Clay Center Insider Spring 2016

SPRING 2016

‌ e v o m e h On t

Catch up with new exhibits, programs and peformances

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torybook princesses, villains of lore and characters of all kinds filled the Clay Center on January 30 for a recordbreaking fundraising event.

More than $116,000 was raised for the Clay Center and The Charleston Ballet at Carnaval - Pick Your Poison. This important event helps underwrite the costs of educational programming in science, art, dance and music for students throughout the region.

folk, blues and rock with local group The Company Stores and kept the dance floor hot thanks to the mixing of DJ Nick Scott.

With delectable cuisine from Embassy Suites, beautiful decorations from Winter Floral and an online auction full of must-have items, the action-packed evening was one for the record books.

Guests danced to hits that spanned the decades with popular party band The Celebrity Allstars, enjoyed a blend of

ts in classic black More than 500 gues costumes brought tie and imaginative cters and explored to life iconic chara a world of fantasy.

Jackson Kelly Columbia Pipeline Group AEP HealthSmart John & Fonda Elliot Bob & Nancy Douglas Northwestern Mutual Suttle & Stalnaker United Bank Central West Virginia Convention & Visitors Bureau Al Najjar & Nancy Boulianne Anonymous Charleston Area Medical Center

Dr. John McGehee, DMD, Periodontist Event Security Professionals LLC Fifth Third Bank Greystone Consulting Kathy & Marty Becker Kyle & Kirsten Mork Larry Swann Michael R. Graney Mountain State Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Ronald Potesta, Potesta & Associates Steve and Laura Wehrle Terradon/ Kanawha Stone Co. Thomas Health System

Photos courtesy of Phil Lawrence

Thank you to these generous sponsors, as well as the many volunteers, hosts and in-kind donors who helped make this year’s Carnaval the most successful to date: Special thanks to this year’s Friends of Clay chairperson, Claire Barth, and her team of Friends members, without whom Carnaval wouldn’t have been such a smashing success.

You’ve heard about all the changes coming to the Clay Center later this year, but don’t think that means we’re waiting for winter to bring you fun and excitement.

This spring and summer, there are spectacular new exhibits to explore, reimagined programs created with your feedback in mind and performances for magic lovers, music fans and comedy buffs.

Take a ride on Thomas the Train, see homegrown works from West Virginia artists, spend a week at the best summer camp yet and be sure to make it to a performance or two – there are plenty on the way.

The fun starts now at the Clay Center!

Come along for the ride.

Al Najjar President & CEO

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

! d r a o b A l Al

Step inside the world’s most beloved #1 engine in this nationally sought after exhibit featuring some very popular PBS Kids characters. Help Thomas, Percy and Victor solve a variety of challenges as you explore Knapford Station, Sodor Steamworks and other iconic locations on the Island of Sodor.

Work with friends or by yourself to build and test your own train tracks.

Opening May 21

Identify, sort and design creative ways to arrange all the freight and baggage onto the train cars.

ugh the air Settle in and fly thro rcraft that on an amazing hove d travel an rn lets you twist, tu or. flo e with ease across th

Opening May 28 How do we move thi ngs on land, sea and air? Discover the laws of gravity and motion as you float on a Hovercraft chair , move your boat throu gh an authentic canal lock system, se nd colored balls zooming overhead an d more.

Move your boat by raising and lowering water levels as you operate a real canal lock system.

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Set learning into motion with all-new

CAMPS

Spend a week in an immersive program with expert actors, artists and friends from WVU and PBS. Full day camps run from 9 am to 5 pm. Lunch, early drop-offs and late pick-ups are available for an additional fee.

Sports Science with WVU Science Behind the Sport June 20–24 Grades 3 –6 Theatre with Alban Arts Center June 27–July 1 Grades 4 –7 Gaming & Fitness with Leana Paxson July 5–8 Grades 2–6 Art in Motion with Jeff Pierson’s Doodle Studios July 11–15 Grades 1–5 Girls’ Science with PBS SciGirls July 18–22 Grades 3 –7 Nature Explorers with PBS Nature Cat July 25–29 Grades K–2

Clay Center President & CEO Al Najjar discusses plans for new exhibits with Maier Foundation President Brad Rowe (above) and Appalachian Power President & COO Charles Patton (below).

The Maier Foundation and Appalachian Power recently contributed to “Full STEAM Ahead,” the Clay Center’s Campaign to transform the Avampato Discovery Museum and the Juliet Museum of Art by replacing exhibits that were installed when the building opened and adding multiple high-impact STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) exhibits.

As part of the Campaign, the Maier Foundation awarded the Clay Center a $1 million grant to create a 900-square-foot music exhibit – one of three all-new exhibits that will be installed on the Center’s main level next year. With a giant musical staff framing the exhibit entrance, “Making Music” will invite guests to explore the scientific foundations of music and study the mathematical concepts of rhythm, pattern and harmony through a variety of hands-on activities. The space is still being designed, but may include a circular thumb piano that multiple people can play simultaneously, a recording studio, where an engineer mixes the music created by “performers,” or the “Wizard of Oz-illoscope,” an oversized audio waveform generator and oscilloscope in one.

NEW EXHIBITS ON THE WAY, THANKS TO THE MAIER FOUNDATION AND APPALACHIAN POWER

“The music exhibit ties in perfectly with the Clay Center’s performing arts programming, and the appeal of music to various age ranges makes it the perfect topic around which to build an engaging exhibit,” said Brad Rowe, President of the Maier Foundation. “‘Making Music’ will provide fundamentals, as well as inspiration, for guests of all ages to create their own music or just make a little noise!”

From musical notes to power lines, Appalachian Power committed $250,000 to the Full STEAM Ahead Campaign to sponsor an exhibit that introduces children to the power grid. The power station (exhibit title TBD) will be housed in “My Town,” a kid-sized city filled with familiar elements of everyday life, such as a bank, grocery store, vet clinic and diner, and teaches visitors about electricity production and delivery. It includes a power generating station where visitors can “generate power,” and activities to help them distribute electricity throughout the city.

Conceptual artist rendering of “Making Music,” a 900-square-foot exhibit funded by the Maier Foundation.

“From the moment I heard about ‘My Town’ and the power grid, I knew Appalachian Power would play a role in the project,” said Charles Patton, Appalachian Power President and COO. “This exhibit introduces kids to different types of energy sources and shows how energy constantly moves all around us. And, by addressing conservation through play, it will inspire children and their families to make smart energy choices in the future.”

The power grid (exhibit title TBD), “Making Music” and all of the exhibits being installed as part of the “Full STEAM Ahead” Campaign are designed to spark an interest in children to explore science, technology, engineering, arts and math fields of study in the future.

You CAN leave a legacy!

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Many people like to leave a gift to charity in their will to support causes that are important in their lives. We’re here to help you determine the best way to support the Clay Center. Contact Beth Fanning, Endowment & Major Gifts Manager, 304-561-3536 or bfanning@theclaycenter.org, for more information.

The “Full STEAM Ahead” Campaign goal is $14 million, which includes $6 million for exhibit expenses and $8 million for an Exhibit Endowment Fund dedicated to refreshing and maintaining the exhibits for future generations. To date, West Virginia businesses, individuals and foundations have committed $12,142,500 toward the $14 million goal.

For more information about the “Full STEAM Ahead” Campaign, contact Clay Center Vice President of Development Kathy Bush at 304-561-3588 or kbush@theclaycenter.org.

HIT THE ROAD WITH COLLECTORS CLUB

See the Whitney Museum of American Art and the brand new Met Breurer, and visit the studios of three working artists when the Collectors Club travels to New York City on April 28. During its annual trip to scope out works to add to the Clay Center’s art collection, the Club will once again choose an artist to create an exhibit to display at the Center.

In 2014, the Collectors Club selected Los Angeles-based artist Mark Licari to exhibit his works at the Clay Center.

In addition to developing an exhibit for display, Licari painted a mural on site and worked with local schools in arts education workshops.

Get in on the fun by joining Collectors Club. Call Curator of Art Arif Khan at 304-561-3524 to learn more.

COME HOME WITH TWO NEW ART EXHIBITS With two exhibits full of works from the Clay Center’s art collection on display, it’s the perfect time to pay a visit and enjoy the diverse and beautiful group of artworks collected over the past fifty years.

In “Home Grown,” the influence of family and friends, experiences and memories can be seen in visual tributes to home in West Virginia.

See works from Paula Clendenin, James Gibson, David Riffle, Ellie Schaul, Anne Shreve, Barry Vance and others that express a sense of place and a personal connection to the people, events and landscapes that shape our state.

Divided into four distinct sections – Abstraction, The Figure, Landscape and Pop Art – “Creative Space” demonstrates methods and approaches for interpreting works of art and art history.

Artists featured in this exhibition include Lesley Dill, Helen Frankenthaler, Martin Johnson Heade, Roy Lichtenstein, Martin Puryear, Lee Savage, Grace Martin Taylor, Andy Warhol and Frederick Waugh.

Thank you to these sponsors for supporting visual arts programs and exhibits: BB&T Foundation The Elliot Family Foundation

Above: Andy Warhol Details of Renaissance Paintings (Sandro Botticelli, Birth of Venus, 1482) Silkscreen on paper, ed. 68/70 1987 Purchase funded by the Albert & Helen Thalheimer Fund and David & Francine Thalheimer

Right: Barry Vance Triptych West Virginia (detail) Oil on masonite 1991 Anonymous gift

From December to March, the entire Museum of Art was dedicated to the art of quilt making and appreciation.

The traveling exhibition “Visual Systems: The Quilter’s Eye” from the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln, Neb. featured a selection of historical and contemporary quilts from throughout the United States.

“The Art of the Quilt” exhibition featured West Virginia quilts from the collection of the West Virginia State Museum, Charleston Art Quilters and Dre McLeod.

Thank you to the following for your assistance in organizing the exhibits and programs: West Virginia Division of Culture & History Charleston Art Quilters Kanawha Valley Quilters Guild Moon and Stars Quilt Guild

Charli Fulton Sara Hoblitzell Juanita Reed Dre McLeod Carol Cutlip Sara Matheney Lou Weisberg Nell Griffin

BUCKLE UP FOR A SPRING FULL OF ROCKIN’ PERFORMANCES

One Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301

The Illusionists April 12

Gregg Allman April 6

STOMP April 24

MODOC with Ona April 30

Andy Frasco & The U.N. with Farnsworth May 14

Wilco June 1

The Mayor’s Concert The Temptations & The Four Tops June 23

Thank you to the many sponsors who help make these shows possible:

any, Bert Wolfe Audi, Nitro Electric Comp l Bank, Charleston Huntington Nationa t rs Bureau, BrickStree Convention & Visito rt, Roger Nicholson, Insurance, HealthSma ll ve Oil & Gas, The Be Laurance Jones, Reser nce, ura a White - White Ins Law Firm, Brad & Lis s ., Mayor Danny Jone Goose Island Beer Co

Vince Gill May 8