Palates and Palettes
March 23, 2006

The Friends of the Academy of Fine Arts are pleased to announce the debut of their new fundraiser, "Palates and Palettes" to benefit the Academy of Fine Arts on Thursday March 23, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., at the Academy's Arts and Education Center, Fifth and Commerce Street, in historic downtown Lynchburg. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased through the Academy Box Office, 846-TIXX (8499).

"Palates and Palettes" will feature a number of Lynchburg chefs offering tastings of their food, coupled with fine wines. Chairwoman Jane Massie stated, "We are very pleased that area chefs from a variety of wonderful Lynchburg dining and catering establishments such as The Neighbors Place, Meriwethers Market Restaurant, Isabella's Italian Trattoria, Benjamins, Academy Cafe, Avenue Foods, Vines, Faria's Twin Oaks, S & D Coffee, Food Innovations, Cook's Alley, and Patsy's are willing to donate their time and talent to make this a unique and memorable evening for all those who like fine art and fine dining."

To continue the theme of the evening, several other activities are planned. These include live entertainment, a silent auction of art and culinary items, and an exhibition in the Academy's Arts & Education Center lobby of works for sale by noted former Lynchburg artists Laura Howell and Jean Cauthen (www.jeancauthen.com) and potter Nan Rothwell ( www.SpruceCreekGallery.com) of Nelson County.

An anonymous friend of the Academy of Fine Arts is sponsoring the event.

The Friends of the Academy of Fine Arts was formed in 2005. Under the leadership of President Elizabeth Harrington, it sponsors fundraising and visibility-enhancing events to assist the Academy in carrying out its mission. Last fall its Beaux Arts Ball raised $50,000 for Academy activities.

Palettes Artist Biographies

Nan Rothwell has been making functional salt glazed pottery for most of her adult life. She began potting in England, studied at the Harrow School of art and worked in Private studio potteries in England and Ireland. She maintains a studio in Nelson County.

Laura Howell grew up in Lynchburg, received a B.A. in Art History from Randolph-Macon Woman's College, and received much of her training here studying with Dick Frisbee, Frank Hobbs, Jean Cauthen, Ron Boehmer as well as workshops with many nationally acclaimed artist-teachers. Now living in Annapolis, Maryland, she works in both watercolor and oils. She exhibits her work in galleries in Annapolis, Easton, Maryland and

Jean Cauthen was associated with the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center as a painting instructor and visual arts staff member. She graduated from James Madison with a M.F.A. in Painting/Drawing. She now directs the Art Program at Caldwell Community College in North Carolina, and leads summer painting workshops in Italy.

Kelly Mattox is a well known Lynchburg artist who maintains studios at Riverviews and the Piedmont Center. She works in oils, alternating between realism and abstraction with color as a major emphasis in her painting.

Artist demonstrations: (in Art Studio)

Priscilla Palmer - Sumi Brush
Liz McCormack - Silver Jewelry demonstration
May Carter and Donna Headley - wheel throwing
Ken Weinfurtner - Portrait Drawing
Solly Blank - Watercolor

The Academy of Fine Arts is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting and presenting the visual and performing arts, while creating opportunities for arts education. These functions are centered in the Academy of Fine Arts complex, anchored by the historic Academy of Music Theatre in historic downtown Lynchburg. The next performance in its Joy and Lynch Christian Warehouse Theatre will be FACination Chorus's "New" Broadway Concert with two performances, 7:30 pm on April 1st and 2:30 pm on April 2. For tickets, call 846-TIXX (8499).