January 29, 2010 through February 28, 2010 THE ART OF COFFINS: PAINTINGS AND FILMS BY LUCA DIPIERRO From January 29 to February 28, at the Madison Arts Council in Marshall, NC will host an exhibit of Luca Dipierro’s paintings and animations. Opening/film screening on Friday, January 29 at 7:30pm. Luca Dipierro’s art draws inspiration from a wild range of sources: Northern European Renaissance paintings, 19th Century Mexican chapbooks, the cartoons of Fletcher Hanks, Francois Rabelais, Max Ernst, funhouses, graveyards, marionettes. Dipierro’s figures are paper cut-outs living—or rather dying—on the surface of discarded book covers and other found materials. It’s a world of healing hands, talking horses, coffins, masks, resurrections; an alphabet of the grotesque and the arabesque. Dipierro’s cut-outs become films too, moving images that have more in common with the puppet theatre than with traditional animation. Luca Dipierro is a writer, filmmaker and visual artist born in Italy and living in the USA. His latest films are the documentaries I WILL SMASH YOU and 60 WRITERS/60 PLACES, and the cut out animation DIECI TESTE. His art has been exhibited in the USA and Europe and has appeared on CD and LP covers. Website Link

January 29, 2010 through February 28, 2010 Two Views: From Eye to Canvas. The Paintings of Julyan Davis and Dan Helgemo At the Arts Center. Opening Friday January 29th- 7-9 pm. Figurative and still life painting from these two master painters. Works in oil, to coincide with their Marshall High Studios Winter Workshop Series. Dan will give a talk on opening night.

January 30, 2010 FREE PLANET RADIO IN CONCERT POSTPONED TO DUE WEATHER WILL BE RESCHEDULED WORLD MUSIC SUPERGROUP FREE PLANET RADIO IN CONCERT AT THE ARTS CENTER. 8:00 pm show. Tickets $10. Free Planet Radio, based in Asheville, NC is becoming one of the most exciting partnerships in world music today. Their world-jazz-classical fusion is a trans-cultural canvas that is at times deeply reflective and at other times rhythmically mind-bending. This ensemble is composed of River Guerguerian, Armenian-Egyptian born in Canada, an award-winning multi-percussionist / composer whose lyrical percussion style earned him a long-standing tenure with Turkish flutist virtuoso Omar Faruk Tekbilek; Eliot Wadopian, a two-time Grammy-award winner, proficient on string and electric basses, a 17 year member of the Paul Winter Consort. He’s also worked with Hal Galper, Glen Velez, and Eugene Friesen; Chris Rosser, an accomplished pianist, composer / producer, renown for his outstanding performances on a variety of indigenous stringed instruments. He studied under the master Ali Akbar Khan. These artists emerged from three of the country's finest conservatories, and have established themselves in concert halls and studios, appearing on over 250 recordings and in 30 countries. Their individual talents have garnered worldwide recognition in Carnegie Hall, the Hong Kong World Music Festival, the Sydney Opera House, and the Madrid International Jazz Festival. Please call the office (828)649-1301 or click the weblink below to purchase tickets through paypal. You do not need a paypal account to use this option. Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal Website Link

February 06, 2010 LARRY CORDLE IN CONCERT SONGWRITER LARRY CORDLE IN CONCERT AT THE ARTS CENTER. FEBRUARY 6TH 8:00 pm $12. Most widely known as a writer, Kentucky native Larry Cordle has had songs recorded by Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, Alison Krauss, Alan Jackson, George Strait, The Osborne Brothers, and many others. At last count, Cordle's songs had appeared on projects that had sold a combined total of more than 50 million records! Website Link

February 13, 2009 VIPER'S DREAM & ACOUSTIC SWING Valentine Dance Saturday February 13th. At the Arts Center 8:00 pm $10 ticket This will be a special Valentine's dance featuring two bands playing music that evokes the spirit of Django Reinhardt, who would be celebrating his 100th birthday if he were still with us. Attendees are encouraged to come in costume- thus the "Valloween" title. Celebrate love, loss, dreams, or disasters with your outfit. There will prizes for the best costume, and perhaps a dance contest? We'll see... Please call the office (828)649-1301 or click the weblink below to purchase tickets through paypal. You do not need a paypal account to use this option. Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal

February 19, 2010 PIERCE EDENS IN CONCERT AT THE IRON HORSE STATION IN HOT SPRINGS Madison County native PIERCE EDENS is known for his emotional delivery and intense songwriting, having been compared to Tom Waits, among others. The nice folks at the Iron Horse Station have designated this as a Madison County Arts Council night, with proceeds from the night's sales going to the MCAC. Come out to Hot Springs and enjoy some good food and music.

March 05, 2010 through March 26, 2010 YOUTH ART MONTH EXHIBIT This is always a fun show, featuring work from students in the Madison County Schools' art programs. Opening night is Friday March 5 from 6-9pm.

March 13, 2010 THE FIDDLERS OF MADISON COUNTY SATURDAY MARCH 13. At the Arts Center. 90 S. Main St. Marshal. TWO SHOWS 4:00 & 8:00 PM. TICKETS $15 One of the best shows in the region, these concerts are an annual favorite here at the Arts Center. Featuring an all-star lineup of Fiddlers from Madison County, it is an evening celebrating the fine tradition and amazing musical talent in our community. This year's shows feature BOBBY HICKS (fresh from teaching at Harvard University!), ARVIL FREEMAN, JOSH GOFORTH, ROGER HOWELL, ADAM MASTERS, SONS OF RALPH, JAKE & SARAH OWEN, and many more. Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal for the 4:00 pm show Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal for the 8:00 pm show

April 01, 2010 through April 30, 2010 JOEL MORRIS & GEORGE LONG EXHIBIT We've chosen April Fool's Day to open this show, which will be filled with whimsy and genius. Morris is a North Carolina artist whose work has been showcased around the world. This will be a 50 year career retrospective show. Long is a sculptor and painter who works in various media to create highly personal works. The opening is Thursday April 1st from 6-9 pm. The show will be up through the month of April. Website Link

April 17, 2010 JOE PENLAND with guests THE TWILITE BROADCASTERS IN CONCERT AT THE ARTS CENTER. 8:00 pm show. Tickets $10. Joe Penland is well known to many of you already. A Madison County native and product of generations of singers and storytellers, his shows are known for his humorous and poignant songwriting, interpretations of traditional ballads, and engaing banter with the audience. He will be performing a new show, preparing for an early summer tour of Scotland and England. Adam Tanner and Mark Jackson are The Twilite Broadcasters. Having come together to sing and play in Weaverville, North Carolina in 2009, the group continues the longstanding tradition of two part rural harmony vocals with simple acoustic string instrument accompaniment once common in the Southern part of the United States (starting in the 1930's). The fundamental components of lead and harmony vocal in tandem with guitar and mandolin are the seminal sounds that set the stage for a variety of American musical styles to come, including: Bluegrass, Folk, Country and Rock n' Roll. The Twilite Broadcasters bring new shadings and highlights to the old songs they present, engaging a wide variety of listeners Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal Website Link The Twilite Broadcasters on myspace

April 24, 2010 THE KRUGER BROTHERS In concert at the Ebbs Chapel School Auditorium. 8:00 pm. Tickets $20 To get to Ebbs Chapel School, take exit 3 of I-26. turn right, and then take the first left. orn and raised in Switzerland, Jens and Uwe Kruger have been performing professionally since 1973. After playing for twenty years throughout Europe in various styles and venues, Uwe on guitar and Jens on banjo, the brothers invited bassist Joel Landsberg to join them, and the three musicians formed the acoustic trio audiences around the world know as the Kruger Brothers. Kruger Brothers performances are exciting, calming, entertaining and spontaneous, reflecting their sheer joy in playing music. Their virtuoso playing combined with the manner in which they interact with each other and with their audience makes their music uniquely special. The Kruger Brothers' musical style defies definition, encompassing all styles of music through their personal individual development, classical European musical influences, and love of the American spirit. Combine it all together and the result is what can only be described as new American music. Buy tickets online with credit card or PayPal The Kruger Brothers website

May 06, 2010 through May 28, 2010 MADISON ON MAIN GROUP SHOW Opening Thursday, May 6th 6-9 pm at the Arts Center. Exhibit continues through May 28th. This is a group show featuring many of the premier craftspeople of Madison County. It will feature painting, pottery, jewelry, woodwork, and more. We will also be celebrating the grand opening of the new store here at the Arts Council, which will in itself display a wide variety of local crafts. This show is presented in conjunction with the MADISON ON MAIN street festival (formerly known as Madison Celebrates Art,) which takes place on Saturday, May 8th

May 08, 2010 MADISON ON MAIN STREET FESTIVAL Downtown Marshall is turned into a pedestrian shopping bonanza, just in time for mother's day! Saturday, May 8th from 10 am until 5 pm. This annual event features booths crammed with all kinds of crafts, art, music, kid's corner, and more. This is a fun, family friendly day in a beautiful setting.

June 04, 2010 through June 28, 2010 HOT SPRINGS INVADES MARSHALL! Opening Friday June 4th, 6-9pm. Exhibit continues through June 28th. This will be a group show featuring artists from the 28743 zip code. Wild and woolly, calm and serene, up and down: this will be a wildly varied show, full of suprise and delight. We figured that since the MCAC will be in Hot Springs for the Bluff Mountain Festival te following weekend, we'd bring Hot Springs to Marshall for the month of June. Look out, Mars Hill, you're next!

June 12, 2010 BLUFF MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL At the Hot Springs Spa & Campground. 10am-7pm. FREE!!! This is the 15th annual Bluff Mountain Festival, and we are super excited to make it a great one. The lineup is being finalized, and details will be posted soon. A fun and free day of music, friends, food, and a huge silent auction filled with treasures and practical items.