold Drive from 8:15 p.m. to 10 p.m.


Image: Detail of Greg Scott's mural funded by an Arts and Science Council grant, on the side of Blue Bar at 2906 Central Avenue. Greg, who is primarily a potter, used the greenway bridge over Briar Creek as part of his inspiration.

Plaza Midwood Chantilly Chili Cookoff on Saturday

Late notice, but at least it's notice:
The sixth annual Plaza Midwood Chantilly Chili Cookoff is from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, with hot food and hot sounds from a variety of bands. Location is 1318-D Central Avenue, otherwise known as MMR Racing (Goose's Shop), at the historic buildings in the back of the Family Dollar lot.
Host is Chris "Goose" Mcelhattan.
The event is a fundraiser for Hospice and Palliative Care in Charlotte.
The list of bands:

• Loose Lugnuts
  
• Belmont Playboys
  
• Time
  
• Aqualads
  
• Johnson Boys
  
• Nita Belk and The Swingin' Soiree
  

From the event's official website:

"The Plaza Midwood Chantilly Chili Cookoff started in 2003 by Chris “Goose” McElhattan to benefit Hospice Palliative of Charlotte Region.
As a long-time resident and business owner of the Plaza Midwood-Chantilly area, he frequented many of the area restaurants, where he met Clarissa Vaughan. They met and became fast friends when she worked at The Bayou Kitchen. As with many people in the PMC area you don’t just make friends — you make family.

In the spring of 2003, Clarissa got the news that no one wants to hear - breast cancer. And being such great friends, Goose decided he wanted to do something to give back — not only for those dealing with breast cancer, but all types of cancer. Thus the PMC Chili Cookoff was born in October of 2003.

... Goose and his crew have now raised over $50,000 for Hospice."

More details: Plaza Midwood-Chantilly cookoff.

Plaza Midwood art Krawl

Plaza Midwood's Art Krawl is Saturday, June 13 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Music, artists and stores will hold special events.
Here's a sample of what's happening, based on the event's Facebook page, administered by Jonathan Winn and Teresa Hernandez:

PLAZA-MIDWOOD LIBRARY - Live music with Lunch Money, indie-rock for children, will get children and parents dancing, thinking and laughing. Lunch Money sings about things such as wishing for a pet dog, getting up the nerve to ride a roller coaster, and twirling around in rain and sun beneath an umbrella. (7-8 pm) Free

PURA VIDA WORLDLY ART!- Live music by Marcie Hernandez (7 pm), Virgo Musik (8 pm) and Deformati (9:30 pm). Photography and art by Colombian artists: Pablo Zapata and Nico Amortegui. Free.

BREATHE-BODYWORK - Art by Stefan Duncan. Free

CAST THEATRE - Metamorphoses. A modern telling of ancient myths, in, around, and sometimes under water. (8 pm) Visit www.nccast.com for ticket info.

CENTURY VINTAGE - Live music by Noel Lippard, Dear Druid and Event Horizon. (7 pm) Free.

COMMONHOUSE - Live music by Ample Example, 10pm-2 am (live on the patio)

COMMON MARKET - Live music by Hip-hop troupe, Kid Monsterz (9 pm). Free.

QUEEN'S GALLERY - Realism Found, Charlotte Artists Find New Meaning in an Old Tradition- art exhibit featuring 8 local artists. Live Music by Jeff Brown. (7 pm). Free

THE NOOK - Charlotte Comedy Club Show (8 pm). $10. Comedy/Improv by Robot Johnson (10 pm). $10. Jazz funk/fusion band. (11 pm). $3

REACHING QUIET DESIGNS - DJ all night

SOUL - Art by Austin Alston. and a DJ all night.

SNUG HARBOR - Live Music with M.E.G.O. and Drat (10 pm)

CORNER OF THOMAS AND CENTRAL - D.J. George Brazil and local artists selling everything from purses and jewelry to paintings and photography. Local artists will also be in front of Pura Vida Worldly Art and Tribal Wisdom.

DRINKS AND EATS:
- Coffee Central
- Common House
- Common Market Deli
- Creation
- Dish
- Intermezzo
- Lulu
- Mama's Caribbean
- Nova's Bakery
- Petra's Piano Bar
- Soul
- The Nook
- Thomas Street Tavern
- Penguin
- Zada Janes

SHOPPING:
- 1510 Antiques
- Pura Vida Worldly Art!
- ACE Tattoo
- Alternative Arts Tattoos
- American Beauty Garden Center
- Bead Lush
- Boris & Natasha
- Century Vintage
- City Supply
- Clark's Antiques
- Envy
- Flava Factory
- Georgetown Spa
- Hong Kong
- House of Africa
- Lunchbox Records
- Reggae Central
- Queen's Gallery
- Tribal Wisdom
- White Rabbit

Conventry Woodstock on Saturday

The Coventry Woods neighborhood puts on Coventry Woodstock from 3:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Steamer's on Independence Boulevard, with music by the alternative Matthews group Lucky Five and Sacha Barlow, assistant principal violist of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
The event is to raise money for a lawsuit against a developer. Background here.

Free classical music in a beautiful space

Mark your calendars: Maureen Howell gives an organ music concert at the refurbished St. John's Baptist church at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 18.
She'll play Bach, Franck, Howells, Halley and a special piece commissioned for the event, written by Dan Locklair.
If you're awake in time for morning services, music includes Roewer, Rutter, and a special commissioned piece by Paul Halley.
The event marks church renovations and the organ installation. The renovations improved acoustics and added flexibility for music performances, giving musicians and the community another venue option to share beautiful music.
More details on the organ here. The church's website is here.