Salutations™!!

First, I am happy to announce that Clay and I recorded the first new episode of Beeswax Vinyl & More podcast since August of last year today. It was a bit rough but a few things factored into that. One, Clay and I were practicing “Social Distancing” and he was on Zoom with me. Two, we kind of just stumbled through things because we had an opportunity to do it and where we have not done it in seven months, we had to “reacquaint ourselves with our styles” to (somewhat) quote Paul Stanley. Just a lot of stuff going on in the world and we touched on it and some other things. We’ll be back to recording regularly, I hope. Listen to that episode here.

Also, today, Ray and I practiced “Social Distancing” with him at home in Mt. Airy and me in the studio. We do that every week so it was “business as usual.” Well, at least in the recording department. These last few weeks have been anything but “business as usual.” The COVID-19 thing is some serious business and the world is shutting down right now. Anywhat! Listen to TMWATT here.

Last week I provided an update from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. Today I am offering their latest update:

To join with the broader community in responding appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County will temporarily close, to public access, the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts (“Rhodes Center”) and the Hanesbrands Theatre, beginning Tuesday, March 17, until further notice. All previously scheduled performances, exhibitions and other events at these venues have been cancelled or postponed.

The Rhodes Center includes the Sawtooth School for Visual Arts and Coffee Park, as well as The Arts Council’s own Reynolds Place Theatre, Mountcastle Forum/Theatre, Arboreal Gallery, Community Arts Gift Shop and
Every Corner Gallery.

The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are disruptive and challenging, and the entire community must make sacrifices in order to be safe and protect each other. We must comply with the safety protocols established by public authorities, and we should be proactive otherwise to help ensure the well-being of family, friends and the community at large.

At the same time, we must all strive to maintain, as much as possible, the elements of the social infrastructure of our community that have made it a great place to live, work, learn and place. There will be an aftermath of the current crisis, despite its near-term adversities, and we want our community to emerge with vibrancy and optimism comparable to before the crisis.

Accordingly, The Arts Council’s staff will continue to work during the temporary public-access closure of our venues – although we will do so remotely to the extent possible – in sustained pursuit of our mission to support and serve this community’s constellation of amazing arts organizations and artists. Even in the current crisis, the arts remain sources of comfort, inspiration and even physical well-being. Our arts constellation remains a valuable asset of this community, and we want it to shine brightly when the crisis has passed.

Please continue to reach out to us about matters of interest, as you would have done in the past, except do so via phone, email or online for the time being, rather than dropping by the Rhodes Center for a visit. Our mission to help extend the beneficial impacts of the arts to “touch every corner” of our community is unaffected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Until tomorrow, stay safe and wash your damn hands…
Scorp out!

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“Our mission to help extend the beneficial impacts of the arts to ‘touch every corner’ of our community is unaffected by the COVID-19 crisis.” – Arts Council WS/FC