Arts Guild holds Bals des Arts ball

By Megan Lavey / Selma Times – Journal

At the fifth annual Bal des Arts the good times indeed did roll – or as Mardi Gras afficionados say, &uot;Laissez les bon temps rouler!&uot;

The ballroom of the St. James Hotel donned festive dress for the occasion, with colorful masks around the walls, as well as on the faces of the guests, strands of green, gold and purple beads draped everywhere and colorful feather boas and bunches of balloons in matching colors were strung about necks and across the tables, by the board of the Selma Arts Council, hosts for the evening.

A number of out-of-town guests were present, including several guests from the city of Marion.

District Attorney Edgar Greene, husband of Selma Art’s Council Director Sandi Greene, Martha and Dr. Mallory Reeves, Ann and Alston Fitts, Edie and Larry Jones, Juanda and Dr. Leroy Maxwell, Judy and John Friday, Susan and Alston Keith and his sister Margaret of Paris, France, Jennifer and Lee Allen and Carrie and Gus Colvin were among the more than 100 in attendance.

Kelly Sue and Nico Giampetro were crowned king and queen of the ball.

And when the Don Prater Jazz Band from Birmingham began to play, the dance floor filled with celebrants.

A Cajun menu was served buffet style, with traditional dishes wafting tempting fragrances, and a number of King Cake prizes were given: works of art donated by Selma Art Guild members Joanna Nichols, Jo Taylor and Robin Rogers. Lucky winners were Maxine Stough, Royce Rex and Susan Keith.

Arts Council officers are Beth Taylor, president, Margie Burk, vice president, Hannah Berger, secretary, and Ruth Breipohl, treasurer.

SAC is a non-profit organization with programs of professional development workshops for teachers and the importation of professional artists from many different fields, who present ideas and programs to be used in the regular school curriculum. The SAC partners with the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington.

Projects for Fall 2002 through Spring 2003 include: August, assistance with art show for Cedar Hill Assisted Living Center; September, Fun Junk Art Sculpture workshop with Charlie Lucas; October, Grant Writing professional development workshop with Martha Lockett, director of the Alabama Institute for Education in the Arts.

Also in October, annual membership meeting and reception, and From Page to Stage: Let’s Put On a Play with Jamie Winnick, New York actress and director. Miss Winnick also had creative drama sessions with two local schools.

November: Solving Problems through Creative Mystery Writing, with Anna Lee Giattina, attorney and creature of the Mystery Madness Detective Program. Birmingham Children’s Theater production of Rapunzel was attended by more than 800 city and county students.

December:

Mixed media art contest for third graders in city and county schools. Ron Johnson, ventriloquist and magician performed at six elementary schools.

January:

Weather on the Move: workshop with Harlan Brownlee, choreographer, dance and Kansas City Arts educator, for teachers and two local schools.

February, of course, Mardi Gras Bal des Arts.

Upcoming in April will be Exploring the Cultures of Uganda through Dance with Namu Lwanga, an internationally known storyteller, actress, musician and dancer. She will also present two performances at Pickard Auditorium.