Opening Night Success
On Thursday, November 3rd , SECCA celebrated the opening of two new exhibitions: Out of Fashion and Lilly McElroy. The whole staff went into high-gear to make everything perfect for the party, and the outcome was phenomenal. I’ve been to my fair share of gallery openings here in Winston and in my hometown, Greensboro, but I have never seen such enthusiasm at an opening before. As soon as the clock turned to 7:00, people flooded through the doors. We ran out of space in the parking-lot within an hour and had to make 2 trips to restock the wine. All sorts of people were there from around North Carolina, and everyone seemed to be having a great time seeing the exhibitions and enjoying the festivity.
The new exhibitions, curated by Steven Matijcio, are beyond amazing. Out of Fashion is a collection of works by North Carolina artist that explore aspects of time and memory that come along with clothing and fashion. Because the artists are all North Carolina based, the opening was unique in the fact that most of the artist were there to celebrate with their audience. I think it added so much to the excitement of the environment that night to have them there.
The best part of the night, for me, was seeing my Wake Forest community come out to celebrate the arts. Professors and staff as well as students were congregated around every turn and it was wonderful to have so many of my friends there to support SECCA. The Philosophy majors had a lot to say about Gabrielle Duggan’s piece “Spectrum” because of its evolutionary theme. The Art Department was gleaming with pride over our very own Jessie Vogel who graduated from Wake Forest a few years ago (a piece in the show is actually on loan from the student collection on campus), and pretty much everyone had a lot to say about Lilly McElroy’s performance work which is all-around hilarious and a joy to see.
People stayed and celebrated right up to the end of the party, and I was thoroughly exhausted by 10pm. Everyone is thrilled with the success of the opening and I suspect these exhibitions will stick in people’s minds for a long time. SECCA has so much to offer the community, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. The party may be over, but these works have continued to impress our visitors. I encourage you
to come out and see these wonderful exhibitions and to support your local arts!
Acclimation to Installation
People’s Biennial has come to a close and the entire SECCA staff is engrossed in the installation of the next exhibition, Out of Fashion. It has been such an exciting environment here at SECCA the past week as art and artist have begun to arrive. One of the many things I love about working in an art gallery is that you never know what your day will look like. At the moment, Kristin and Mary Beth (Programs Administrative Assistant and Director of Development) are out picking up a few state-of-the-art mannequins, Cliff (Installations Manager/Registrar) is about 50 feet off the ground installing what appears to be a projector, and I think Steven (Curator of Contemporary Art) has been locked in his office for days writing the exhibition literature. It’s very difficult to be bored when everyone is so excited and the end result promises to be such an amazing show.
It feels like Christmas-in-October every time a new artist’s work arrives. Big boxes and crates start piling up and one by one, each is opened to reveal one spectacular piece after another. It’s a rare and special thing to be able to see an exhibition installation in progress. You get to meet and talk with the artists, who are always so full of passion for their work. You’re also able to see a totally different point-of-view of the works as they are meticulously reconstructed to their intended glory. Before you know it, the once empty and quiet gallery is filled with treasures. Every single day I am more excited about Out of Fashion, and I can’t wait until it all comes together and you can see it for yourself. Trust me; it’s not something you want to miss out on.
The New Girl…
Hello, there! My name is Katie Wolf and I am the new intern here at SECCA. I am a junior at Wake Forest University where I major in Studio Art and double minor in Art History and English. I am really passionate about the arts and I plan to make my career in art management. As a student of Wake Forest, I have been conditioned to seek and obtain any and all work experience that I can get before graduation and being thrust into the big-bad REAL WORLD. Luckily, through the Art Department, I am able to intern at SECCA for 10 hours a week between my classes on campus. I was thrilled, and a little nervous, to start working for such a big gallery but it was easy to fall into place and to make SECCA a little slice of home.
My very first day proved to be all that I hoped for as I was immediately submerged in all-things SECCA as everyone was getting ready to install our newest exhibition by a Mexican-American artist named Margarita Cabrera. I find new things to love at SECCA every day, and I have grown to love my daily 2-hour escape from the sometimes stressful environment on campus. It is always a joy to be around art, and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to learn more about the “behind the scenes” of how the art world works.
One project that I am very excited about is going to be a series of videos of my own reactions to exhibitions and other events going on here at SECCA. As a barely-20-year-old college student/sorority girl/art history nerd, I hope my opinions provide a unique perspective to what SECCA has to offer. Here is my first installment on the new exhibition by Margarita Cabrera.
Past and Present
One of my favorite things about SECCA’s campus is the mixing of the traditional architecture of the Hane’s home with the modern style of our galleries and the McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium. This is actually a subject I intended to write about much earlier in the year, but I think that it also presents an interesting way to reflect on my experiences here at SECCA as my internship draws to a close.
To me, the original Hane’s house, built at about the same time as my family’s home in Georgia, represents the “history” that built the foundation of who I am today: my family and friends, experiences and education, and the numerous other factors that have helped me understand who I am as an individual and who I hope to become as a professional. Without the people, places, and possibilities from my past, I would not have discovered my love for fine arts that has been deepened during my time at SECCA.
While understanding the historical framework that supports a building is important, looking at areas of new growth illustrates the possibilities that lie ahead, as well as the present challenges to be met. My experiences working in SECCA’s galleries, adjusting lights on the catwalk above the auditorium, learning new sound technologies, and presenting events and programs for the community have tested my knowledge and skills, challenging me to step beyond the realm of familiarity to be part of beautiful, unique, rewarding experiences and interactions.
Although the differences in atmosphere between the two sections of our campus are significant, SECCA brings together the history of the Winston-Salem of the past with a hope for new understanding and community through so many different events, experiences, programs, and exhibitions. While leaving my family, friends, and everything familiar to re-locate to a completely new city for four months is honestly one of the most challenging things I have ever done, SECCA has truly become “home” for me during my time here. I have been given many opportunities to learn and grow through the unique pairing of new challenges and experiences with subjects and issues that have always been important to me. My time at SECCA has been so much more that I could have ever imagined and while I know that returning to Georgia soon will be difficult, I will always feel a connection with such an incredible, engaging agency and the welcoming community around us. A heartfelt “thank you” to everyone who has been a part of my wonderful internship experience and let me know if you’re ever down in Athens, Georgia!
Papering The Town Green
During my internship at SECCA I have had the opportunity to be involved with so many experiences and programs that it’s hard to keep up with them all. In fact, when people ask me what I’m working on, I usually just say “a little bit of everything” rather than jumping into the hour-long (+) conversation it would take to accurately describe all the wonderful things I’ve had the chance to do. However, since day 1 of my internship there has been a certain project/task that I’ve always been a part of: postering. In fact, on the very first day of my internship, my supervisor and our Curator of Education Michael Christiano, suggested I spend the afternoon downtown getting a feel for the city I would be calling “home” for the next few months. After a few almost-wrong turns down one-way streets, I finally found a parking spot and stepped out into downtown Winston for the first time.
Although I can’t say that I enjoyed running around in the chilly, dreary weather of January and February, I really do like getting to see all the unique galleries, restaurants, shops, and people of downtown Winston (and sometimes Greensboro) on my postering adventures. Now that spring has (finally) sprung, I enjoy putting up posters for our events even more. A few Fridays back, I loaded up my car with plenty of double sided tape and a box of posters for our upcoming event “An Evening With The Greenhorns” and hit the city on one of the first real warm days of spring. It was so nice to get out of the office to enjoythe beautiful weather and see all the great things going on downtown while getting the word out about our unique event.
It Really Is A Small World
Jim White performs at Crossroads at SECCA
South Memphis String Band warms up in the dressing rooms
before the show this past Saturday.
This past Saturday we hosted the inaugural Crossroads @ SECCA, a dynamic concert featuring two unique groups making their Winston-Salem debut: The South Memphis String Band and Jim White. This event was special to me not only as a SECCA staff member and music lover, but also as someone who grew up in the rich musical culture of Athens, Georgia. When I was looking at the winter events on SECCA’s website before I began my internship, I was surprised to see that I knew one of the musicians who would be performing: Jim White. He is a long-time family friend and although I hadn’t spoken with him in a little over a year, it was really exciting to catch up when we saw each other at the concert this weekend.
Although I joke about trying to leave Athens for my internship only to have Athens come to me, it was really fantastic to be reminded of the experiences that have shaped my personality, as well as my professional goals, and brought me to SECCA in the first place. I know that regardless of where my branches may grow and develop, deep down my roots will always be tied to the familiar and dear moments shared with those in the community around me. Whether at a concert, gallery opening, theater performance, or an afternoon spent in the galleries or on the grounds, I hope that the larger community of Winston-Salem and the Triad will see SECCA as a place to house the essential interactions that allow us to learn and grow together.
Photos courtesy of Andy Tennille
Saluting a Successful Shuffle
If I was asked to sum up this weekend’s Winston-Salem Shuffle in one word, I don’t know that I could. The diversity on stage, as well as within the crowd, set the tone for an entertaining, exciting, and all-around exceptional evening. Performers played everything from classic acoustic guitars to octave mandolins (and the standard type as well), blues harmonica and keyboard, and even a teeny, tiny toy piano.
While there is lots of room for creativity in performance style at the Shuffle, each performer/group must to comply with a few guidelines: no more than 3 performers on stage at a time, only all original or public domain material may be performed, and…you only get five minutes to wow the judges. This translated into a quite an interesting and eclectic evening of speed set-ups and sincere songs that ranged in style and sound. After all 15(-ish) groups had been scored for round 1, the top 6 continued on for the second round and were scored again. From this illustrious group, the top two (really the top four due to a three-way tie for second place) each performed one last piece. Singer/songwriter couple Matt and Kate, who had received no less than a perfect score in all three rounds,were announced as the winners of the Shuffle, claiming a prize of $100 and a pair of tickets to the Crossroads show here at SECCA on the 19th.
Although I’ve only been here for a few weeks, the Shuffle was hands-down one of my most favorite experiences at SECCA so far, probably because it really made me feel that I was “home.” Connecting with the performers through their songs, greeting and interacting with the crowd as they came in the doors to SECCA, and getting to experience some fantastic entertainment really made me feel that I was part of something larger than a music competition on Saturday night. I was part of the Winston-Salem community at SECCA.
Posts and Tweets and Surveys, Oh My!
One of the most interesting internship projects so far has been working to cultivate our social media marketing strategies to determine the best way to reach you–our supporters. With so many options out there (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, StubleUpon, event sites, the list goes on…..), it’s often difficult to decide which avenue to focus on. Do you try to do it all? Just choose one? Find a mix?
I was able to get a lot of great information from our online survey that was conducted last spring, but if you come visit us, you now have the option to partake in the brand new questionnaire designed by yours truly. 
Just stop by the front desk, grab a survey, and tell us what you think. We would love to have your input on what we’re doing well and what we can do to make your next visit more enjoyable. You can also sign up for our E-newletter online (or in person) to stay up-to-date on all the latest happenings at SECCA, like the Winston-Salem Shuffle coming up TOMORROW night!
While we’re on the subject of “staying connected,” I would like to mention some exciting opportunities to win FREE tickets to our Crossroads concert series! Become our fan on Facebook by “liking” our community page, suggest us to your friends, and once we reach 1,000 fans we’ll start giving away pairs of tickets to the show. Keep checking our fan page for new goals and giveaways. You can also follow us on Twitter for more about the concert on February 19th and everything else that is going on at SECCA this season. The ultimate goal for our social media plan is to to help you stay informed about the incredible opportunities for involvement with our organization. Hope to see you at SECCA soon!
Looking Forward to A “Slam”-ing Saturday!
Birthed from the concept of bringing together the unique format of a poetry slam with local musical talent, the Winston-Salem Shuffle will be hosted at SECCA this Saturday! Check out our events page for more information about ticketing and while you’re there you can also learn more about the first of our Crossroads Concert Series with artist/singer/songwriter Jim White and the Americana/Blues/Folk trio the South Memphis String Band.
I’ve always felt a deep connection with music, whether listening to my dad playing the blues on a hot summer evening or attending music festivals and outdoor “jam sessions” growing up. I am really excited to learn (and hear) more about the music scene here in Winston-Salem and I think that the Shuffle will be a great opportunity to see the “best of the best” in local talent. I’m also looking forward to learning more about the technical aspects that go into producing such a different and diverse event. In the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to learn some of the (very) basic techniques of running the sound and light systems in our McChesney Scott Dunn Auditorium, which has been challenging in the most positive way possible. Our collaboration with the Wake Forest Theatre Department in presenting “The Key Said Run and The Door Said Fly” gave me the opportunity to see all our technology in action and I’m really excited to see how everything will translate for the concert/competition this Saturday. Hope to see you there!
Introductions…
Hi all! This is the first of (hopefully) many posts in a series I’m titling “SECCA Through The Eyes of An Intern.” Hi! My name is Mercy Montgomery and I just finished the first of my fifteen weeks here at SECCA. I am a student at the University of Georgia and this internship is the last step before my graduation this May. I grew up in and around Athens, Georgia with my parents and two sisters exploring the unique music scene, visiting the Georgia Museum of Art, and soaking up all that the Classic City has to offer. I love Athens dearly, but felt it was time to try something new, so I applied for an internship at SECCA and here I am!
I have been lucky enough to be a part of many performance pieces as a dancer and as a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band Flagline. As much as I enjoy these experiences for what they are, much of the meaning would be lost if I had not been able to share them with others. This realization of the importance of sharing art was one of the main reasons I was attracted to SECCA. In the short amount of time that I’ve been here, I have seen first-hand their commitment to community, creativity, and connection through art. Events like our upcoming Talk @ SECCA with local artist Glenda Wharton, The Winston-Salem Shuffle in February, and our Crossroads concert series provide the opportunity to connect with local artists, individuals from across the country, and friends through shared experiences of art. As always, you can find more information about these events, our exhibits, and other opportunities to explore the intersection of art and you on our main website.
One of my most favorite quotes from John Muir sums up how I hope to impact SECCA and the community of Winston-Salem during my time here: “when one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” Although I will be interning for only fifteen weeks, I hope that my actions and contributions during this time will extend to support and strengthen this incredible organization and the community we serve.
