| Wilmington,
NC � April 2004 � Art and music blossom by the sea during the 2nd
Annual Airlie Arts Festival set for April 30-May 2, 2004. Historic
Airlie Gardens provides a colorful backdrop for the arts festival held
each spring in Wilmington, North
Carolina. The family-oriented arts and cultural weekend features fine
art, live music, cultural experiences and interactive children�s activities.
 The
Airlie Arts Festival includes a Juried Arts and Crafts Show featuring more
than 100 of the South�s top visual artists who display and sell their works
in a variety of mediums including oil, watercolor, acrylic, sculpture,
basketry, jewelry, fiber art, wearable art, clay and mixed media. Due to
the success of the inaugural festival, organizers are expanding this year�s
event to include a Plein
Air Invitational. Several of America�s best-known �open air� painters
will arrive a week prior to the festival to paint scenes from around the
region, which will be on display and for sale during the festival.
Children
will enjoy activities such as African drumming, storytelling, face-painting,
movement and dance, as well as crafts like weaving, jewelry-making, hair-braiding,
cloth-printing, and more that will take place at the Gelede Spectacles!
Pavilion. Presented by the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum and its community
partners, the Gelede Spectacles! is a three-year residency project conducted
by Durham�s African American Dance Ensemble that culminates during the
Airlie Arts Festival in a cultural celebration of performing and visual
arts activities for all ages. Dance and drum performances will take place
on Saturday from 3:00-4:30 p.m. and from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Airlie�s main
stage (www.airliearts.org/pages/gelede_project.html).
Live
music by jazz and folk acoustic musicians includes a Friday morning performance
by composer/guitarist Roger Davis. Friday�s lineup also includes Trumpeter
James Laster�s Quartet, Danielle Miraglia and the Mason-Smith Band. On
Saturday morning smooth guitarist ElJaye Johnson gets things rolling, followed
by music by Kim Buchanan, Bobby Russell, Florida Funnyman Grant Livingston,
folk daddy Gary Allen, and Laura McLean & Calamity. A Children�s Parade
and concert performance by Durham�s African American Dance Ensemble caps
the music-filled day. Sunday�s festivities include a Cape Fear Folk Festival
Showdown beginning at 12 noon, filling the afternoon with memorable performances
until a winner is announced.
Visitors
are invited to tour Airlie�s impressive 67 acres of post-Victorian gardens,
including the 450-year-old Airlie Oak, interpretive nature trails and 10
acres of freshwater lakes, as well as the new Landscape Showcase Garden,
a Carnivorous Garden and the new administrative offices (802 Airlie Road)
located in a renovated cottage.
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Hours
for the Airlie Arts Festival are Friday: 10:00am-4:00 pm; Saturday: 10:00am-5:30pm;
5:30-8:00pm concert); Sunday: 10:00am-4:00pm. Tickets can be purchased
in advance at the Airlie Gardens office or at the Airlie Gardens Gate during
the festival. Group rates are also available. For more information please
call Airlie Gardens at (910) 798-7700 or visit www.airliearts.org
or www.airliegardens.org.
For
a free Visitors Guide to Historic Wilmington & NC�s Cape Fear Coast,
call 1-800-222-4757 or visit www.cape-fear.nc.us.
Media:
Cape
Fear Coast CVB
Connie
Nelson
Communications
Manager
(910)
341-4030 ext. 20, or
(800)
222-4757
Historic
Wilmington & North Carolina's Cape Fear Coast...
An
ocean, a historic riverfront town and the stories they tell.
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The
New Hanover County Tourism Development Authority d/b/a the Cape Fear Coast
Convention & Visitors Bureau (CFCCVB)
is the official destination marketing organization of New Hanover County
that stimulates economic development through the promotion of travel and
tourism. |
