SEAGROVE - Bulldog Pottery presents the fourth annual  "Cousins in Clay":  An intimate Contemporary Ceramic Art Show on Saturday, May 26 and Sunday, May 27, 2012.

This year's event, hosted by Bruce Gholson and Samantha Henneke, features exceptional clay artists Ron Meyers, a renowned potter from Georgia; North Carolinian mountain potter Michael Kline; and North Carolinian potter Judith Duff. 

Meyers, one of the most influential potters and educators of our time,  is famous for the challengingly charismatic animal portraits that decorate his undulating and expressionistic pottery. Duff, a potter from Brevard, NC, makes wood-fired organic, and ethereally earthy pottery, and  Kline, from Bakersville, NC, is known for the lyrical floral brush imagery that gracefully wraps around his wood-fired traditional pottery forms.

Bulldog's potters Gholson and Henneke specialize in iridescent crystalline glazes and imagery that reflect their interests in the natural world. 

"Cousins in Clay"- is a kinship based on shared appreciation for the pursuit of excellence within the diverse language of clay. This is a special time to meet the potters, add to your art collection or begin one.

Event hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.  Potter Michael Kline will present a brush demonstration on Sat. at 2:00 pm and on Sun. at 1:00 pm. Musician Chronis Pou Vasiliou will play his enchanting Greek Bouzouki music throughout Saturday afternoon.

Bulldog Pottery is located at 3306 US Hwy 220, Seagrove, NC 27341.  For more info, call 336.302.3469 - or click on the image above for a link to their web site.

GLEN ALPINE - Lake James Cellars winery is now operating on solar power and will soon open space in its century-old building to accommodate wine dinners and private functions.

These latest improvements to the former textile mill came about by a grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund, said owners Betty and Mike Fowler. The Fowlers moved the winery from the cellar of their Lake James home to its current building seven years ago.

Lake James Cellars has always been unique because of its antiques mall adjacent to the wine tasting room. Now both of those spaces - along with the downstairs banquet facility - are heated, cooled and receive electricity via large solar panels on the roof.

It's a great building, it just needed a little TLC when we moved in," said Betty Fowler. "We've had several people come in and tell us they are so happy to see somebody using old mills so they're not sitting empty and falling into disrepair. I think repurposing and renovating the building is just another form of green business."

The Fowlers were always interested in solar energy, but were financially unable to pursue the technology until approached by Alan Clark, manager of business development for the Burke County Tourism Development Authority. Clark was aware of the NC Green Business Fund and envisioned Lake James Cellars as the perfect type of project for solar conversion.

"It's a great opportunity to see how solar can be incorporated into a small business," Clark said. "It's one of the more unique wineries because of its location in the historic mill with the antiques mall. You have antique shopping, wine making, wine tasting, solar power, the new event facility and the history of that building all rolled into one. That's a rare combination."

As part of accepting the grant, Lake James Cellars will hold a series of educational workshops for other small businesses interested in converting to solar. Those  workshops will take place in the new lower-level meeting space, which previously was suitable only for barrel aging.

"Now they have an area where they can produce more wine and provide event space for workshops, wine dinners, private parties and other functions," Clark said.

Since the solar panels became operational in late December, they have produced a majority of the energy used each month by the winery. This excites the owners, as does the ability to continue showcasing their wines in a repurposed 1915 brick building with a lot of character.

"This building has gone through three generations of energy - from steam to electricity to solar," said Betty Fowler. "We always thought it would be so cool if we could do this."

For info on Lake James Cellars, call  (828) 584-4551, or visit: http://www.lakejamescellars.com/.

GOLDSBORO, N.C. -- The Wayne County Museum in Goldsboro, NC is featuring a Journalism Exhibit focusing on television, newspaper and radio. The exhibit runs through July 20, 2012. This exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information please call (919)-734-5023.
 
Upcoming Events at The Wayne County Museum

On Tuesday May 22, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Guest Speaker Eugene Price will give a presentation on his "Memories and Experiences in the Newspaper World.” This program is free and open to the public.

For more information about any of the upcoming events, please call the Wayne County Musum at (919)-734-5023.  You can also click on the photo above for additional information and directions.

Click on the image for a link to a great site with information about Memorial Day in the USA.

SYLVA - The Concerts on the Creek summer music series returns for its fourth season in May featuring live bands each Friday evening from Memorial Day weekend through the end of July.

The free outdoor performances take place at the Bridge Park Pavilion beside Scott Creek in downtown Sylva on Fridays from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All shows are family-friendly,
drawing diverse audiences comprised of locals and visitors alike.  This year's lineup traverses the musical spectrum with bluegrass, beach, mountain rock, oldies, country, gospel, and a healthy dose of the 1970's.

Kicking off the series May 25 is the Sundown Band from Blairsville, Ga. Sundown plays rock-and-roll from the 1960's and 70's, along with blues and Top 40 country.

The series concludes July 27 with Dashboard Blue, a versatile band from Asheville that performs timeless hits - including rock, pop, and beach - from the 1950's to the 80's.

Critically-acclaimed bluegrass sensation Balsam Range takes the stage June 15 and will perform the hit "Trains I Missed," which was named the 2011 Song of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association.

The complete 10-week schedule is as follows: Sundown (May 25), Vinyl Brothers Big Band (June 1), Rafe Hollister (June 8), Balsam Range (June 15), Mountain Faith (June 22), Buchanan Boys (June 29), Johnny Webb Band (July 6), Empty Pockets (July 13), The Elderly Brothers (July 20) and Dashboard Blue (July 27).

The concerts are produced by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, Town of Sylva, and Jackson County Parks and Recreation.  "We've seen a steady increase in attendance for Concerts on the Creek over the last three years and expect that trend to continue this summer," said Julie Spiro, executive director of the Jackson Chamber. "People come into town and visit restaurants or shops beforehand, then walk over to the park and take in the live music."

For info about the concerts, call (800) 962-1911, or go to: http://www.mountainlovers.com/.

Click on the image above to learn more about the Brown Mountain Lights photo / video contest and a chance to win $500.   To see WCNC's story about the Brown Mountain Lights, click HERE.

DURHAM - Bennett Place State Historic Site will present a program to remember and honor American soldiers on Saturday, May 26. The Memorial Day tribute is for military personnel over time. History re-enactors will represent some of the first soldiers from the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, and War of 1812. Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers, Rough Riders from the Spanish American War, and soldiers of World Wars I and II, and Vietnam, will be represented. The free program is from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bennett Place was the site of the largest troop surrender of the Civil War, and it was after the Civil War that Confederate and Union veterans and their families began to visit the graves of comrades who had sacrificed their lives for their cause. Union Gen. John Logan was on the staff of Gen. William Sherman at the time of the surrender at Bennett Place, and subsequently became a U.S. Congressman from Illinois. He was instrumental in the establishment of Memorial Day.

"We are especially proud to honor American soldiers, and we want to recognize soldiers throughout American history," shares Site Manager John Guss. "It is an educational experience for the public to see military advances and to understand the sacrifices made for our country. We hope everyone will take a moment this Memorial Day to say a special thanks to the U.S. Armed Forces."

Visitors will see the re-enactors in period dress, and also see weaponry including a flintlock musket, percussion rifled musket, and the M-16 semi-automatic rifle. Military apparel from the frock coat uniform preferred by George Washington for his soldiers to the G.I. green field uniform of World War II will be displayed.

Nature trails and the picnic area will be open for recreation. Visitors also can view many exclusive Civil War related artifacts in the museum gallery interpreting the life of the Bennett family and Union and Confederate soldiers in North Carolina. The gift shop offers a variety of Civil War and Bennett Place related collectibles for sale to benefit the historic site.

On April 26, 1865, the farm of James and Nancy Bennett became the location of the peace negotiations for the largest surrender of the American Civil War. Maj. Gen.  William T. Sherman and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston met in the parlor of the Bennett home and reached an agreement which surrendered more than 89, 270 Confederate soldiers. Four Southern states were surrendered to include Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.

Bennett Place is part of the Division of State Historic Sites in the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources.  It is located in west Durham at 4409 Bennett Memorial  Road, Durham, NC 27705. Please contact Bennett Place by email  or call (919) 383-4345. You can also visit the Bennett Place page at N.C. Historic Sites or the stand alone Bennett Place Site. 

About the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources annually serves more than 19 million people through its 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the N.C. Arts Council, and the State Archives.

Cultural Resources champions North Carolina's creative industry, which employs nearly 300,000 North Carolinians and contributes more than $41 billion to the state's economy.

To learn more, visit http://www.ncdcr.gov/.