JM Arts Students to Explore World-Class Art with Grant from Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund

SILER CITY, N.C. — More than 60 Jordan-Matthews High School arts students will have an opportunity to experience world-class performances this spring thanks to a grant from the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

The contribution made to JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, funds two of the six events in this second season of Pinnacle of the Arts, a series allowing Jordan-Matthews students to experience world-class arts regardless of their family’s financial circumstances.

All events — including outstanding seating locations, transportation and a meal — are offered to students entirely free of charge. Most also provide personal interaction with the performers, who answer questions and provide expert perspective illuminating the artistic work students are encountering.

The Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund grant makes it possible for more than 30 Jordan-Matthews artists to experience the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the nation’s largest and one of the world’s most acclaimed modern dance companies.

It also makes it possible for another group of 30 Jordan-Matthews artists to attend the North American Broadway tour of “Hamilton,” a cultural force now celebrating its 10th anniversary. “Hamilton" received of 11 Tony Awards in 2016 — the second-most ever awarded, one short of “The Producers” — as well as the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

“Many Galloway residents have told me of the wonderful memories they have of arts experiences,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “We are grateful they have chosen to help our students have these memories as well!”

Pinnacle of the Arts began in September with the Kotis Street Art Experience, an expert tour of world-class street art in Greensboro followed by a hands-on spray-art workshop. Other events this year include Handel’s “Messiah” performed by the North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Master Chorale; a daylong, behind-the-scenes look at the North Carolina Museum of Art; and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

Those events also are offered free of charge with contributions from another community foundation and a local strategic communications consultant.

More information about Pinnacle of the Arts is available at jmarts.org/pinnacle, on the JMArts website that also includes information about JMArts Scholars, Chatham Rabbits, Jordan-Matthews High School arts events and other projects to help high school artists’ dreams come true.

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North Carolina Symphony violinist Pablo Sánchez Pazos, left, and musical director and conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto discuss their careers and performance last spring after Jordan-Matthews artists heard the orchestra perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Before dancers took the stage last December for “The Nutcracker,” JM artists discussed dance and this Carolina Ballet production with three dancers from the company — from left, Daphne Little, Alexa Testa and Emily Fretz — as well as with chief advancement officer Adam Schiffer. (Photo by Rose Pate)

After the curtain fell on the evening’s performance of “Kimberly Akimbo,” cast members, company managers and the production's musical director from the national Broadway tour led a fascinating discussion with Jordan-Matthews artists about theater and what the students just saw on stage. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Two JM Artists Accepted into 2025-26 Chatham Artists Guild Emerging Artists Program

SILER CITY, N.C. — Jordan-Matthews High School artists Charline Jimenez Rojo and Carolina Rice have been accepted into the 2025-26 Chatham Artists Guild Emerging Artists Program, a free mentorship program giving aspiring artists experience in marketing, displaying and selling their artwork as professional artists do.

A maximum of six Chatham County high school students are accepted each year based on their artistic work and then work directly with a professional artist from the guild. The program includes free workshops and offers venues for them to sell their work — including the annual Chatham Artists Guild Art Show, a tent at a local artists’ market and a local gallery exhibition.

“It’s always exciting to discover creative young artists — and then get to meet and work with them in person,” said program chair Cally Curtis. “Carolina and Charline are very impressive. Our hope is to help them grow in their knowledge of how to show and sell their work.”

Jimenez Rojo is a JMArts board member and JMArts Scholar who used her financial award last summer to pursue visual arts at the UNCG Summer Arts and Design Intensive — a weeklong, residential workshop on the university campus in Greensboro. The 12th-grade artist also has participated in the One Chatham art clinic, an annual event offered for top high school artists in Chatham County Schools.

She applied to the Emerging Artists program to step out of her comfort zone and work with artists who love pottery as much as she does. Her mentor will be Lynn Flyer, a potter based in Bear Creek who operates Inspired Earth Pottery and Gifts, where she sells ceramic art inspired by her love of nature and whimsical illustrations. Jimenez Rojo hopes to sell pottery to develop her skills and make money that will allow her to buy tools and glazes and to help her family.

Rice is an 11th-grade student currently enrolled in Art 3 who is personally attached to her drawings and paintings, but interested in printmaking as a commercial outlet. She has participated in the One Chatham art clinic and her work, “Skater,” was a finalist in this year’s JMArts Holiday Card contest that selects art for cards produced annually to raise money for Jordan-Matthews visual and performing artists.

She applied to the Emerging Artists program to become a better artist overall and her mentor will be Cassie Ancona, a Chapel Hill-based artist specializing in drawing, painting and prints. Rice was drawn to Ancona because of their shared interest in those media and their artistic inspiration from animals and the natural world.

JM art teacher Laura Newman believes her students’ experience with the Chatham Artists Guild will open new perspectives and opportunities. “This is the first time that JM students have participated in this project, so I was excited that two students were interested,” she said. “They are going to learn from professional artists how to market and sell their art, and will also be volunteering at Chatham Artist Guild events.”

Details about the Chatham Artists Guild Emerging Artists Program are online at chathamartistsguild.org/education/. More about JMArts — including a schedule of upcoming arts events, information on membership and much more about student activities and accomplishments — is online at JMArts.org.

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Emerging artist Charline Jimenez Rojo, left, with artist mentor Lynn Flyer. (Photo courtesy of Chatham Artists Guild)

Emerging artist Carolina Rice, left, with artist mentor Cassie Ancona. (Photo courtesy of Chatham Artists Guild)

Artist Charline Jimenez Rojo works on the pottery wheel in the Jordan-Matthews art studio. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Artist Carolina Rice displays a recent class project in the Jordan-Matthews art studio. (Photo by Rose Pate)

Maiquel Claudio Flores Work Selected for 2025 JMArts Holiday Cards

SILER CITY, N.C. — Maiquel Claudio Flores, a 10th-grade artist from Siler City, has been named winner of Jordan-Matthews High School’s seventh-annual holiday art contest.

Her mixed media work, “Bright Winter Forest,” will appear on holiday cards sold by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, to raise money for the school's visual and performing artists. Claudio Flores was presented an award certificate and received $100 for rights to reproduce the work.

Holiday cards feature her work on the front with a blank area inside for personal messages. The back lists the name of the artist and work, along with a very short artist statement.

Claudio Flores's forest scene was chosen after consultation with professional artists for its charm, originality and artistic excellence.

“This Holiday Card project gives students real-world experience in creating art for a client,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “Maiquel’s vibrant colors and sophisticated shading create a card many people will enjoy sharing during the holiday season — and beyond.”

Preorders for JMArts Holiday Cards are now being accepted online at JMArtsHolidayCards.com with an expected delivery date in the first week of November. Cards are available online in packets of 15 cards and 17 envelopes for $20, a price that also includes domestic shipping. The domain forwards to a Google form, where you can place your order and pay online by credit card, Venmo or Cash App. Payment also is accepted by cash or check.

Cards also will be on sale soon for $15 per packet, cash or check only, at the Jordan-Matthews High School main office and the Chatham Rabbit-NC Arts Incubator in downtown Siler City. Other retail locations may be announced on JMArts social media.

Previous JMArts Holiday Cards featured “Cozy Together” by Kenzie Barnett, “Love in Winter” by Stephanie Aleman, “The Perfect Winter Morning” by Lilli Otterbach, “Arctic” by Vielka Gonzalez, “Winter Solace” by Maggie Thornton and “Lighthouse on Christmas Eve” by Natalia Pozos Velasco.

More information about JMArts is available online at JMArts.org — including a schedule of upcoming arts events, information on membership and much more about student activities and accomplishments.

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“Bright Winter Forest,” a mixed media work by Maiquel Claudio Flores, is featured on this year’s JMArts Holiday Cards sold to raise money for arts education at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Artist Maiquel Claudio Flores, center, receives her award certificate and $100 check from art teacher Laura Newman, left, and JMArts President Rose Pate. (Photo by Chip Pate)