Minds Wide Open opens

By JUSTIN HARMON/Staff

In the past few years, there has been a big push to support arts across the state.
On Monday, the state launched another initiative it hopes to make an annual event, called Minds Wide Open. Barter Theatre was chosen to host the regional kick-off event on Saturday, March 6.
This year’s theme is Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts.
“This seems like a way to get the state legislature to sit up and take notice… it will unite various arts organizations and show how important the arts are,” said Barter’s Director of Outreach Evalyn Baron.
Baron is also the organizer for the local event.
According to a Barter press release, there will be a reception at The Barter Café Saturday at 7:15 p.m. The reception will be followed by an 8:15 p.m. performance of The Diary of Anne Frank. During the reception, local women will be honored. Everyone is invited to the kick-off reception and tickets are still available for purchase to the performance following the reception.
Baron said they’ll be honoring 12 women who contribute in some way to the arts.
“We chose these women because they represent a wide variety of arts in the region,” said Baron. “It’s really about the women. They deserve their chance to stand up and get applause since not all of them are performers.”
According to the press release, the Southwest Virginia regional honorees are: Amanda Aldridge, Resident Costume Designer and Choreographer, Barter Theatre; Anndrena Belcher, Nationally Recognized Storyteller; Bonnie Elosser, Executive Director, Pro-Art; Quinn Hawkesworth, Actor and Illustrator; Merry Jennings, English and Journalism Teacher and Newspaper Advisor, Abingdon High School; Nancy Johnson, Resident Artist, The Arts Depot; Barbara Kingsolver, Award-Winning Novelist; Cornelia Laemmi, Conductor, Symphony of the Mountains; Heidi McElroy, Fine Arts Chair, Abingdon High School; Jane Morison, Director, East Tennessee Children’s Choir; Charlotte Parsons, Washington County Public Library; and Michele Plescia, Artistic Director, Bristol Ballet.
Over the next few months, the Washington County News will be getting to know a few of these women better and putting a spotlight on what they do.
The celebration is scheduled to last between now and June and it encompasses more than just a few honor ceremonies.
The Diary of Anne Frank, presented by Barter Theatre, is part of the statewide initiative according to the press release. Other Barter Theatre productions part of Minds Wide Open include Dead Man’s Cell Phone (currently playing at Barter Stage II through April), Violet (a southern musical celebrating the courage and adventures of a young woman as she discovers the true meaning of healing and self), Always…Patsy Cline (a true story celebrating the musical pioneer) and The Blue-Sky Boys (a celebration of the creative and playful genius that landed the first man on the moon and winner of Barter’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights) by contemporary, female playwright Deborah Brevoort.
Many events throughout the region are also part of Minds Wide Open according to the press release. Some of these include William King Museum’s exhibition “An Educated Woman: Art from Girl’s Schools and Woman’s Colleges” on view through July 11 in Abingdon, Va. and the Pro-Art Association’s exhibition “Women In and Out of the Kitchen” on view March 31 in Wise, Va.
For more information on Minds Wide Open visit www.vamindswideopen.org. All events held in conjunction with the statewide initiative are listed. For more information on Barter Theatre, visit www.bartertheatre.com.
Justin Harmon can be reached at 628-7101 or jharmon@wythenews.com