Women in the News Ashe County Arts Council Announces new executive director Joni Ray
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EST JEFFERSON — The Ashe regarding her current position at Florence County Arts Council announced Thomas Art School. “Also, I got to work that High Country native Joni Ray will be hands on with a lot of our board members taking on the role of executive director for and volunteers and that’s really made a the organization. Ray, lasting impression on me.” who will be coming from Wesley Barker, president of the Arts Council’s the neighboring Florence Board of Directors said, Thomas Art School, was “We are excited to have slated to assume her new Joni Ray join us as our position starting in late next executive director. September. Joni brings a wealth Having served as the of knowledge in arts Gallery Director at Florence Thomas Art School programming across for seven years, Ray will many mediums, possesses technology skills bring a wealth of experience and knowledge across many platforms of both of the arts and and is an artist in her own working with the public right. Joni will bring a Ashe County native Joni Ray was selected to her new position at the as the new executive director of the Ashe fresh perspective to our arts council. organization appealing County Arts Council. Photo submitted “I was fortunate to to many demographics, have that job because we have at least 30 while still holding onto the values that to 40 artists on consignment there. So, I made the Ashe County Arts Council the was able to meet all kinds or artists in that solid, respected organization it is today. It’s position and about half of them were local, being recognized across the state as one of so I’ll carry that into my new job,” Ray said the premier arts organizations.”
Ray attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Universidad Pablo de Olavide in Seville, Spain, and Appalachian State University, where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. “Serving the community through the arts is my personal calling and it’s going to be a great honor for me to do so at the Ashe County Arts Council,” Ray said. Pointing out the many established programs that the arts council has provided over the years, Ray hopes to expand upon the organization’s successes and reach out to other communities within Ashe County. “As an Ashe County native, I benefited from the programming offered by the Arts Council while growing up. It’s my goal to continue all the cultural opportunities provided to the county by the Arts Council and I hope to broaden our reach over the next coming years,” Ray said. “Though I’m a visual artist, I have a deep love and appreciation for live music and theater. I can’t wait to dive into all areas of arts programming for Ashe County.” - Andrew Cole
Shanahan opens second location of South Carolina-based bakery in Boone
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OONE — Boone just got a little sweeter with the opening of Cupcrazed Cakery, a bakery specializing in cupcakes. As the business is operating out of the bottom floor of The Standard apartment complex, Cupcrazed Cakery opened on Saturday, Aug. 14 — the same day the apartment complex welcomed Appalachian State University students for the new school year. Owner Wendy Shanahan said that “we have a crazy love of baking, everything we do is over the top.” Beyond cupcakes, Shanahan said that the bakery offers cookies, cakes, donuts, breakfast pastries and coffee with plans to expand to include frappes, different energy drinks and beer and wine. Cupcrazed will also make custom orders, “anything from a first birthday smash cake to a wedding cake,” Shanahan said. The fun won’t only be for people, though. Shanahan said that she is planning on beginning a “Pupcrazed” line of doggie goods so that her business can serve the people and four-legged friends of Boone. The original Cupcrazed store is in Fort
introducing breakfast pastries and coffee, Mill, S.C., where Shanahan has operated it Shanahan said she is aiming for Cupcrazed for three years. She said that she and her to have a welcoming, “hangout” space apfamily have had a cabin in Roan Mountain pealing for locals to spend time and enjoy for many years and have fallen in love the shop, whether it be doing homework or with the High Country. She added that she meeting with friends. hopes to engage the wide demographics of “I wouldn’t students, residents have been able and visitors who to do this without love to live in the our employees,” High Country Shanahan said, through her store. noting the staff The bakery of locals and stufeatures a large dents she has who sitting area and an are excited to see adjoining room for how the business events. Shanahan grows. said that Cupcrazed will use Cupcrazed this event space to is located at 776 host cookie, cake Cupcrazed has a wide variety of cupcakes, including a section Blowing Rock and cupcake dec- devoted to cream cheese frosting. Photo by Marisa Mecke Road and open orating classes, from 10 a.m. to 6 birthday parties, girls’ nights out and more. p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. “We want to find ways to make people happy while taking care and continuing to - Marisa Mecke engage the community,” Shanahan said. By September-October 2021 | 7
