|
Eye Full of Paris
Offers Three Day Celebration of the Arts
(September 8, 2008) Paris,
France is known for its art, and so,
it seems, is Paris, Tennessee. Eye
Full of Paris weekend offers three
days of performing and visual arts
in a variety of venues. Most events
take place on or near the historic
town square and provide
“edutainment” for all ages
throughout the last weekend of
September.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Noon on the Square kicks off Eye
Full of Paris with a performance
from country favorite Layne Wrye.
Concessions are available as
listeners soak up the music in the
beauty of the autumn afternoon on
the courthouse lawn. Event goers
should bring their own chair to
this free event sponsored by
Commercial Bank and Trust.
The Wild for Life Art Show and Sale,
sponsored by Friends of the
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge
includes photography, painting,
sculpting and carving that depict
the region’s stunning creatures and
scenery. The event takes place at
Lee Academy for the Arts, six blocks
northwest of the court square. The
evening is free to the public, but
there is an entry fee for artists.
For information visit
www.tnwrfriends.org
Saturday events, September 27,
2008
Arts ‘Round the Square (ARTS) takes
place from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
Sponsored by the Arts Council, it
includes both visual and performing
artists on the shady courthouse lawn
and Poplar Street.
Potters, painters, a Chinese
calligraphy artist, jewelers,
quilters, a metal sculptor, fabric
artists and photographers sell their
wares. All artists will demonstrate;
some demonstrations will be
interactive. Youngsters are
encouraged to try their hand at many
of the booths. Hungry event-goers
can enjoy delicious local food
offerings. For more information and
music links, log on:
www.phcarts.com.
Two stages offer ongoing, live
entertainment during ARTS.
-
The Courthouse Stage artists
includes the Jamaica Me Happy
Steel Drum Band, acoustic
guitarist/singer Scott Myatt,
acoustic jazz guitarist Chris
Schlegel and the award-winning
youth hand bell choir from First
Baptist Church.
-
The South Poplar Stage features
a variety of songs from musical
theatre and hilarious
improvisation from the Bethel
College Music/Theatre
Department. Paris Children’s
Theatre offers puppet shows, as
well as two children’s plays.
Carriage rides leave from the South
Poplar Stage past historic homes to
the Henry County Heritage Center for
Treasures from the Attic - a display
of vintage quilts. Admission is
free, hours are 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Visit online at
www.phchc.com.
Saturday evening, popular
pianist/vocalist Kayte Strong takes
the stage at The Lunch Room, a new
performance space at Lee Academy for
the Arts. Described as Carly Simon
meets Karen Carpenter meets Carole
King, this 7:00 pm concert is
sponsored by Friends of the Refuge.
Tickets are at Jack Jones Flowers,
Court Square West and at the Refuge
Friends’ booth during ARTS.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Nobody knows how to raise the
rafters like Paris’ downtown church
choirs. Bring a picnic lunch and a
lawn chair and enjoy an afternoon of
eclectic music during Downtown
Churches Rejoice! This free event
begins at 12:30 pm on the courthouse
stage.
Eye Full of Paris concludes at Henry
County’s newest tourist destination,
Paris Winery on Harvey Bowden Road.
The evening begins at 5:30 pm with
music from the Dirt Pilgrims, a
vineyard tour behind an antique
tractor and a pair of friendly
competitions: best picnic site and
tastiest morsels. This free event
begins at 5:30 p.m. Call 731-644-
9500 or log on
www.ParisWinery.com.
The rain location for courthouse
lawn events is the Christian Life
Center of First United Methodist
Church on the corner of E. Blythe
and S. Poplar.
Sponsored by the Downtown Paris
Association, Eye Full of Paris
partners include Paris- Henry County
Arts Council, Friends of the
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge,
downtown churches, Heritage Center
and Paris Winery. Eye Full of Paris
is funded in part by The Villages of
Paris and Paris Landing, the
Tennessee Arts Commission and the
National Endowment for the Arts.
|
