An impressive list of talent, strong supporters of the arts, and a good fan base turned out at the Hayes Center in Blowing Rock for the second consecutive Watauga County Arts Council Artful Pallette Benefit Saturday night.
The benefit, while assisting a number of arts projects in the county, was primarily to support and encourage Poetry Alive!, a Poetry Performance Company that has so impressed Arts Council officials that they have asked coordinator Robin Lowe to implement an outreach program in both Arts Council and school projects.
Founded in 1984, Poetry Alive! uses the rich heritage of the bardic tradition of long ago to bring high-intensity poetry performances into the classroom. The actors have memorized 100s of poems - from the classics to the popular to the contemporary. Those poems, presented in captivating and memorable ways, become the connection to enhance reading and writing skills. In short, they bring poetry to life, by engaging students in the learning process.
So successful and popular has Ms. Lowe’s Company of Poetry Alive! students become that this April the Watauga High students will be added to an impressive list of audience attendees through a week long residency with artists from Asheville’s Poetry Alive! Performance Poetry Company. Because of her success (Robin teaches English at WHS), the Watauga Arts Council has invited Poetry Alive! to teach and to perform for students throughout the week of their residency.
The Company delighted audiences at the Artful Pallette benefit in Blowing Rock that also was highlighted by other talented groups and individuals.