Author: Sandra K. Davidson
From one of the world’s biggest celebration of jazz icon Thelonious Monk, who spent his early years in North Carolina, to a seasonal festival of southern Appalachian culture in the beautiful Stecoah Valley, this week’s Statewide Arts Celebration events showcase the diversity and vibrancy of North Carolina arts. Below you’ll find a few of the many arts events dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Arts Council this week. Take a listen to the latest episode of Arts Across NC to learn more. Find a Statewide Arts Celebration event near you by visiting www.ncarts50.org/events!
Monk @ 100
Durham Fruit & Produce Company
Tuesday Oct. 17 – Thursday October 26
305 S. Dillard St.
Durham, NC 27701
Duke Performances will commemorate the centenary of jazz icon and North Carolina native Thelonious Monk through “MONK@100,” a ten-day event at the Durham Fruit & Produce Company, a 15,000-square-foot warehouse space for the arts in downtown Durham. This celebration of Monk’s music — the most visible of its kind in the world — will bring to Duke and Durham a variety of free public events, including a public conversation, jam sessions, and vinyl listening stations spanning Monk’s entire catalogue. Cost varies.
Fall Works
Knight Theater
Thursday Oct. 19 – Saturday Oct. 21.
430 S. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Fall Works explores the exciting evolution of Charlotte Ballet, starting with a look at what the future holds, with Johan Inger’s Walking Mad. Described as a “stylistic game changer” by Artistic Director Hope Muir. A tribute to Charlotte Ballet’s legacy, Fall Works features George Balanchine’s Apollo, staged by legendary Balanchine dancer and Kennedy Center Honoree Patricia McBride. Elsa Canasta, an evocation of the world of Cole Porter, choreographed by Javier de Frutos, makes an exhilarating finale to the performance. Cost: $25-$95.
Raul Midón
Davis Theater
Friday Oct. 20; 8 pm.
65 Union Street South
Concord, NC 28025
The Cabarrus Arts Council has dedicated its entire season to the N.C. Arts Council’s 50th Anniversary, and this week they present singer-songwriter Raul Midón. A virtuoso blind since birth, Midón’s voice and guitar lay down the beat, the melody and the harmony with a syncopated pulse and a jazz-influenced flair. Midón has performed with Stevie Wonder, Queen Latifah and Jason Mraz. Cost: $35.
Storytelling Festival of Carolina
Storytelling Arts Center of the Southeast
Friday Oct. 20 – Saturday Oct. 21
131 South Main Street
Laurinburg, NC 28352
The Scotland County Arts Council, home of the Storytelling Arts Center of the Southeast, presents the 11th annual Storytelling Festival of Carolina. This year's festival features renowned tellers, live music, food, crafts, and workshops. Cost: $10-$85.
Harvest Festival
Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center
Friday Oct. 20 – Saturday Oct. 21
121 Schoolhouse Road
Stecoah, NC 28771
Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center’s festivals celebrate the beginning and end of summer in the southern Appalachians with music, dance, food, and mountain arts and crafts. This year's Harvest Festival is dedicated to the North Carolina Arts Council's 50th Anniversary. Cost: Free-$25.