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)

Five Community Leaders Appointed to JMArts Board of Directors

SILER CITY, N.C. — Five community leaders have been appointed to the JMArts Board of Directors to help lead the local nonprofit organization providing educational opportunity for actors, artists, dancers and musicians at Jordan-Matthews High School.

Kevin Lindley and Zulma Ureña have accepted four-year appointments to the board. Current Jordan-Matthews student artists Delaney Fuquay, Charline Jimenez Rojo and Zyniuh Marsh have all accepted one-year appointments to the board. At least one Jordan-Matthews student artist is appointed each fall to a one-year term on the board. But, this year, three outstanding student artists applied for the position and all were appointed.

Other members of the JMArts board of directors are president Rose Pate, vice president Matt Fry, Angie Brady-Andrew, Greg Burriss, Heath Smith and William Ureña. Denise Partin serves as treasurer, but is not currently a member of the board.

Lindley is a civil engineer specializing in solid waste management and recycling, who also is a Jordan-Matthews graduate, musician and photographer focusing on lifestyle and sports. “As a JM alumnus, I have been thrilled to see the work JMArts has done to enhance arts education and provide amazing experiences for the students,” he says. "I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute to this important work as a member of the board.”

Ureña has been a longtime volunteer and advisor for JMArts. She is employed as an English Language Learners Student Success Advocate for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and has provided many Spanish translations for JMArts.

Fuquay is an actor, vocalist and JMArts Scholar, having studied this summer at the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Greensboro. She performed the role of Miss Honey in Jordan-Matthews' spring production of “Matilda” and performed on the Durham Performing Arts Center stage in the ensemble for the 2025 DPAC Rising Star Awards. She plans to contibute to the board by brainstorming creative ideas, providing honest opinions and helping promote the school’s arts program. 

Jimenez Rojo is a talented visual artist and JMArts Scholar, having studied this summer at the UNCG Summer Art and Design Intensive in Greensboro. Jimenez Rojo, who has taken art classes through the honors level and was selected for last year’s One Chatham Art clinic, said she looks forward to contributing great art that everyone loves and serving on the board so she can “help with anything and everyone.”

Marsh is a multidisciplinary artist, a visual artist who also has performed on guitar with The Co-Pilots, the Jordan-Matthews rock band — as well as in band, dance and theater. Her Audrey II puppet brought critical acclaim for her work as an artist and in “Matilda,” received rave reviews in a comic role as the Cook. Marsh said she is looking forward to contributing creative ideas, visual arts pieces and helping other artists.

JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization and nonprofit corporation registered with the State of North Carolina. It was created in 2011 to enhance arts education and provide exceptional opportunities for artists at the public high school.

In addition to creating and funding student arts workshops, performance opportunities and events, JMArts conducts three major projects each year.

Since being launched in 2012, JMArts Scholars has awarded 113 scholarships to 79 students for intensive study over the summer, usually at weeklong, residential workshops offered on university campuses. JMArts Scholars develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions and bring what they learn back to share with other Jordan-Matthews students.

JMArts also produces Jordan-Matthews’ annual musical, providing funding to secure performance rights and cover production costs, as well as handling marketing and promotion, box office and ticketing, and other business needs. Jordan-Matthews musicals have included the North Carolina premier of “Frozen” and have received several regional DPAC Rising Star Awards nominations.

Its latest project, Pinnacle of the Arts, gives Jordan-Matthews actors, artists, dancers and musicians an opportunity to experience world-class arts and learn directly from world-class artists. About 30 students attend each event entirely free of charge — including excellent seating locations, transportation and even a meal.

This year’s Pinnacle series includes: Kotis Street Art Experience, a tour of world-class street art in Greensboro followed by a hands-on spray-paint workshop; Handel’s “Messiah” performed by the North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina Master Chorale; the renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on its national tour; Behind the Scenes at the North Carolina Museum of Art, a look at the permanent collection, special exhibitions and how the museum curates and presents art; the world’s premier big band, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis; and the blockbuster musical, “Hamilton,” on its North American Broadway Tour.

More information about JMArts is available at JMArts.org.

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Community leaders recently appointed to the JMArts Board are, left to right beginning on the top row: Kevin Lindley, Zulma Ureña, Delaney Fuquay, Charline Jimenez Rojo and Zyniuh Marsh.