From MATTIE Arts Center

 

Since its opening in 2012, the MATTIE Arts Center, in the historic Hyde County courthouse in Swan Quarter, has increasingly become a focal point of interest and participation for many of the area residents.

A project that has been simmering on the back burner is coming to fruition this spring thanks to the generous donation of a very supportive local couple who has requested to remain anonymous: a dedicated work space for the instruction of crafts that create airborne fine particulate and/or fumes — in short, they are calling it a “down draft studio.” This new studio will enable MATTIE Arts to expand their non-profit program offerings to include glass etching, decoy and wildlife carving, hand crafted wood jewelry, gourd art, wood burning and any other craft that creates airborne fine particulate and/or fumes that could, over time, endanger respiratory health if left untreated.

“One thing that we confirmed in our first year was an innate talent for artisan crafts here in Hyde County- many of our residents excel in working with their hands to create useful objects of art and they certainly don’t mind getting dirty doing it,” explained Judy McLawhorn, volunteer director of the arts center. “There is definitely evidence of a population here indigenously rich in arts and crafts. We had some insight into this before we ever opened, however, our feasibility study polling results indicated a broad based interest in painting, and so, in order to survive the first year, that’s where we concentrated our initial efforts.”

What begged this project to get off the back burner was MATTIE’s “artists in motion” program. During the grand opening, and repeated a year later during their one-year anniversary celebration in October, many local artisans who committed to teach in this new studio demonstrated their crafts.  A substantial number of people started telling McLawhorn to sign them up just as soon as she could arrange the classes.  In the spirit of Field of Dreams, MATTIE is now going to ‘build’ it… and (hope) they will come.

The target date for the studio to become fully operational is May 1and will be preceded by a dedication ceremony in honor of the donors. The schedules for the new workshops are under development pending progress, and updates and current class announcements will be made via MATTIE’s e-mail list or through facebook/Mattieartscenter.

While the initial donation has already been received and the major equipment has arrived, MATTIE still needs some help for the purchase of 6 dremel tools and attachments, 6 gourd saws and 2 converters and a couple of more wood burning tools.  The total ticket for these hand tools is going to be about $1,500, according to McLawhorn.

For more information, or to make a tax-deductible donation to the project, please contact Judy McLawhorn, Director, at (252) 943-8991 or at info@hyde1854courthouse.org.