How Have you Made your Mark? A study of hands by Lee Nabors

by the Carnegie Visual Arts Center

on display Nov. 19, 2013 - Jan. 11, 2014.

The solo show features 50 oil paintings of the hands of amazing individuals. Each person’s hands reflect the life, passions, and influence that have been accomplished by each person. These people represent hundreds of others who go above and beyond their profession and everyday life for the greater good. The subjects of this collection represent a cross-section of what it takes to be and build a community. Short written narratives of each person’s history and contributions to make this life a better place will accompany each hand portrait.

A native of Decatur, Alabama, Lee Crane Nabors began the pursuit of her passion for art as an adolescent. She began taking art lessons from accomplished local artist Jackie Goode. Lee graduated from Auburn University in 1984 and married William H. (Rip) Nabors in 1985. In 2000, after years of being a stay-at-home mother of two children, Lee rekindled her artistic passion. She enrolled in independent study art courses at Calhoun Community College and attended workshops by Paul Leveille at The Artist School in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Wilson Ong at Maine Art Workshop, Camden, Maine. Lee has also studied under accomplished artists including Sally Strand of Orange County, California and Michael Shane Neal of Nashville TN. In 2005 her professional focus became watercolor home portraits and pastel pet portraits. Always wanting to develop her skills, she then began creating still life and portrait works in pastel.

Lee is an active member of the Decatur Art Guild, Southeastern Pastel Society, Alabama Pastel Society- ME, Cecilia Beaux Forum and the Portrait Society of America. Resent competitions and accolades include First Place in the 2013 Montgomery Art Guild/Regions Bank Competition; Hoover Art Alliance Award at 2013 Alabama Pastel Society Member show; 2013 Richeson Art finalist, in the Still Life and Floral National competition and has earned Master Of Excellence from APS.

Artist Statement

 

“My hands have baked birthday cakes, cradled newborns, and are constantly doodling and creating. Hands are the literal and figurative extension of a person and his actions, and the inspiration for my newest series, Study of Hands. What began as a dream, while sitting at my kitchen table, has become a reality. It has been the greatest privilege, as well as, the consummate challenge of my career. This series was difficult not only in trying to capture the uniqueness of a person’s hand, but also with the medium of which I chose. Although I had dabbled in oils for years, I had never delved into an oil painting project of this magnitude. As this process continued at a steady pace, I was surrounded by these paintings in their various stages of completion. Each painting represented a special and privileged glimpse into a life well lived. The subjects’ stories and histories inspired me daily, and I realized what a gift I have been given: the honor of getting to know each person individually, and the opportunity to share their stories with a broader audience. These people have made, and continue to make, their mark. It is my hope that when the exhibit is viewed, we will each be inspired to ask ourselves… the question at hand: how have you made your mark?”

Regular viewing hours are Tuesday - Friday, 10 AM - 5 PM and Saturday, 10 AM - 2 PM.

The Carnegie is located at 207 Church St. NE Decatur, Alabama 35601

 

HOLIDAY SPIRIT CAPTURED IN HISTORIC BOXWOOD WREATH-MAKING CLASS, DECEMBER 3

Welcome the holiday season with an heirloom boxwood wreath you make yourself!

Join us on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 1:00 pm for a wreath-making class at Pond Spring, The General Joe Wheeler Home. Sponsored by The Friends of the General Joe Wheeler Home Foundation, the class will offer step by step instructions to guide you in making and decorating a holiday wreath for your home.  Greenery will be provided from English boxwoods and other festive foliage grown on site in the historic gardens created by the General’s daughter, Annie Wheeler.  Ribbon and other decorations will also be provided so you can make your wreath unique!

The class will cost $40 per person, which covers materials and instructions. The class will last approximately two hours. Space is limited so please call to reserve your spot! For more information or to register for the class, please contact Kara Long at 256-637-8513.

The Alabama Historical Commission protects, preserves, and interprets Alabama's historic places and is the State Historic Preservation Office. For more information about AHC, visit www.preserveala.org.

Fishers of Men District 2 Qualifier- Interview with the winners

Fishers of Men District 2 Qualifier- Interview with the winners
http://youtu.be/v2TZKfq3KWE

New Youth Soccer Tournament Selects Decatur with Three-Year Commitment

The city of Decatur has been selected to hold the 2013 The Alabama Junior Cup Tournament, an Alabama Youth Soccer Association and United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) sanctioned tournament hosted by Premier Soccer Services. Organizers are expecting approximately 150 boys and girls club teams from across the state of Alabama for the three-day tournament set for November 22-24, 2013 at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex.

The Alabama Junior Cup is a new tournament offering USYSA affiliated Premier, Challenge, Classic, and Academy level U9-U12 girls’ and boys’ competitive soccer opportunities. There will be a minimum of two divisions per age division/gender – an elite level of play and 1-2 competitive divisions tiered lower. Trophies will be awarded to the championship and runner-up teams in each age division.

Each team consists of an average of 12 players, with each player accompanied by three or four family members. Majority of the participants and their families will utilize hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in Decatur throughout the three-day tournament providing a boost to the local economy.

The Jack Allen Recreation Complex will also serve as host venue for the tournament November 21-23, 2014 and November 20-22, 2015. For complete registration information on the tournament, visit www.premiersoccerservices.com.    

For more information on the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, visit www.decatursports.com. 

Wheeler Lake to Host Fishers of Men District 2 Championship

The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail is bringing its District 2 Championship to the River City for two days of competitive fishing where top winners qualify for its national championship. Set for November 8-9, 2013, the tournament is expected to bring approximately 250 anglers from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky who will be competing for a potential purse value over $20,000.

The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail is comprised of 11 districts. All teams who have entered at least three Fishers of Men Team Series regular season tournaments within a division and have finished in the top 80% of the 2013 season standings for that division are eligible to enter their respective district championship. Winners claiming over $7,000 and top 20% of the field in the District 2 Championship qualify for the prestigious Fishers of Men National Championship to be held in the spring of 2014.

Anglers will begin arriving as early as November 4^th to participate in the official practice days that are set for November 5^th, 6^th, and 7^th. According to tournament organizers, the District 2 Championship is expected to provide an economic impact of over $350,000 to the Decatur and Morgan County economy through revenues generated by lodging, dining, and retail sales provided by anglers traveling from outside the area.  

Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson Street NW will host the takeoffs and weigh-ins. The public is invited to attend the weigh-ins scheduled for 3 p.m. on November 8^th and 9^th.

For more information on the District 2 Championship, contact Fishers of Men National Director Al Odom at 803.429.1784 or visit www.fomntt.com. 

About Fishers of Men

The Fishers of Men National Tournament Trail is a nonprofit, nondenominational ministry whose mission is to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to fishermen and their families through competitive and professionally run fishing tournaments. It began in 1998 as a small four division tournament trail with a total of 21 events through the first season and has now grown into one of the largest fishing tournament organizations in the country. Membership is open to anyone without regard to religion, gender, age, or race. For more information, visit www.fomntt.com.   

State Cup Preliminaries Return to Decatur in November

Hundreds of elite soccer players will make their way to Decatur the first weekend in November for the Division I and Division II State Cup preliminaries. Hosted by the Alabama Soccer Association, the preliminaries are a qualifier for the Final Four tournament to be held in Montgomery the following weekend.

Set for November 1-3, 2013, the Division I State Cup (U15-U18), Division II State Cup (U14-U19) attracts some of the best soccer players from across the state of Alabama. All games will be played at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex. The top four winners in each age division will advance to the Final Four tournament set for the following weekend in Montgomery.

The Division I and Division II State Cup preliminaries have been held in Decatur since 2007. “The State Cup preliminaries provide a welcoming economic boost to our local economy at a time when leisure and business travel is typically at a low. Each player brings family members and throughout the three-day tournament, they dine and shop with local merchants. Previous tournaments have pumped more than $300,000 into Decatur and Morgan County directly benefiting hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and retail outlets,” said Decatur/Morgan County CVB President/CEO Melinda Dunn.

Alabama Soccer Association is the governing body for all soccer clubs in Alabama who qualify to participate in these events. For more information on the State Cup preliminaries, visit their website at www.alsoccer.org and click on the events tab.

The Jack Allen Recreation Complex contains 10 international size lighted fields with laser-graded certified sports turf and a computerized irrigation system. With the additional fields located in Point Mallard Park, Decatur has quickly become known nationally as a top rated soccer tournament location. For more information on the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, visit www.decatursports.com. 

It’s Oktoberfest Time in Downtown Decatur

Downtown Decatur’s monthly block party takes to the streets for the last time in 2013 on Friday, October 18^th. With a theme of Oktoberfest, downtown Decatur will be decked out with fall decorations and along with its usual family-friendly entertainment and special sales, there will be a 3^rd Friday Finale Concert featuring the Gary Nichols Band.

The block party officially kicks off at 5 p.m. when blocks of both Bank Street and Second Avenue will be closed off to traffic. Festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and take part in a variety of family-friendly activities including a haunted tour of the Princess Theatre, free tours at the Old State Bank, a free concert and more.

To conclude this year’s 3^rd Friday, a free concert presented by BP featuring the Gary Nichols Band will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. at Founders Park. Nichols has been playing guitar and singing since the age of 6. In 2003 he signed with Mercury Records and shortly thereafter returned to Muscle Shoals and signed a songwriting deal with Fame Music. In 2010, he joined The Steeldrivers as guitarist and vocalist.

Additional performers scheduled to perform include Jordan Landers at Simp McGhee’s, Kim Stone at Downtown Dawgs, Tennessee River Ramblers at Bank Street Green, Dowacky and Friends in the 300 block of Second Avenue, Jonathan Laird in Jones Park (200 block of Second Avenue), Farris, York and Sledge Jazz Trio in the 700 block of Bank Street, and Gray Cauthen in the 800 block of Bank Street. The Brick will host live music on the patio and a DJ will be cranking out the music under the marquee at the Princess Theatre

All along Bank Street, classic cars and vintage beauties will be on display. The Old State Bank will offer free tours of the bank and Heirloom Garden. Participants receive free herbs (in limited quantities). On Second Avenue, children can play in the Kids Zone where activities include face painting, sidewalk chalk, inflatables and demonstrations by Webster’s Karate, and the Princess Theatre will offer a haunted tour for those who dare to enter.

Anyone interested in learning more about Carnegie Carnival should come to Founder’s Park for the Carnival Krewe Kick-off. In Casa Grande Park, festivalgoers can find the Vendor Marketplace featuring handmade items.

Store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at selected retailers and restaurants including a storewide 30% off sale at Wimberley’s on Second, complimentary refreshments at Bank Street Art and Antiques, pick a duck for a discount at Tallulah’s, a Flowers for Lexi Fundraiser at The Antique Basket, a garage sale room at Memi’s and The Paper Chase, and a painting demonstration by Huntsville artist Julie Robinson at The Cupboard.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Platinum Sponsors are Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority and United Launch Alliance. Gold Sponsors include Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur Morgan Hospital, Lamar, Morgan County Commission, and Supreme Beverage Company/Yuengling/Yuengling Light. Silver Sponsors are Bank Independent and Old Black Bear Brewing Company. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, and Temple Inc.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include Second Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston Streets. Admission is free. For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.