Arts Councils Present Regional Artist Projects Nine High Country Artists Honored At Jones House Reception Regional Artist Grant Winners Donald Haywood, Debi Dwyer, Karen Reynolds, Leigh Ann Henion, Marcie Anderson, Bryan Dechter, and Pat Sexton at the Jones House in Boone. Photo by Miles Tager By Miles Tager Local artists and their projects were highlighted Friday at the Jones House in Boone, as four county arts councils honored eight award-winners of Regional Artist grants. The Regional Artist Project Grant program of the North Carolina Arts Council, in conjunction with the arts councils of Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany and Wilkes counties, awards financial assistance to selected winning artists for creation or continuation of specific projects in their field. Hosting Watauga Arts Council Executive Director Cherry Johnson welcomed the artists and guests and introduced Ashe County Arts Council Executive Director Jane Lonon for a presentation of the history of the program. The four arts councils had been “dreaming about” such a funded program to support local artists for some time, and it was now in its fifth year, Lonon said. “We know, support and grow with each other,” Lonon said. Including the 2003 grants, “over sixty artists” have been served by the grants in the High Country region, grants that started out in Durham as the ‘Emerging Artist” program and were then extended to experienced as well as emerging talents. It now served “all levels of professional development,” Lonon said, and “increased professionalism in all different art forms." The number of forms both submitted and funded “reflects the diversity of art in the High Country,” Lonon said. The grant from the state arts council is matched by the four county councils who view the project as a way to “acknowledge, appreciate and open a dialogue with the artists,” Lonon said. Alleghany County Arts Council Executive Director Genia George then described the process, with the four directors (including Wilkes County Arts Council Executive Director Cathy McKenzie) reviewing the applications then sending them to judges from another county. A panel then evaluated and chose the winners; “an intense and difficult process with so many worthy projects,” George said. The artists then presented their projects and some past or current work, beginning with Marcie Anderson who showed her worked in watercolor to create landscapes. Bryan Dechter mixed oils, pastels, and photos in what he described as a synthesis of multi-media. Debi Dwyer showed her creations as a glass artist, and said she was purchasing a glass kiln with her grant funding. Donald Haywood, past gallery owner of Stonehinge in Boone, works in custom jewelry and will purchase casting equipment to duplicate his works for sale. Leigh Ann Henion, a writer and photographer, plans to purchase a Polaroid daylab to create “portraits” of local barns she will photograph. Karen Reynolds, author of the play ‘Tom Dooley,' will further pursue her latest work on Southern culture, ‘Shadow Dancing.' The last presenting artist, Pat Sexton, is an accomplished basket maker, and will use her grant to attend workshops at an upcoming convention. Local artists receiving grants but not able to attend the reception included Richard Rapfogel and Adal dev Sharonne.