Gina Harrison Art Prints Added as Prizes for 2024 JMArts Raffle for the Arts

SILER CITY, N.C. — Ten beautiful, framed and matted art prints by local artist Gina Harrison have been added to the prize list for the 2024 Raffle for the Arts, an annual fall event by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, to raise money for high school arts students to pursue their arts and participate in arts experiences beyond the school curriculum.

The generous contributions will each be awarded along with other prizes at the Jordan-Matthews High School Holiday Showcase concert on December 17. Raffle tickets are $5 each and are being sold by arts students, online, at Jordan-Matthews High School and at Siler City’s inaugural Christmas Market and Tree Lighting on December 1.

Harrison, who operates GH Designs, is an artist, graphic designer and musician who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art with an emphasis in printmaking from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The long-time arts education advocate has served two terms as a board member for Arts North Carolina, the statewide advocacy organization for the arts.

She has received awards for her arts advocacy, has held several exhibitions of her work over the last few years and is a member of JMArts who performed last spring as a keyboardist in the pit orchestra for Jordan-Matthews statewide premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical.”

"Arts education in Chatham County has no better friend than Gina,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “We’re honored to have her beautiful work as part of the Raffle for the Arts."

Each of the 10 art prints will be awarded as a separate prize and the catalog is available online at jmarts.org/s/JMArtsRaffleArtWorks24.pdf.

The grand prize for this year’s Raffle for the Arts is five $100 VISA gift cards — a total value of $500 — mailed to your home from Amazon.com. Other prizes include four tickets to Jordan-Matthews’ spring production of “Matilda: The Musical” (a $40 value) and a $20 gift card donated by The Chatham Rabbit coffee shop in downtown Siler City.

More details about the 2024 Raffle for the Arts are available at jmarts.org/events and more about Gina Harrison is online at ghdesigns.net. The JMArts website also includes detailed information about the arts foundation — including a calendar of upcoming arts events, information on membership and much more about student activities and accomplishments.

# # # # #

“French Bouquet,” a giclée print with archival ink on cold press watercolor rag, is one of 10 framed and matted prints by Gina Harrison being awarded this fall as part of JMArts’ 2024 Raffle for the Arts to raise money for high school arts students.

“Sentimental Journey,” a collage-giclée signed print with archival ink on cool tone picture rag, Lokta fiber paper, will be awarded on December 17 at the Jordan-Matthews High School holiday concert as part of JMArts’ 2024 Raffle for the Arts. The framed and matted art print is one of 10 by Gina Harrison being awarded.

“Futura Circa 66,” a giclée print with archival ink on cold press watercolor rag, is one of 10 prints donated by local artist Gina Harrison as prizes for this fall’s JMArts’ 2024 Raffle for the Arts, an annual event that raises money for high school arts students. A catalog of the framed and matted prints being awarded is available from the event description on the JMArts website.

Kenzie Barnett Work Selected for 2024 JMArts Holiday Cards

SILER CITY, N.C. — Kenzie Barnett, a senior from Siler City, has been named winner of Jordan-Matthews High School’s sixth-annual holiday art contest.

Her painting on blue paper, “Cozy Together,” will appear on holiday cards sold by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, to raise money for JM artists. Barnett received an award certificate and $100 for rights to reproduce the work.

Holiday cards feature her painting 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.

Barnett's work was chosen after consultation with professional artists for its charm and originality.

“We had so many excellent entries this year that we brought together friends of JMArts, including local artists, for input,” said JMArts President Rose Pate. “Kenzie made smart choices with her artistic techniques and wide commercial appeal.”

Preorders for JMArts Holiday Cards are now being accepted online at JMArtsHolidayCards.com. 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 Jordan-Matthews High School, the NC Arts Incubator and on December 1 at the inaugural Siler City Christmas Market and Tree Lighting. Other retail locations may be announced on JMArts social media.

Previous JMArts Holiday Cards featured “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

# # # #

Artist Kenzie Barnett, center, receives her award certificate and $100 check from art teacher Laura Newman, left, and JMArts President Rose Pate.

“Cozy Together,” a painting on blue paper by Kenzie Barnett, is the featured work on this year’s JMArts Holiday Cards.

Dr. Zachary D. Wills Returns as Pit Director for JM’s Spring Production of ‘Matilda’

SILER CITY, N.C. — Coming off wide acclaim for Jordan-Matthews High School’s recent North Carolina high school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical,” Dr. Zachary D. Wills will return to lead the pit orchestra for the school’s upcoming production of “Matilda: The Musical.”

Now the band director at Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek, Wills conducted a 20-member pit orchestra for “Frozen” last spring that blended student and professional musicians from throughout the area, almost all with ties to Chatham County Schools. They included student musicians from Jordan-Matthews, Northwood and Seaforth high schools.

About a dozen musicians will perform this spring in the pit orchestra for “Matilda.” Most seats have already been filled, though two trumpet players and one drummer will be selected later this fall during auditions open to all Chatham County Schools high school students.

Audition details will be announced on JMArts social media as soon as dates are final. Anyone interested is invited to contact Wills now at zwills@chatham.k12.nc.us.

“The music for ‘Matilda’ is quirky and eclectic, both of which I enjoy tremendously,” said Wills. “It is a stark contrast to ‘Frozen,’ so the pit will be smaller and will require advanced performance skills in numerous styles.”

A strong proponent of artistic collaboration, Wills works regularly with other area music directors — including Jordan-Matthews band director Aaron Partin, who serves as technical director for “Matilda.”

He has served in the Marine Corps bands as an instrumentalist and small ensemble leader, and has taught music for more than two decades to students from kindergarten through graduate school. He received the Ph.D. in music education last spring from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received JMArts’ 2024 Community Hero Award for contributing significantly to the success of the arts at Jordan-Matthews

“Matilda” performances are March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. and March 16 at 3 p.m. at the Jordan-Matthews High School Auditorium. Tickets will available in a presale to JMArts members in late fall and then in a public sale early in the new year.

More about “Matilda” and other JMArts projects to create opportunity for Jordan-Matthews artists is available at jmarts.org and through social media @JMHSArts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.

# # # #

Zachary D. Wills, left center on the very back row, with the pit orchestra for the North Carolina high school premiere of “Frozen: The Broadway Musical” at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)