Finishing touches, smiles and celebrations

The time has come!

This week marks the twelfth and final week of sessions at all six sites. To celebrate the closing of the hands-on phase of Parcel Post, there'll be parties. Finished and titled artworks on the wall for all to see, rounds of applause and cake. By the end of the week, the 66 special artworks made by all participants in this project will be headed for Greensboro in preparation for their first public exhibition in May.

But before all this happens, let's pause for a moment and think back to January ... to those blank boxes, those early moments of indecision and inspiration, and then a little later on the closing up and sending on of Art Parcels in-progress, the opening up and discoveries of new boxes, new layers, new connections. It is not just the finished artworks we are celebrating this week, but all those moments in between.

Here are a few pictures from sessions two weeks ago as participating artists put the finishing touches on their fourth Art Parcels, looking up now and then to smile. As Ruth Ingram said, 'If I'd known I was going to get my picture taken, I'd have put my teeth in!'


Patricia Clemson


Dorothy Maynor


Bill Moore


Linda Richardson


Alberta Gainey


Pat Murray

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Monday

Hello and a very fine Monday morning to you!

Imagine for a moment that you could be anywhere you wished, just by imagining it. Where would you wish to be? Perhaps the top of the Eiffel tower, perhaps the moon, maybe right where you are.

All this week, let's use this blog to transport us to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Monday mornings, joining Gwen and Hollis and Kathy and all the participating artists at ACE as they gather for their latest session.

Here are some pictures from a Monday morning two weeks ago when the first new boxes arrived in the mail at ACE.

See you all tomorrow for the next leg of our journey. Happy Monday!



Alberta Gainey


Ricky Lawson


Quita Mayfield


Susie Kirk


Donnie Traynham

A Round of Applause for the Volunteers

We are very lucky to have a wonderful group of volunteers working with us on this project. Some are artists, others community members or students. Each brings fresh ideas and perspectives, vitality and friendship that help personalize their site's weekly Parcel Post sessions.

Mary Taylor at the Wayne County Council on Aging
Memory Loss Respite Program. Mary tells me she has
volunteered here for years and that everyone at the
program is like family.



Beki Purvis (L) and Jasmine Simpson (R), our project volunteers
at the Pitt County Senior Center as part of their
full-time work-study placements at the Pitt County Arts Council.
Both are Social Work students in their last semester.
In May Beki will receive her Masters and Jasmine her Bachelors Degree.


Lisa Latham is our volunteer at the Grace Martin
Senior Center in Washington. A graphic designer, she is just
returning to her own artistic work after a long hiatus.



Alex Roncati volunteers at UHC Ramseur. He is musical and often
leads the residents in songs. Last session I learned that Wavel
Lawson, a participating artist, used to be Alex's neighbor. Small world!



ACE is fortunate to have the self-titled
Volunteer Facilitator (and creative force of nature!)
Hollis Gabriel. Hollis recently moved to Greensboro from
Louisiana and has been bringing smiles to faces ever since.


ACE is also fortunate to have Kathy Harper on for their sessions
as well. Kathy brings a quiet respect and compassion with her.
We have just met and I look forward to learning more about her.

Autumn Care of Biscoe volunteer Ella Batten used to work the night
shift at Autumn Care in the days before she retired
from nursing. We'll be sure to post a picture of her soon.

Site Visits

Hello! And welcome to the very first Parcel Post! We are excited to get started.

This blog is intended to serve as a meeting place for staff, volunteers and participating artists as we embark on our collective journey. Beginning in January 2010, over the course 12 weeks, each of 6 very distinct and unique sites will come together for an experiment in creative engagement.

In late October I had the pleasure of visiting each of the project sites to meet staff and participating artists for the first time. I invite you to meet them here and to come back again in January to share in the adventures ahead.

First stop ... Autumn Care of Biscoe just outside of Biscoe in Montgomery County. Note the fishing pond! I felt right at home thanks to the warm welcome of Imogene Cagle, Activities Director (far right) and Connie Greene, Assistant Activities Director (middle).







Next I visited the wonderful duo Lori King, Activities Director (left) and Julie Allred, Activities Assistant (right) at United Healthcare of Ramseur over in Randolph County.







After some (mis)adventures with Google directions I arrived at Wayne County Senior Center in Goldsboro, Wayne County. Entering into the former bank, I was greeted with a warm lunch and even warmer smiles from members of the Memory Loss Respite Program.







Program Assistant Liz Dawson is on the far left, and Senior Center Director Eryn McAuliffe is in the middle with participating artist Amelia Sanchez on the right. We'll be sure to get a picture of Beverly Williams next time.

Next meet Carolyne Everett, Program Director at Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center in Washington, Beaufort County. Carolyne is on the right in the next picture with her assistant Beth Harrell on the left.





Heading on to Greenville, Pitt County we come to the Pitt County Senior Center, a very facility on the outskirts of town.





Meet Maureen McNamara Senior Center Program Director



Our last stop is Adult Center for Enrichment at River Landing in Colfax, Guilford County. Look for the entrance under the red awning.



Multi-purpose program room


And Gwen Flowers in her office stacked high with projects-on-the-go and supplies-at-the-ready.