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

Faces of Parcel Post - Part 2

It's been awhile since we visited our friends at Autumn Care of Biscoe.

Now that things are back to normal there, it is high time we check in and meet the newest member of their group. Last week's session, kicking off Unit 3 was ushered in with a beautiful snow fall accompanied by Imogene's rendition of 'Let It Snow'.

Let's give a warm welcome to Bill and a big hello to everyone in Biscoe!


Bill Moore, hard at work on his new box


Willie Boddy


Larry Turner


Irene Brewer (R) in discussion with Connie Greene (L)


Sara Brown (L) working alongside Ruth Morton (R)

A Week in the Life of Parcel Post: Tuesday

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday!

Step if you will onto the magic carpet and come along with me to UHC Ramseur and Autumn Care of Biscoe.

If you're just joining us, here's the scoop: For this whole week, we'll be using this blog -and our imaginations - to transport ourselves to a new Parcel Post site each day. By following along together we can all imagine ourselves on Tuesdays, joining all the participating artists at UHC Ramseur and Autumn Care of Biscoe as they gather for their latest session.

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



Irene Saunders


Mary Stutts


Wavel Lawson

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.

The Faces of Parcel Post - Part 1

Parcel Post sessions began 3 weeks ago. Starting anything, especially something new, takes fortitude and courage yet staff, volunteers and participating artists collectively leapt into their creative processes with grace and excitement.

In that very first session art parcels were given a foundation layer of primer and experimentation with primary colors. It was amazing to see the variety of ways participating artists started off their parcels - swirling brush strokes, extra thick coats of primer, vibrant yellow, subtle shades of deep reds and light tints of blue. In one session we had already begun the transformation of our simple cardboard boxes into the rich beginnings of artworks.

The remainder of this post will introduce several of the participating artists, volunteers and staff members. We look forward to continuing to introduce project participants as Parcel Post continues.

Beginning at Pitt County Senior Center, meet Alice Farmer ...


and Patricia Clemons ...


Below is Judy Jones (L) with Beki Purvis (R), MSW student at ECU
and one of two wonderful student placements, generously facilitated by
Holly Garriott and Heather White at the Pitt County Arts Council.


The second student is Jasmine Simpson, here with participating artist

Sonia Lopez on the right.



Next meet Merritt Clark (L), here with staff member Beth Harrell
at the Grace Martin Senior Center.


And Grace Rue (L) with Charles Mason (R)



At UHC Ramseur, meet Wavel Lawson ..


... and Ruby Estridge


... and Becky Bowman



A group shot at Autumn Care of Biscoe - we'll meet group members
individually in future posts.


Here are a couple to start us off - Irene Brewer in action ...


And Marie Crisco (L) with Willie Boddy (R)



The group at Wayne County Services on Aging, led by the lovely Beverly Williams, whose favorite color is, you guessed it!, pink. Can you spot her?


Amelia Sanchez (R) sharing her box story with Mary Taylor (L), a long-time volunteer in the Memory Loss Respite Program known for her dedication and compassion.


Margaret Bell and Bynum Owens hard at work on their art parcels.


And me, sandwiched between Bynum Owens on the left and Hattie Batts on the right.

Looking forward to introducing the faces of Guilford county.

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.