Chris Wagner, local artist, says, "The first ARTcrawl of summer is just over a week away! " It's Friday, July 8th, 2016 which should be a big time since BERNAROO MUSIC FEST will be performing all around New Bern. 

​CALL TO ARTISTS: Community Artist Will, our local non-profit organization, invites performers, visual artists, book-signing authors and creative folk to demonstrate  their skills. If you are a creative person, setting up for ARTcrawl, please let Chris Wagner know where you will be in New Bern and what you will be doing. He will be sure to get you included in CAW's press release.

TO DO: Email Chris with your info to communityartistwill@gmail.com with the header "Press Release".
DEADLINE: He needs your email by Sunday night, July 3rd, so he can send in the release on Monday.

ARTISTS SETUP DURING ARTcrawl: Starting at 2 pm on Friday's ARTcrawl Sept. 9th, 2016, setup an easel on the pathway to the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center to demonstrate your talent. "Meet and Greet" the MS Bike Riders as more than two thousand participants register for the historic bicycle festival throughout the day until 6pm.

ARTISTS GET ON THE POSTER: One painting will be chosen to be printed on the poster promoting Greater Good Gallery's "MS Bicycle ARTcrawl Exhbit."   DEADLINE FOR CONSIDERATION is July 18th. Please email a high-resolution jpg to info@greatergoodgallery.com         

ARTISTS SUBMIT YOUR BICYCLE PAINTING: If you would like to paint a bicycle for sale at Greater Good Gallery, please drop off your paintings by Thurs., Sept. 8th to 228 Craven Street, New Bern.
                                                                                                                                    
LOCAL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION: If you would like to honor the MS Bike Riders with a special promotion, please contact Linda Staunch or Melissa Riggle at 252 -637-9400. DEADLINE FOR CONSIDERATION is July 18th.

More about the MS Bike Ride on September 10-11, 2016, visit  www.visitnewbern.com/calendar/event-details?3107

You are invited to the Launch Party to celebrate the new book, "My Little Plastic Bag" by author Sam Love, illustrated by Samrae Duke. The author and illustrator will be on location at Greater Good Gallery to sign books. Refreshments will be served.

DATE: Thursday, July 14th
TIME: 5:30 to 7pm
LOCATION: Greater Good Gallery, 228 Craven Street, New Bern, NC 

The Greater Good Gallery will host a book launch party and book signing for My Little Plastic Bag on Thursday July 14 at 5:30 pm. The book with text by local poet Sam Love and illustrator Samrae Duke tells the story of what happens to a plastic bag when a little girl throws it out the window.  Through brightly colored illustrations a child can follow the plastic through the ecosystem into the ocean where small bits are eaten by fish. Finally the chemicals in the plastic come back to Amy’s family in the fish her family eats.
 
The story is based on a poem by Sam Love that appeared in his poetry book, Converging Waters and in Duke University’s Eno magazine. “I get really angry when I see the plastic pieces that the mowers cut up on the side of the road and I wanted to create an educational book for young children that helps them understand there is no ‘away’,” according to Love.
 
“This book can be valuable to teach young people about the problems plastic trash creates in our aquatic environment,” says Travis Graves, Lower Neuse Riverkeeper.

For more information, email Sam Love at sam@samlove.net

Artists in New Bern are honoring the military brats by painting dandelions. The project began when Bob Holliker visited New Bern in 2016. Lisa Bisbee Lentz; Lee Hood; Carol Jones; the Giorgianni's (Dom, Tammy & son); Kristen Moffit; and Judy Schychowski have all contributed dandelion paintings to this cause of support.

Lisa Bisbee Lentz explains, " My dad, grandfathers, uncles, cousins and friends have been in the military. I'm thankful everyday for their contributions to keep us safe. Allowing me the freedom to paint. It's a blessing. I know that these military brats have to move from place to place, start new friendships and schools. I imagine it's not easy for military kids to adjust quickly. We paint these dandelions to show our support."

Bob Holliker is honoring those who followed their military parents serving our nation. Holliker explains, "The concept for the BratPin began in 2009 when I contacted my US Congressman, Bob Latta (R/OH), and asked him why America’s Military Brats have never been recognized for their – for our – service to our nation."
Holliker found this: “The official flower of the military child is the dandelion. Why? The plant puts down roots almost anywhere, and it’s almost impossible to destroy. It’s an unpretentious plant, yet good looking. It’s a survivor in a broad range of climates. Military children bloom everywhere the wind carries them. They are hardy and upright. Their roots are strong, cultivated deeply in the culture of the military, planted swiftly and surely. They’re ready to fly in the breezes that take them to new adventures, new lands and new friends.
Experts say that military children are well-rounded, culturally aware, tolerant, and extremely resilient. Military children have learned from an early age that home is where their hearts are, that a good friend can be found in every corner of the world and in every color, and that education doesn’t only come from school. They live history. They learn that to survive means to adapt, that the door that closes one chapter of their life opens to a new and exciting adventure full of new friends and new  experiences.” ~ Anonymous

FOLLOW THE MILITARY BRATS: Brat Pride on facebook or visit http://bratpride.com 

TO PARTICIPATE: Please submit your painting of a dandelion to Greater Good Gallery, 228 Craven Street, New Bern, NC 28560. We'll ship the paintings to Bob Holliker and he will offer them for sale on bratpride.com. If you painting sells, you will receive $21. 

Once per month in downtown New Bern, North Carolina, the artCrawlers visit creative venues to view eye candy imagery or listen for sounds of music. At Greater Good Gallery, some participants posed as artists to paint a spot in the community canvas of the "New Bern" skyline. See y'all next month for the second Friday ARTcrawl on July, 8, 2016. Bernaroo will be hosting concerts in the Isaac Taylor Garden and the Greater Good Gallery will be swarming with creative folk!