ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, May 24, 1996 TAG: 9605240026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: out & about
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
When you hear the sound of fabric whipping about in the breeze, think of the woman whose face was beaten black and blue. Listen for her cries.
Don't ignore them.
Violence against women won't just go away.
The Clothesline Project - an effort by the Appalachian Women's Alliance to draw attention to victims of domestic abuse - will be on display in Floyd County this weekend. It's part of an event called "Women Speaking Out" at the New River Community Action Center.
Women will "speak out" by sharing their stories, poetry, songs and crafts from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the center on U.S. 221. Beginning at noon, women are invited to come and participate in the Clothesline Project by creating their own T-shirt designs. Survivors of abuse, as well as friends and families, are encouraged to express their experience of violence. The T-shirts will be displayed on the clothesline.
Sunday's gathering will welcome the Appalachian Women's Caravan, an outreach intended to meet women in their communities.
"We want to go where women live," explains Meredith Dean, regional coordinator of the Appalachian Women's Alliance. "Appalachian women face so many barriers - including isolation, poverty and abuse - the caravan is a visible, tangible symbol that we can overcome those barriers."
Before stopping in Floyd, the caravan will visit women in Dickenson and Wise counties. From Floyd, the caravan will travel to Northfork, W.Va., to help sponsor an event focusing on woman-centered health care.
The Appalachian Women's Caravan brings together women from Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio by providing these community gatherings. Sunday's event in Floyd is free and open to everyone.
For more information, call Meredith Dean at 381-5033 or Amie Pilalas at 745-2102.
SMOKE SIGNALS: Look for them over Riner this weekend.
Rebirth of a Nation, a local committee working to promote awareness, education and understanding of the American Indian culture, will have a powwow today through Sunday at Brush Creek Farm in Riner. The event features intertribal dancing, drumming and more. Beautiful native crafts will be on sale all weekend, too.
The Red Tail Singers will be host drum, and head man and woman dancers will be announced daily. Events will begin at noon each day.
Brush Creek Farm is on Virginia 8. To get there from Interstate 81, take Exit 114. Primitive camping will be allowed for the dancers, traders and participants who assist in the powwow.
Admission for spectators is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. Rebirth of a Nation also will be accepting money, food and clothing for those living on Indian reservations.
SEEDLINGS: That's the title of the latest exhibit at Virginia Tech's Perspective Gallery. It continues through Sunday in Squires Student Center.
The show features 43 pieces of art by 36 of artist Barbara Capps' young students. Capps even has one of her own paintings in the display.
"I had to pick out my best," Capps said, "because if I don't show my best, people will say these kids should be teaching me!"
Artists involved in this show range in age from 8 to 18. Their work represents a variety of styles and media.
Capps, who has been teaching in Christiansburg for 11 years, said organizing the show has been a rewarding - and exerting - undertaking.
"This is the most satisfying thing I've ever done," she noted, "and probably the last for a while."
A reception for the artists will be held Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. Children in the Renaissance Music Academy will perform arrangements by Judi Schneck at the event. Refreshments will be served.
Best of all, those talented young people will be there waiting to hear you "oooooh" and "aaaaaah" their accomplishments.
SPEAKING OF YOUNG TALENT .... It's that time of year when the kids around us are showing off. They're demonstrating what they've learned all year.
Shows, concerts, recitals - make sure you get out to see all that talent you have in your own back yard.
A couple of dance recitals are on tap (literally!) this weekend. Youngsters in Dancer's Dreams Studio will present "The Magic of Dance" on Saturday and kids from The Dance Place will present "It's Showtime!" on Sunday. Each recital starts at 7 p.m. in Christiansburg High School. For details, see the "Stage" events in today's Arts & Entertainment calendar.
In Blacksburg, Stephanie Kraige is presenting her senior organ recital Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. After studying piano for 11 years, Stephanie started playing organ last year. Katherine Burkhart is her teacher.
A Merit Scholarship finalist, Stephanie is a whiz at Blacksburg High School and an active member of Blacksburg United Methodist Church, where she accompanies both the junior and senior high choirs. She plans to attend the University of Virginia this fall.
Saturday's recital is free and open to the public.
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