On August 8, 2012, one hundred ladies met in The Studio to celebrate Female Focus’ first birthday. Leslie Bailey who owns Leslie Bailey Events and Catering Service in Montgomery donated gifts, lunch and the program for the celebration.

These monthly programs drew Troy’s diverse population to The Studio where knowledgeable professionals presented timely and entertaining programs. Fellowship among the ladies was enriching and drew our community closer together.

I believe I express the ladies’ appreciation to the following sponsors and their staff: Troy Regional Medical Center, Troy Bank and Trust Company, K & W Plastics, Jones Medical Supply, Troy University, Troy Cable, Shaklee, Troy Messenger, The Pink Parlor, Green Hills Funeral Home and the use of The Studio by the Troy/Pike Cultural Arts Center. Your generosity provided a unique experience for the ladies of Troy and Pike County.

We are anticipating an interesting second year of learning and fellowship.

Dr. Eloise Thomason Kirk

 

Arts, Antiques walk a great celebration in Brundidge

I just want to express my thanks to everyone in Brundidge who organized the Arts & Antiques Walk last Friday evening. Our group had such a great time visiting galleries and antique shops and seeing friends walking the sidewalks doing the same thing. Great atmosphere! The City of Brundidge is really on the ball when it comes to promoting the arts. I loved seeing what Sara Dismukes and Chris Rich, and Pam and Henry Jinright have accomplished in re-purposing historic buildings along Main Street by turning them into contemporary art galleries. I enjoyed seeing the folk art on display at Hawkins Drugs. Our group drove out the highway to Larry Godwin’s studio and also stopped by Ronald Godwin’s warehouse space to see his contemporary sculpture (by flashlight, yet!!)

Jaine Treadwell, Lawrence Bowden, all members of the Brundidge Historical Society, and Mayor Jimmy Ramage, set the bar for the Arts in their city several years back when they creatively formed the “We Piddle Around Theater”, which now draws thousands of folks a year to Brundidge. They bring numerous other events and entertainers to the Theater throughout the year, and have also established a bang-up Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival that begins in Brundidge on a Friday evening at the WPA Theater, then moves to Troy on the weekend for the packed-house “tellings” at Troy University’s Trojan Theatre. It’s just more proof at what good things the arts can bring to a community.

Pike County is fast becoming recognized as a great “art destination” in Alabama because of the wonderful arts organizations and arts-people like those in Troy and in Brundidge. Good things follow when good, hard-working people celebrate the arts. Thank you, Brundidge!

Wiley White, Development Coordinator, Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center, Inc.