YOU are cordially invited to walk the Red Carpet!  This year’s Mud Boots fundraiser will start with a stroll down the red carpet and under the tent to the Curtis Room at the Chocolate Church with a Hollywood Style theme.   Beginning at 6 p.m., there will be dazzling hor d’oeuvres, decadent desserts, a cash bar and a spectacular silent auction.   Then at 8 p.m., we will all move next door to the church for the sounds of the Scott David Jazz Quintet and the amazing vocals of Leila Percy.  Tickets are $55 per person for this entire evening of great fun, all to benefit the Chocolate Church.

Here are just a few of the great items that will be featured in the silent auction:

A week in St. Thomas at a private home

3 days, 2 nights at Camp Bigma on Damariscotta River, 6 – 8 people

Sunset wine cruise on Damariscotta River for 6 -8 people

Antique silver tea set

Fishing trip on the Kennebec

Two truckloads of firewood

Pair of season tickets for 2012-13 season at CCAC – CCAC

5 days at Sugarloaf mountain, Monday thru Thursday, expires Feb. 28, 2012.  Two bedroom condo on the mountain.  Can be used summer for golf or winter for skiing.

Boat ride down the Kennebec River ending at Seguin Island, expires Aug. 31, 2012.  Full tour of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings with complete history.  Followed by lobsters and hot dogs on the beach. 

$100 gift certificate to Admiral Steakhouse or Byrnes Irish Pub

4 hours of music of your choice provided at an event/party

and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!     Don’t miss out – we welcome everyone and would love to see you!!   Dress is creative black tie for gentlemen and Hollywood glam for the ladies, with mud boots for all!

Celebrated Maine author and Bath native Elizabeth Peavey brings her hilarious and heartbreaking one-woman show, “My Mother’s Clothes Are Not My Mother,” to the Chocolate Church Arts Center on Saturday April 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday April 22 at 2 p.m.

The show premiered to a series of sell-out houses at the St. Lawrence Performing Arts Center in Portland last fall. It traveled to Sugarloaf in February, where it was received by another packed house. Following the two performances at the Chocolate Church, the show moves to the Magic Lantern in Bridgton for a performance on April 30.

“My Mother’s Clothes” is performed in a series of connected monologues by Peavey as she confronts the following: Losing a parent is difficult enough. Losing your final parent presents an additional challenge: What are you supposed to do with all your family’s stuff? For months, she avoided wading through her late mother’s things. But when her mom’s condo sells, she’s forced to reckon with its contents. As she does, objects surface, triggering memories from her childhood in Bath, including visits to Mr. Louis’ Coiffures, Hallet’s Drug Store, Senter’s department store and the dreaded Mammoth Mart. Possessions she once thought would be easy to chuck – the Polynesian hors d’oeuvre platter from the Value House, the outdated coat from Bernie’s Fashions, the Christmas ornament from the church fair (Peavey attended Sunday school in the very same church in which she’ll be performing)- suddenly take on epic stature, forcing the question: How do we know when to let go?

Elizabeth Peavey is the author of “Outta My Way: An Odd Life Lived Loudly” and of  “Maine & Me: 10 Years of Down East Adventures,” which was awarded the Maine Literary Award for Best Maine-themed Book. Her essays and articles appeared in “Down East” magazine since 1993. Her former monthly humor column, “Outta My Yard,” can be found at thebollard.com. She has taught public speaking at the University of Southern Maine since 1993 and has served as guest lecturer of creative nonfiction at University of Maine, Farmington. Her latest book, “Glorious Slow Going: Maine Stories of Art, Friendship and Adventure,” a collaboration with renowned Maine landscape painter Marguerite Robichaux, has just been released.

Tickets for “My Mother’s Clothes” are $12 and available at the CCAC box office (442-8455) or online at www.chocolatechurcharts.org.

Earl Bigelow and his assembly of local luminaries collectively known as “The Natives Are Restless” will take the stage for two great shows on Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24. This is the seventh consecutive year for this musical collaboration of song writers and musicians to gather and present their favorite tunes for performance, featuring many original songs. This event is the brainchild of Earl Bigelow, well known local singer/songwriter, whose original motivation was create a venue for artists to realize their vision of their music fully produced in a live format the way they are able to make it sound in the studio. This large group comes together to lend complete instrumentation and backing harmonies to each other’s songs in what has become a much anticipated late winter, cabin fever reliever at the Chocolate Church.

This year will bring the return of The Blues Buzzards featuring the Brass Attack Horn Section, The BigChips Trio, Margot Frost, Liz and Chris Lannon, Red Beans and Rice, Nancy Roderick, David Rawson and Sheldon Bird. This year will also bring  the well known Dennis Dorian to the group. These two nights promise to be fun and uplifting for both the audience and the performers as the magic of musical collaboration comes together at the Chocolate Church. All proceeds are generated for the benefit of the Chocolate Church, a much loved and respected venue for all artists and performers near and far. Tickets are $15.00 at the door. Advance tickets are $12.00 and available at the box office and Music and Moore in the Topsham Fair Mall, The Georgetown General Store, and The Town Landing in Bowdoinham. Seniors and members can get advance tickets for 10.00. A great night for a good cause. Sap is running, and spring is coming. See you there.

The 11th Annual Maine Fiddlers Concert will take place on Saturday April 7th at 7 p.m.   This year’s concert will feature the Don Roy Trio.  At the forefront of the Franco American community in the Greater Portland area, one finds the musical duo of Don and Cindy Roy who have long entertained audiences in the Southern Maine area and beyond.  Don is a champion fiddler with depth in many styles of fiddling.  Hailing from roots deep in the Maritimes and Quebec, the Roy’s musical passion lies with the French Canadian tradition followed closely by Celtic music.  Don has been a member of many successful groups including bluegrass, Irish, and French and directed the popular Maine French Fiddlers for its duration.  Don also received Fellowship awards from the state of Maine in 1994 and 2001 for excellence in traditional music.  Also a member of the Maine French Fiddlers, Cindy is well known for her piano accompaniment which is among the best in New England.  Augmented by her “rhythmic feet” she adds life and enthusiasm to the music.  Cindy and Don will entertain you with a blend of fiddle and piano styles that are common to traditional musicians of Maine.  Jay Young plays upright bass with the group.  Jay began his musical evolution playing folk music on a 12 string guitar in the 1960′s.  He slid into playing electric guitar in a blues band influenced by the Chicago blues style and then in a series of rock ‘n roll bands.  He’s been accompanying Don and Cindy Roy for many years in a variety of bands.  

There will be other performers from the fabulous staff of Maine Fiddle Camp including Bath’s own world class fiddler Frank Ferrell, Sharon Pyne who leads the Irish music session at Byrne’s pub, Old Grey Goose, and more. It will be a benefit for the scholarship fund.

CCAC has added two shows to the remainder of the 2011-12 season.  Lovely Maeve Gilchrist brings her trio to perform the amazing celtic  jazz style that our audiences have been lucky enough to hear the past two years on Friday March 16th at 7:30 p.m.   Maeve’s performance will continue a stretch of Celtic offerings, with a Night of Irish Music taking place on Saturday March 10th, then Maeve on the 16th, and the Irish sensation Lunasa here on Sunday the 18th at 7:30 p.m.  You won’t want to miss any of this! 

On April 21st at 7:30 p.m. and April 22nd at 2 p.m., Elizabeth Peavey will perform her poignant one-woman show, My Mother’s Clothes Are Not My Mother.  This show has been completely sold-out in other venues in Maine, so this will be your chance to see it.  Tickets are $12.

2012 Exhibit Schedule…

We have an exciting line up for Art Exhibits this coming year.

All shows will feature a variety of mediums and a theme. We also will be featuring a live music presentation in the gallery on an evening during the third week of each show.

January 20th – March 3rd         A Midwinters Night Dream

Inspiration: The snow is piled upon the ground and the moon is shining brightly in a star filled sky. Incandescent blue and purple shadows mark the snow in shapes of leafless trees. The quiet cracking of ice on the rivers, lakes and ponds, is a beautiful sound akin to the extra cold climate of this far northern region.

March 9^th – April 21^st                  Springtime Floriade

Inspiration: Presented when we are in the grips of late winter early spring, this will be a treat for all. Featuring Floral Paintings and Photographs of Flowers & Gardens. Oversized Vases will be placed upon pedestals in the center space.

 April 26^th – June 9^th                      Edge of the Sea

Inspiration: The Sea is a delicate Eco-System. The viewer can experience the magical living things that live at the very edge of the Intertidal zone. Fish inspired Sculptures will be swimming up the center of the Gallery.

June 15^th – July 28^th                     Summertime Whimsy

Inspiration: This perfectly bright and fun collection will be a vibrant edition for the summer crowds. The walls will be filled with bright colors and unexpected subject matter. We will feature painted and embellished sculptures of walking houses and weathervanes up the center space.

August 3^rd – September 15^th        Inside/Outside: Maine Home

Inspiration: The viewer will feel like a voyeur into the lives of some interesting and sometimes funky, often old but always interesting Maine homes. We will also explore the gardens, structures and magic of the outdoors all of this through the lens of four Maine photographers. The center space will feature the works of two local furniture makers.

September 21^st – November 3^rd    Autumn Feast

Inspiration: Breaking bread after the harvest and sharing a feast is an archetypal activity. This show will feature a series of long tables up the center space. Each table will be set with different ceramic artists dinnerware and vases. The walls will feature contemporary autumn themed paintings & fiber-arts.

November 9^th – December 17^th     The Annual Members Group Show

Inspiration: A thematic show, “Living On the Mid-Coast of Maine”.

FMI- www.chocolatechurchgallery.blogspot.com

                 

 The 2011 Holiday Members Show will be held at the Chocolate Church Art Gallery from November 11 – December 17.  All member artists, or artists who join as members, are invited to submit two pieces of works, in any medium.  Work will be received on Thursday Nov. 3 from 1 p.m – 6 p.m.  NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

The opening reception will be held on Friday November 11 from 5 – 7 p.m.

All work must be for sale.  The gallery retains 40% commission to benefit the CCAC.  Artists who have work sold will be paid thirty days from the close of the exhibit.  At least one work will be hung, to be replaced as wall space becomes available.  All work must be ready for hanging or display.  No clip frames.  Please include a resume for our gallery booklet if you wish.

Entry forms available at the box office, 442-8455 or copy and paste the form below and return it to us at bbowers@chocolatechurcharts.org

Entry Form

(Please type or print.  If our volunteers can’t read it, your labels will be incorrect.)

Name __________________________________________________________________________________

Membership Expiration Date____________(if you don’t know, we can look it up for you)

Address _________________________________________________________________________________

   ________________________________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone_____________________________ Email________________________________________

                                      New or Renewing Member? ________  Membership Paid $________

                                           ($25 Student, $40 Individual/Senior, $75 Family, $100 Friends)

#1 Title ________________________________________________________________________________

Medium __________________________________________ Price_________

#2 Title ________________________________________________________________________________

Medium __________________________________________ Price_________

The Maine Poets Society will hold a reading in the Curtis Room at the Chocolate Church Arts Center on Sunday September 18th from 2 – 4 p.m.   All are welcome!

The work of Anne Gable Allaire, Claudette Gamache, Norma Johnsen and Ellen Pelletier will be featured in our next gallery exhibit, Four Explore The Art of Pastels.   The show opens on Friday July 29th with a reception from 5 – 7 p.m., and will run through September 10th.  Gallery hours are Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday from 10 – 4, Thursday from noon until 7, and Saturday from noon until four.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Board of Directors of CCAC has decided to cancel the plein air event Paint Bath, previously announced to take place on August 6th.  The event will return in a restructured form in the future.  Other art fundraising events are in the works – watch this space for more information.