Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/315819
Ovations365.com O V AT I O N S 3 6 5 . c o m by JAN BEELAND Executive Director of Macon Arts Alliance The world is changing rapidly. Modern life is driven by technology, but behind all new technology is imagination. The ability to dream up the things that don't yet exist is at the heart of innovation. A quote on one of the ceramic plaques made by Malena Bisanti-Wall hanging in The Gallery sums it up well: "'Nothing happens unless first a dream' - Sandburg" At Macon Arts Alliance, we realize the role the arts play in our modern world. Anyone can buy a few tubes of paint and some brushes, but it is an artist who has the imagination to see the beautiful image those tools can create. Musical notes are just ink on paper until the Macon Symphony Orchestra turns them into a memorable performance. The arts have the power to make the impossible seem possible. Young people who experience the arts grow up to have the imagination required to be an innovator. As Macon Arts Alliance begins its 29th year, we must also be innovators in how we approach and achieve our mission. The Arts Alliance was founded in 1984 to foster the arts and maintain the community calendar. Less than a year ago, Macon Arts Alliance launched Ovations365.com and transformed the way we engage our audiences. On February 1, 2013, we launched an updated mobile website, which can be accessed on any mobile device by visiting Ovations365.com. The transformation of Macon Arts Alliance continues in 2013. While our First Friday opening receptions at The Gallery are always a treat, our Director of Fine Art, Heatherly Wakefield, has raised the bar with this year's schedule of events. We're also expanding Fired Works, our signature ceramics exhibit and sale, which takes place every April in Central City Park. This year we will showcase 70 Georgia and regional artists under the dome of the Round Building. We've added clay workshops for teachers and a "Pickin' and Pottery" event on the last Friday of the exhibit. Arts education is always a priority for Macon Arts Alliance. We recently began a partnership with Macon-Bibb County Parks and Recreation to offer monthly workshops on arts and humanities topics. These programs are provided through generous support from the Elam Alexander Trust. The goal is to inspire and educate the community in hopes to light the fire of imagination in community members young and old. To learn more about Macon Arts Alliance, please visit MaconArtsAlliance.org. For a complete list of upcoming events and workshops, visit Ovations365.com. Macon Arts Alliance P.O. Box 972 486 First Street Macon, Georgia 31202 (478) 743-6940 MaconArtsAlliance.org Board of Directors 2012-13 Andrea Williford, President Jan Beeland, President Elect Janice Ross, Secretary Pat Muse, Treasurer Jim Bodell, Past President Tori DeGraw Jennings, Special Events Chair Kelvin Akles Lauren Benedict Barbara Boyer Craig Burkhalter Brenda Cooper Betsy Fitzgerald Steven Fulbright Terrie Heard Sam Macfie Tamara Patterson Anslie Perkel Russell C. Poss Ruth Solomon Sherry Tift Kay Veal Staff Jan Beeland Executive Director Jonathan Dye Director of Communications Vivian Hallmark Gallery Staff Jim McClendon Director of Development Heatherly Wakefield Director of Fine Art Cover art by Geoff Pickett MACON MAGAZINE OVATIONS Lighting the fire of imagination