Clay Center Insider Winter 2017

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What’s New! The Avampato Discovery Museum has been bursting with excited guests following the public opening of new exhibits, My Town and Ashton’s Climbing Sculpture on November 19th!

The new exhibits speak for themselves, and the way our visitors reacted to them was overwhelmingly positive. To put it into numbers, 5,293 people visited the Avampato Discovery Museum in the 14 day opening period surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday. This record attendance is a 120% increase of attendance over the same period of last year’s holiday week.

The public has not been the only captive audience; school groups have been flocking to the Clay Center in large numbers and have been sharing their positive experiences with us. The Clay Center recently received rave reviews from a Burch Elementary School teacher who posted, “I want to extend my appreciation to all the staff that made our visit today the best one ever! As a teacher, I greatly appreciated how everything was so well planned and the way we were met by a staff person each time we left one activity to go to another. The new additions, the ‘Climber’ and ‘My Town’ were worth the trip in themselves. You helped us create great memories for our kids.”

At the Clay Center, student access to art and educational opportunities is of highest priority. We’re proud to announce our ongoing partnership with Kanawha County Schools, allowing every second grade student in Kanawha County access to a field trip at the Clay Center. Through the work of dedicated volunteers and staff, we have learned that the new exhibit, My Town, meets many levels of the second grade career readiness curriculum, therefore making it an ideal destination for school trips. We look forward to working with more schools across the state to provide opportunities for students to visit and benefit from the education and entertainment the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences has to offer.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Fall was full of excitement and innovation at the Clay Center! The opening of new exhibits, My Town and Ashton’s Climbing Sculpture were incredibly successful; but we aren’t stopping there! We look forward to the winter months that will bring even more growth to our organization. Broadway in Charleston begins with an amazing Cirque show and the Clay Center Presents season kicks off with classic rockers America! The annual event Carnaval will be soaring to the stars on January 28th and if that’s not enough excitement – a brand new, nationally acclaimed exhibit will be opening in February!

As members, you are crucial to the success of our endeavors! I look forward to seeing each of you as we welcome these new attractions to the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences.

Al Najjar President & CEO

The Clay Center gratefully acknowledges the following generous donors to the Museum Renewal Campaign : (Gifts as of December 1, 2016) AC&S Incorporated Anonymous Appalachian Power James & Phyllis Arnold Frank & Camilla Baer Mrs. Marion H. Baer BB&T W. Marston & Katharine B. Becker Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation BrickStreet Foundation The Honorable Gaston Caperton Gat Caperton

John Caperton The Cary Foundation, Inc. Central Contracting Charleston Area Medical Center Fred Clark & Linda Edwards Clay Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Loren Claypool Steve & Lynn Cvechko Barbie Baer Dan Hornor & Freddy Davis The Daywood Foundation, Inc. Stephen & Tricia Dexter Mike & Margaret Graney Pat & Jessica Graney The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

Carnaval, the signature fundraising event for Guests will have an extra treat this year as they collaborate with artist the Clay Center, has a rich history of providing Ian Bode at Carnaval to help paint a custom Carnaval Supernova guests with an exciting and surprising masterpiece that will be raffled off at the end of the evening. In experience year after year. This year will addition, prints will be available for sale to the public. be no different! Volunteers on the Friends of Clay board have “Exposing children to the arts and sciences at a young age makes a real selected a truly out of this world theme impact and spurs curiosity, creativity, and desire to learn. My children that will represent love coming to “the museum” as they call it, and are huge fans of the the diverse and multi- new renovations that have taken place. I’m proud that I can be part dimensional offerings of an organization that puts together Carnaval, which is such a fun of the Clay Center.

event, but also a fundraiser that makes a difference in our community.”

This year’s theme ~ Friends of Clay Center Chair & Carnaval Co-chair, Amanda Gianola — SUPERNOVA — ties perfectly to the new renovations at the Revel in the non-stop dance music Clay Center and our mission to support provided by The Celebrity Allstar STEAM (science, technology, engineering, Band and EJ the DJ. Be amazed arts, and mathematics) education. Utilizing by The Charleston Ballet and the Caperton Planetarium & Theater, experiences in the Juliet Art Saturday, January 28 the Crab Nebula-inspired Museum and new Caperton 7:30 – 11:30pm BEN EFI T GALA FO R T H E C LAY C E N T E R & T H E CH A R L E STO N B Ahighlighting LLET Ashton’s Climbing Sculpture, and introducing Planetarium & Theater.

Online Auction Opens patrons to the Juliet Art Museum, the goal Enjoy an open bar, delicious January 20 of Carnaval Supernova is to expose guests hors d’eouvres complehttps://bforg.com/ClayCenterCarnaval to a side of the museum they have not seen mentary valet parking, live Official after party at entertainment and more as before! www.theclaycenter.org/Carnaval Sam’s Uptown Café In addition to learning more about the you dance the night away.

304-561-3570

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diverse entertainment and educational #CarnavalWV2017 #Supernova2017 opportunities within the Clay Center, Carnaval patrons will each provide support directly to STEAM education and the performing arts with their ticket purchases, sponsorships, auction donations and winning bids. Proceeds provide critical funding for enriching community programs both at the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet.

Reserve your space at Carnaval Supernova today by purchasing your tickets at http://www.theclaycenter.org/carnaval/.

Your participation ensures a future of out of this world exploration for children in our community and state.

“Whether it’s cold or whether it’s hot; we will have weather, whether or not.”

You will also be able to learn how meteorologists can predict weather patterns and how they can look to nature for clues.

Beginning February 4, see the Juliet Art Museum in a new way as you explore The Art of Weather. This exhibition will feature drawings, paintings and prints from the Clay Center’s art collection and focuses on the science behind weather and how artists interpret weather conditions. Learn how artists capture color, line, shape and form through these amazing phenomena.

Enjoy interactive activities for the whole family like thunder sticks, plasma balls, tracing clouds from artwork and a color room where you can walk into a rainbow!

HealthSmart Herscher Foundation Huntington Bank The Bernard H. & Blanche E. Jacobson Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Sonny Johnstone Judge & Mrs. Tod J. Kaufman Adam Krason Charlie Loeb & Sandy Murphy Mrs. Sallie F. McClaugherty Mrs. Callen J. McJunkin Ed & Susan Maier Maier Foundation The Honorable Eric Nelson Jr. & Family Orders Construction Company Ann C. & Robert O. Orders, Jr. Family Foundation, Inc.

Raymond Park & Family Reed & Darlene Spangler Summit Community Bank Mr. & Mrs. L. Newton Thomas, Jr. TransCanada Tri-State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company/ The Esbenshade Family United Bank Bernie & Cecilia Wehrle H.B. Wehrle Foundation Michael Wehrle Stephen D. & Laura S. Wehrle The West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the WV Commission on the Arts ZMM Architects & Engineers

Not able to attend Carnaval? You can still participate in the online auction, which goes live on January 20. https://bforg.com/ClayCenterCarnaval

Stuart Davis (American, 1894-1964) Consumer Coal Company Oil on linen, 1912 1977 Gift of Amherst Coal Company

Experience some of Broadway’s most beloved musicals at the Clay Center this spring! There is something for everyone in this season filled with family favorites, classics and new hits!

Shows include Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Menopause the Musical, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Rent 20th Anniversary Tour & Annie.

Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now!

Be a Part of the Excitement!

Inspired by what you’re reading? You can be a part of all the excitement happening at the Clay Center in the new year by making a gift to the Annual Fund.

Through your gift, you can help ensure that programs, performances and exhibits like the ones you’re reading about continue. You can give children the opportunity for hands-on learning experiences, bring remarkable art to the museum, or simply keep the lights on and the doors open. Your gift helps make the Clay Center the center for all by keeping field trips and admission and ticket prices affordable.

From education to entertainment, you can make a difference in the lives of people throughout the region.

Plus, when you make a gift of $350 or more, you will receive full Clay Center membership benefits, including free admission to the Avampato Discovery Museum, Juliet Art Museum, and the Caperton Planetarium & Theater, as well as special presales for upcoming Clay Center performances.

Sponsorship: Great for the community AND for business!

Sponsorship at the Clay Center comes in many different shapes and sizes – each playing a critical role in the organization’s success and the community’s wellbeing. Take HealthSmart, for example: The company’s annual investments in the Clay Center help keep ticket prices affordable and bring top performers, Broadway shows, educational programs and world-class art and science exhibits to the community.

“At HealthSmart, we believe businesses and their leaders have an obligation to support the communities in which we live and work with time, energy and money,” said Loren Claypool, HealthSmart’s Chief Operating Officer. ”The Clay Center is a wonderful partner for HealthSmart, because its commitment to the Kanawha Valley region and the state as a whole is unquestioned. It has dedicated itself to nurturing a healthier, more active, cultured community, and that endeavor perfectly fits HealthSmart’s mission.”

PLUS! When you make a gift of $350 or more, you will receive full membership benefits, including - FREE ADMISSION to the Avampato Discovery Museum, Juliet Art Museum, and the Caperton Planetarium & Theater - FREE ADMISSION to hundreds of museums nationwide - FREE ADMISSION to science centers around the world - Get the BEST SEATS! Buy performance tickets before they go on sale to the general public Give today! For more information, contact Kim at 304.561.3566 or kmorris@theclaycenter.org.

L to R, HealthSmart COO, Loren Claypool, maverick guitar slinger George Thorogood

Provide art and science education for generations and become a member of the Clay Legacy Society by including the Clay Center in your will.

Membership in the Society is permanent, continuing throughout your life, so long as your gift commitment remains in effect.

Members are recognized with a listing in the annual membership roster and through an annual recognition dinner. Names of those who wish to remain anonymous, and details of all individual gifts, are kept in strict confidence.

For more information about the Clay Legacy Society, or to let us know about a provision you have made, please contact Kathy at 304.561.3588 or kbush@theclaycenter.org.

Visit claycenter.planmylegacy.org today for sample language to include the Clay Center in your will.

and American Electric Power Customer Services Engineer, John Boggess.

You will spot HealthSmart’s logo at all types of Clay Center events and exhibits. The company recently made an investment to name the Wellness Center in My Town, as well as helping to underwrite the Clay Center Presents Series, headliner performances, Sound Check Sessions, and Carnaval. And, the sponsorship benefits packages provide HealthSmart with exciting ways to reward its hardworking team.

“Sponsorships give our HealthSmart family access to the Clay Center’s wonderful concerts and exhibits. It’s a great way to say ‘thank you’ to our incredible team,” said Claypool.

Thank you, Loren, and HealthSmart, and all the other generous sponsors, for playing such an important role in the success of the Clay Center and contributing so significantly to the wellbeing of the Kanawha Valley and the entire state.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact Nichole at 304.561.3532 or nkoenig@theclaycenter.org today.

NASA DOWNLINK EVENT Video Games Live™ is an immersive concert event featuring music from the most popular video games of all time.

What is the best way to describe Video Games Live™? Picture the energy and excitement of a rock concert mixed with the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra combined together by the technology, interactivity, stunning visuals and fun that only video games can provide.

Completely synchronized cutting-edge video screen visuals, state-of-the-art lighting and special fx, stage show production and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience dazzle crowds of all ages — gamers and non-gamers alike.

Wouldn’t it be great if West Virginia students could talk with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station about what it is like to live and work in space? Well, they can! The Clay Center, in partnership with NASA and Senator Joe Manchin will host an in-flight education downlink with space station crew members on February 14th.

Students will be invited to pose questions and watch as astronauts answer the questions and demonstrate science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts in ways that are impossible on Earth.

will be invited to pose questions to astronauts Peggy Whitson and Shane Kimbrough who are currently part of the six person crew on Expedition 50.

During Expedition 50, researchers will investigate how lighting can change the overall health and well-being of crew members, how microgravity can affect the genetic properties of space-grown plants, and how microgravity impacts tissue regeneration in humans.

School districts from across the state have been invited to send up to 20 students from grades seven through twelve to join the NASA live in flight downlink. These students will represent some of the brightest in the state and will have the once in a life-time opportunity to chat with an astronaut currently in space. Students

If you or someone you know is into video games, you won’t want to miss this highly acclaimed one-of-a-kind concert experience. Video Games Live™ is not just a concert, but a celebration of the entire video game industry that people of all ages will adore.

VIDEO GAMES LIVE

Whether it’s the power and passion of the more recent blockbusters or the excitement of remembering the sentimental classics you played growing up, Video Games Live™ will truly be a special night to remember. Even if you have never played a video game, you won’t want to miss this unforgettable orchestral experience.

DISCOVER ENGINEERING Explore the world of engineering with a special family fun day for all ages!

Discover Engineering Day will showcase the many branches of engineering with fun, interactive activities and displays by a variety of local engineering firms, colleges and universities. Past activities have included remote controlled robots, 3-D printing, virtual welding and Popsicle stick catapults. Don’t miss the fun as we explore old favorites and new fun with this hands-on day for the whole family!

Thank you to our sponsors: BB&T Foundation BrickStreet Charleston CVB Charleston Surgical Hospital City National Bank Coca-Cola Consolidated Bottling Co. HealthSmart Lumos Networks Reserve Oil & Gas Roger Nicholson in memory of Bennett K. Hatfield The Bell Law Firm Terradon Zafrullah & Zadia Khan Family Foundation Thank you to our Carnaval Sponsors: TransCanada Jackson Kelly, PLLC AEP Bob & Nancy Douglas BrickStreet Insurance HealthSmart Suttle & Stalnaker, PLLC

United Bank BB&T CAMC CMHC Doug & Marisa Skaff Dr. Amanda Boustany & Dr. John Kuyk at Captiol Endodontics – Root Canal Specialists Dr. Jacqueline H. Stump & Dr. Matthew D. Stump at Howard & Howard Dental Graystone Consulting Kanawha Stone Kyle & Kirsten Mork LiNKS Mike & Margaret Graney Mt. State Oral & Maxillofacial Potesta & Associates, Inc. Roger L. Nicholson Susan Wheeler, Ernst & Young Thomas Health System Tops Off Barber Shop Trane U.S. Inc. W. Marston Becker & Katharine B. Becker ZMM Architects & Engineers

One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301

Andrew & Christina Byrd Beth Fanning Taylor & Harley Taylor Brad M. Rowe Chelsea & Steve Ruby Claire Barth & Gov Graney Emma Busse Faye Zinn, State Farm Insurance Gianola, Barnum, Bechtel & Jecklin James Bailey & Megan Callaghan Jessica & Pat Graney John & Amanda Gianola John & Lynne Gianola Kristin & Andrew Anderson Lloyd & Trina Jackson Lucy Allara Michaela Leffler Nichole Koenig & Jared DeProspero Rick & Christine Wallace Rob Bastress & Blaire Malkin The Bell Law Firm The Wine Shop at Capitol Market Timothy J. & Kate S. Gibson TSG Consulting

SUBSCRIBE NOW TO SAVE ON FOUR GREAT SHOWS

Southern Soul Assembly

An Evening with

America

Saturday, February 3 8pm

Kansas

40th Anniversary Leftoverture Tour Sunday, April 9 7pm

Friday, March 10 8pm

Mountain Stage

with Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn and The Del McCoury Band Sunday, May 14 7pm

ADD ON THESE SPECIAL EVENT PERFORMANCES Swan Lake

copresented with the Charleston Ballet Friday, February 17, 7:30pm Saturday, February 18, 2pm

Naughty By Nature with Kid ̍n Play Saturday, April 29 8pm

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live Saturday, May 20 10am