Arts
Jereann King Johnson is the Focus of Forthcoming Documentary
Get an exclusive sneak peek of the forthcoming documentary on Sunday, Aug. 25.
For over four decades, Jereann King Johnson has woven various fabrics with intricate details into her quilted works to share stories and traditions with the world.
Now, her own life story is being told in an upcoming documentary.
The Resource Center for Women and Ministry and the Black Feminist Film School are producing, “Not I, But OUR: Jereann King Johnson, a Life of Art, Activism, and Community Building,” (working title) a documentary film that will tell the story of the life and work of African American quilter, educator, and community organizer Jereann King Johnson.
A long-time Warren County resident, Johnson pieces together people, organizations, and resources into racial and social justice. For Johnson, quilting is a dynamic metaphor for living, community development, and creative expression; quilting involves putting together often-discarded pieces to make something new.
Using archival footage and interviews with Johnson and her colleagues and friends, they will create and distribute a one-hour (56:46) documentary film. Rafael Samanez and Leilani Clark of Elevate Media Films are working their magic as the filmmakers and producers.
When asked, Johnson stated that she “felt honored” that the women in her circle saw something in her that merited time and resources to tell a story. She continued. “And the story is more than just my story, it’s the story of many black women who emerged from strong communities that show them a way to muster up the courage to try and build better communities for everybody. I hope that my story reflects the stories of countless women who are inspired by the work of their hands and in my case, quilting and textile arts to step out of the box and work for social change.”
Jereann King Johnson has a legacy of artistic creation and working for equality. She assisted in launching two quilting groups: African American Quilt Circle in Durham and the Heritage Quilters in Warrenton, NC.
Johnson and her fellow quilters work to preserve and highlight African American quilting traditions; they also speak to the present moment by creating quilts that artistically portray historic and current events. One such quilt of Johnson’s is called “Hope in Impossible Odds.” Made with black and white cotton and red linen, it depicts a figure behind bars against a swirling black-and-white background.
In addition to quilting, the Heritage Quilters work directly in the community by leading community tours, working with the schools, and organizing a giving circle that funds scholarships and youth field trips.
In the film, the producers will document the many ways that Johnson has been a pivotal figure in her community and beyond, and show the ways she connects people, encourages artistic expression, preserves and contributes to a fiber arts tradition, and works for justice.
The Resource Center for Women and Ministry is hosting an exclusive sneak peek of the forthcoming documentary on Sunday, August 25, from 3-5 pm at The Fruit in Durham. Alongside Johnson, attendees will meet director Courtney Reid-Eaton and film editor Tamar Rachkovsky. To donate or for more information, visit rcwms.org.
The Fruit is located at 305 S. Dillard Street in Durham, NC.
Arts
WCMS Musical Theatre Troupe Enchants Audience with “A Little Bit of Magic”
We were under the spell of their amazing talents!
If you were anywhere else in the world and not inside the Warren County Middle School gym last Friday evening (May 30), you missed out on a historic event in our community.
Under the directorial helm of Nichole Gibbs and Cherita Smith, the WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class stepped into the spotlight and performed A Little Bit of Magic in front of their families, Warren County Schools staff, and community theatre enthusiasts.
A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC, a stage production written by Gail Golden centers around “Do-Nothing Dale, a little picked-upon wizard, who wants to know what her little bit of magic is. On her journey to find out, she meets people like the laughing Coco the Clown and the singing Marilyn Melody, and she finds that she’s just as special as everyone else in the world.” (Source)
The magical night kicked off with a preshow featuring monologues from students, Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus.
Nichole Gibbs, WCMS Theatre Arts teacher, prepped the audience for what would turn out to be an engaging and interactive event by breaking down Theatre Production 101 and what it takes to run a show by soliciting responses from the knowledgeable audience. Little did they know that, later in the evening, they, too, would be joining the actors on stage.
Overall, the show was amazing! There was singing. There was dancing. And best of all, we were so honored to witness these young talents at work. And with any good story, there was a lesson in the end: We all have that “something” that makes us special.
Who knows? Today, we’re applauding them in a school gymnasium. Tomorrow, it could be Broadway, and we can say we remember them when they got their start in Warren County.
Tickets for the show were $7, or $10 if one wanted to make a special shout-out.
Proceeds from the event helped cover costs for scripts, royalties, and security. Their future goal is to provide a starter fund for future WCMS Theatre Productions in order to produce shows on a larger scale.
If you’re interested in becoming a community partner or volunteer, contact Nichole Gibbs at ngibbs@warrenk12nc.org.
A Little Bit of Magic was presented by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Denver, Colorado.
Preshow Feature Monologues/Scenes
Lilly Byrd, Zha’niya Clark, and Elijah Pettus
Cast of Characters (By Order of Appearance)
Player One – Keymoni Fuller
Player Two – Madison Aycock
Player Three – A’shayla Hawkins
Jonathan Primiano, Jr.
Pianist – Caleb Hargrove
Wonder Wanda – Ameerah Steed
Magnificent Mervin – Elijah Harris
Do-Nothing Dale – Amaris Yancey
Marilyn Melody – Serenity Henderson
Coco the Clown – Kira Cunningham
Depressed Daisy – Veronica Stewart
Flowers – Players and Audience
The Weatherman – Zyier Belcher
Kalabash Turnbull
Princess Patricia – Arely Gandarilla
Ensemble
WCMS Musical Theatre 8th period class and The Audience
Production Staff
Artistic Director – Nichole Gibbs
Musical Director – Cherita Smith
Choreography – Nichole Gibbs, Kayla Smith
Stage Manager, Lights, Ensemble – Jimmy Thorpe, Jr.
Sound – Kira Cunningham, Nichole Gibbs
Costume, Props, and Set – Nichole Gibbs and Cast
Publicity – Pioneer Drama, Jimmy Thorpe, Jr. and Production Stff
Production Assistance – Kayla Smith, Ayaina Blake, Kierra Townes
Box Office – Robin Closs and WCMS Staff
Arts
Paint with a Purpose: Artist Seeks Volunteers for Soul City Mural
Adults and families are invited to sign up to help paint the new mural at the Magnolia Ernest Recreation Center in Soul City.
Artist Max Dowdle will begin installation of the new mural on the Magnolia Ernest Recreation center pool building in Soul City on June 2nd. He is inviting community members of all ages to join him in the painting process. Individuals or families can participate for a one-hour shift between 3:00pm – 5:00pm on June 2nd through June 4th.
The new mural is part of the Legacy NC Mural Project by Dowdle, NC Main Street, and the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. The project aims to create a mural in each of North Carolina’s 100 counties that highlight the unique history and legacy of each county while creating a unifying thread that ties all of North Carolina’s counties together through art.
Dowdle worked with a committee of Soul City residents, community leaders, and members of the Warren County arts community to create proposed designs. These designs were then presented to the community and voted on. The winning design can be seen below (this design is still subject to minor changes from Dowdle).
Contact Hannah Jones at hannahjones@warrencountync.gov or (252) 257-3115 to sign up. To accommodate space, each shift will have no more than 10 people. No experience is necessary!
The Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park is located at 252 Duke Drive, Norlina, NC off Soul City Boulevard.
Learn more about Max Dowdle and to view his work, visit NCPublicArt.com.
For more information about the Legacy NC Mural Project, visit https://www.ncmainstreetandplanning.com/blog/categories/legacy-nc-100-murals-100-counties.
RELATED: Warren County Residents to Vote on New Mural Design for Soul City
Arts
Eastern Bluebird Mural Celebrated with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Warrenton, NC as the National Eastern Bluebird Capital.
Joined by the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Warrenton, and mural artist Tom Lang, residents and friends from afar celebrated the new Eastern Bluebird Mural with a ribbon-cutting ceremony during the Eastern Bluebird Festival on Saturday, April 26th in downtown Warrenton.
Ahead of last year’s festival, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed Warrenton, NC as the National Eastern Bluebird Capital because the town has the highest concentration of them.
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