Arts West News & Events ​Mt. Zion Preservation Society's Community Workshop 1st Thursday Old Time String Jam For the Love of Athens Opening Reception

Saturday, Feb. 1, 1-3pm: Community Workshop for Mt. Zion Preservation Project. The first in a series of 2020 events supporting the preservation of this historic landmark. The Mt. Zion Baptist Church Preservation Society is working with the Citizens' Institute for Rural Design to advance their mission of saving this historic building and planning its future as a hub for racial equity within this region's cultural, social, and economic landscapes. Toward that goal, the Society is hosting a series of workshops to invite community participation in the planning process.  Thursday, Feb. 6, 6-8pm: 1st Thursday Old Time String Jam. A beginners' style slow string jam with a special guest leader each month. Local musicians, Hilarie and Mark Burhans will be leading the way for February's jam. They're knowledgeable about numerous instruments, they've toured nationally with their various bands and have taught music lessons for many years. Bring your own instrument or borrow one from the musical lending library. All levels & ages welcome. BYOB (w/valid 21+ ID). Free admission-donations appreciated. ​More info @ 1st Thursday Old Time String Jam.  Note: String Jams also occur on 3rd Thursdays prior to Square Dances, 6-7pm. Friday, Feb. 7, 5-7pm: "For the Love of Athens" Opening Reception. It's the annual juried exhibit for pictures of people, places or things in Athens County!  Entries were taken with traditional, digital or smart devices, and the selected photos will be on display in the Arts West galleries Feb. 6 - 26. The opening reception on Feb. 7 will include refreshments, awards and music!  Admission is Free. More info @ For the Love of Athens: Photo Exhibition Reminder for This Friday's Art Reception ​Friday, Jan. 31, 5-7pm: Art Reception for Charlie Touvell's "Major Vibes" & Wendy Minor Viny's Solo Show. Charlie's show features a 22 peice tribute to Major Arcana Tarot Cards, which will culminate into a 2020 calendar to be available at the reception. Wendy incorporates cast-off items into her art to break down their traditional boundaries and re-introduce them in surprising, fresh contexts. Closing reception includes food, drinks and live music! Free Admission. More info @ Art Reception: Charlie Touvell & Wendy Minor Viny

Arts West News & Events ​Winter Front & Center w/Adam Remnant TreeWater Initiative Benefit Touvell & Viny Art Exhibit Closing Reception  Afternoon Arts Registration

Saturday, Jan. 25, 12-1pm: Winter Front & Center. Features a special guest musician performance and Q&A, followed by school-age children's open stage. The winter special guest is singer/songwriter, Adam Remnant! Adam will play a few songs and field questions from the audience. Then the stage will be opened up for any local school-age musicians who wish to share a tune, whether vocal or instrumental.  Admission is Free. More info @ Winter 'Front & Center'  Thursday, Jan. 30, 7-10pm: TreeWater Initiative Benefit. An evening of entertainment to raise funds for the Treewater Initiative, a nonprofit started by long-time Athens resident, Jeannie Amash, dedicated to planting trees in Gaza. Jeannie is an American born daughter of Palestinian refugee, Dr. Paul J. Amash. After his death in 2016, she visited Palestine to understand the events that shaped his life. The tree planting project is a step toward creating a new story of peace for the people of Gaza. Jeannie has already planted over a thousand olive trees, and plans to plant another thousand in March. $10 Suggested Donation Plants One Tree. More info @ Treewater Initiative Benefit  Friday, Jan. 31, 5-7pm: Art Reception for Charlie Touvell's "Major Vibes" & Wendy Minor Viny's Solo Show. Charlie and Wendy's artwork is on display through Jan. 31 in the Arts West upstairs and downstairs galleries. Charlie's show features a 22 piece tribute to Major Arcana Tarot Cards, which will culminate into a 2020 calendar to be available at the closing reception. Wendy is a lead artist in residence at Passion Works Studio. She excels in a variety of mediums and incorporates cast-off items into her art with the idea of breaking down the objects’ traditional boundaries and re-introducing them in surprising, fresh contexts. The closing reception on Jan. 31 includes food, drinks and live music! Admission is Free. More info @ Art Reception: Charlie Touvell & Wendy Minor Viny Monday-Thursday, Jan. 6 - Mar. 5, 3:45-5:15pm​: ​Afternoon Arts Classes​. Registration open until January 24. Arts instruction in a variety of disciplines for students in grades K-5. Students can be registered for one or more days per week. Registration Links: Mondays - Geek Arts: January 6 - March 2 Tuesdays - Micro Art!: January 7 - March 3 ​Wednesdays - Puppet Design: January 8 - March 4 Thursdays - Enormous Art!: January 9 - March 5 More Info at Afternoon Arts at Arts West. Additional Questions please contact Emily Beveridge at 740-592-4315 or ebeveridge@ci.athens.oh.us Thanks for Supporting Arts West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts!

Arts West: Athens Community Gateway to the Arts     132 West State St. Athens, OH 45701     740.592.4315

Arts West News & Events ​Square Dance Social & Jam Drum Circle Music Jam PRISM Youth Arts Program Art Outside the Box - EXTENDED  Afternoon Arts Registration

Thursday, Jan. 16, 6-9pm: Third Thursday Square Dance Social & Jam. Caller Sean Fen and musicians The Corndoggers will offer an evening of lively old time music. All levels welcome. No partner needed. Come dance or stop in just to listen. Bring friends, a good attitude & an adult beverage of your choice (with valid 21+ ID). Open String Jam at 6pm, followed by Dancing 7-9pm. $6 Suggested Donation. More Info @ January Square Dance Social & Jam  Friday, Jan. 17, 8-10:45pm: Drum & Music Jam. A night of drumming and dancing, open to all levels and ages. The circle is not limited to drums. Flow artists as well as any and all acoustic instruments are welcome. Put the worry of your days away and become one with the rhythm. Whether you drum, dance or just listen and take it in, there is a place here for everyone. Even if you have never played an instrument, feel free to borrow one and participate in the sound! 3rd Friday of the month, Sept-March. $5-$10 Suggested Donation. More Info @ Drum Circle @ Arts/West Mondays, Jan. 6 – May 18 (when ACSD in session), 3-5:30pm: PRISM LGBTQ+ Youth Art Program. PRISM is an after-school arts program that creates a safer space for LGBTQA+ youth to be, explore and express who they are. Prism is FREE and open to youth ages 12-18. It offers community, art programming and workshops, support, networking, games, free music lessons, books/library, snacks, cooking lessons, and much more for LGBTQ+ youth and allies. You may join at any time. More Info @ Prism LGBTQ Youth Art Program  Now thru Friday, Jan. 31, at 5pm: Call for Art Outside the Box Entries. DEADLINE EXTENDED to January 31 at 5pm. AMAC is seeking up to 10 art designs to be applied onto vinyl wraps to cover traffic control boxes in Athens, Ohio. AMAC encourages submissions of Athens specific artworks that will make Athens Art Outside the Box purely “Athens.” Artists will be selected by jury process. A $500 honorarium will be awarded for use of chosen designs. The selected artist designs will be printed onto a vinyl wrap, and applied to traffic boxes by the City of Athens. Eligible Artists: Athens County residents age 18 and up. More info and submission guidelines on City of Athens website at: AMAC Current Calls for Entry Monday-Thursday, Jan. 6 - Mar. 5, 3:45-5:15pm​: ​Afternoon Arts Classes​. Registration open until January 24. Arts instruction in a variety of disciplines for students in grades K-5. Students can be registered for one or more days per week. Registration Links: Mondays - Geek Arts: January 6 - March 2 Tuesdays - Micro Art!: January 7 - March 3 ​Wednesdays - Puppet Design: January 8 - March 4 Thursdays - Enormous Art!: January 9 - March 5 More Info at Afternoon Arts at Arts West. Additional Questions please contact Emily Beveridge at 740-592-4315 or ebeveridge@ci.athens.oh.us

Arts West News & Events ​Afternoon Arts Registration West Side Community Association Meeting Childbirth Preparation Class SATB Choir Rehearsal for Spring Concert  OPEN Movement Workshop

Monday-Thursday, Jan. 6 - Mar. 5, 3:45-5:15pm​: ​Afternoon Arts Classes​. Registration open until January 24. Students in grades K-5 will experience arts instruction in a variety of disciplines. Students can be registered for one or more days per week. Registration Links: Mondays - Geek Arts: January 6 - March 2 Tuesdays - Micro Art!: January 7 - March 3 ​Wednesdays - Puppet Design: January 8 - March 4 Thursdays - Enormous Art!: January 9 - March 5 More Info at Afternoon Arts at Arts West. Additional Questions please contact Emily Beveridge at 740-592-4315 or ebeveridge@ci.athens.oh.us Thursday, ​Jan. 9, 6pm: West Side Community ​Association ​Meeting​. The first WCA Meeting of the new year, with news, discussions and info about upcoming events. All West Siders invited to attend. Students welcome. It's your community. For more info or to receive e-mail updates, please email  AthensWCA@gmail.com.   Sundays, Jan. 12 & 19, Noon-5:30pm: ​Two-Part Childbirth Preparation Class​.​ With Ash Dasuqi, Midwife (CPM)​. For gestating folks and their support persons​.​​ ​Topics include​: Art based birth preparation/fear engagement​; Progression of labor; Polyvagal theory & neuroscience basics; ​Trauma conscious birthing & parenting​; Labor support person guidance​; Claiming your space & pain coping; Herbal support​;​ Birthing Choices; Breast/Chestfeeding​. ​$145* per birth person- includes attendance of one support person​. Snacks & Break included. Email/call/text to register at andasuqi@gmail.com 248.894.6988​. (*Ask about reduced rates for indigenous N. Americans/First Nations, people of color, & trans identified individuals​).​ More Info @ ​Childbirth Preparation Class Tuesday, Jan. 14, 5-6:15pm: 1st Rehearsal for SATB Choir's Spring Concert. A perfect time for interested singers to join! Music will be provided and singing will commence in preparation for the Spring 2020 benefit concert. SATB: A Different Kind of Choir will rehearse on Tuesdays up through the June 13th concert.  The music selections are themed in celebration of Pride, and donations collected at the performance will benefit the PRISM LGBTQ+ Youth Arts Program. More info @ 1st Rehearsal for SATB Spring 2020 Concert Saturday, Jan. 18, 5-6:30pm: OPEN Movement Workshop. Join Cleveland-based performance artist and movement educator Marcia Custer for a workshop open to all. OPEN Movement is a judgement-free, individually-centered, therapeutic class. It's a dedicated hour to listen to your body; A place to stretch, strengthen, and center your mind, body, and creative practice. Includes a range of somatic techniques. OPEN Movement holds space for and celebrates all bodies, all levels, all identities, always! Class facilitator: Marcia Custer (www.marciacuster.com/openmovement), has extensive experience in dance, somatic practice, improvisation, and expressive arts. Fee: $20. Register by emailing marciaicuster@gmail.com. More info @ Workshop: OPEN Moverment in Athens