Art Springs to Life in Manassas

By KRISTINA SCHNACK KOTLUS

MANASSAS, Va. — There was some drama going on at the Hylton Performing Arts Center on Sunday, along with some quilting, painting, singing, and even some belly dancing, as the Prince William County Arts Council presented their annual “Arts Alive!” program.

The program featured an interactive station for children from Edgemoor Art Studio, performances from, among others, the Pied Piper Theatre and Prince William Community Orchestra, vendors from various mediums including photography, jewelry, painting, and quilting, and an outdoor mobile stage courtesy of the Prince William County Park Authority.

Additionally, Tracee Wilkins of WRC-TV and Bob Madigan of WTOP-FM were on hand to present the Seefeldt Awards for Arts Excellence. Cindy Brookshire, a freelance writer and editor from Manassas, was one of five award winners (all winners are listed below). Arts Liaison Kathy Bentz compared the event to a “twenty-ring circus”, but said that the partnerships between the arts council and the community make the event a success.

Seefeldt Award winners:

Kathy McLaren, Outstanding Volunteer
Passionate about the art of quilting, Kathy is a member of the Cabin Branch Quilters Guild, the Stone House Quilters Guild, and Northern Virginia Modern Quilt Guild. She is a long-time volunteer and former Board member with the Arts Council. She has taught beginner quilting classes to various groups, including the home school community. She has been a key player in coordinating the popular annual quilt show hosted by the two guilds.

Kathy is a creator, teacher, and even a nationally respected judge of her art form. She has even participated in a quilting exchange with advocates of the art in Japan. Last year, she collected and delivered over 140 quilts to ACTS Turning Points. In partnership with the Creative and Performing Arts Center, she also provided 25 quilts for preemies at Sentara Potomac Hospital.

Gainesville Ballet School, Outstanding Arts Organization
Maria-Monica founded the Gainesville Ballet School in 2005, with a goal to provide the highest quality of ballet training. The school offers dance instruction for students from age 3 to adult. Today, the school has nearly 170 students and 27 ballerinas in its Youth Ballet Company, drawing students and audiences from the entire region: From Bealeton to Burke, Front Royal to Fredericksburg, the District of Columbia and beyond. The current season symbolizes the growth and distinctiveness of Gainesville Ballet School, including the establishment of an inaugural spring production; performance of the first ballet at Patriot High School; the school’s first production of Coppelia; and increasing ticket holders for their Nutcracker performance by 40% in just one year.

Sheyna Burt, Arts Advocate
Sheyna has served on the Arts Council Board of Directors for several years, serving during a time of tremendous growth and change. For the past two years, she has served as Arts Council Vice Chair, leading the Marketing Committee. Sheyna’s dynamic presence has served the arts well: She served as one of the emcees during Arts Alive 2011. She spoke before the Board of County Supervisors on behalf of the Arts Council. She presented “Arts Council 101” to this year’s Leadership Prince William class, receiving such comments as “charismatic” and “by far the best speaker of the day.” 90% of the participants said they had a better understanding of the Arts Council and its mission after Sheyna’s presentation.

Sheyna is also a musician and a leader for the Old Bridge Chamber Orchestra. During the past year, because of her volunteer service with the World Doctors Orchestra, Sheyna traveled with the orchestra and played violin during a three-city tour in South Africa. She has spread her volunteerism and her passion for the arts worldwide.

Prince William Living, Outstanding Business Supporter of the Arts
Prince William Living has wholeheartedly adopted the arts as part of its mission. Every issue of the magazine includes at least one article about a local artist, arts organization, event or business. Since the magazine began publishing in early 2011, coverage of the arts has included more than 15 arts-related articles and many listings on its event calendar. The magazine’s outreach is not limited to print – it also reaches a broad audience via its thoughtful use of social media. Its Facebook page alone has more than 1,700 “likes”. As the area’s premier lifestyle magazine, this publication showcases the best of our community and highlights our brand as a growing center for the arts.

Cindy Brookshire, Seefeldt Pioneer Award
Cindy has worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the local literary community and find ways to nurture and cultivate local writers. Last year, she reached out to various writers and writing groups and launched Write by the Rails. In less than a year, Write by the Rails has grown from a group of four—meeting at a local coffee shop—to an active and vibrant group of over 70 writers. Cindy formed a Facebook led various efforts to facilitate communication about and between the local writers. She has organized various networking and neighborhood events, sponsored readings, and coordinated book signings. Cindy led the membership’s efforts to join the Arts Council and participate in events like Arts Alive. As one of Cindy’s four nominators said: “The Prince William County Arts Council is richer for its inclusion of local authors among its artists. And Prince William County authors are richer for Cindy Brookshire’s advocacy on our behalf.”

-Award winners and information submitted