Registration begins April 1st and is free. May 3rd class is limited to 8. Please call the school to register 828/369-4080 M-F 10-2 and ask for Gayle.

Registration begins April 1st and is free. May 2nd class is limited to 6 students.. Please call the school to register 828/369-4080 M-F 10-2 and ask for Gayle.

Youth Art Month is a celebration of the visual arts that began as Children’s Art Month in 1962 through The Crayon and Watercolor Institute (now Art and Creative Materials Institute, or ACMI). Today, the Council for Art Education (CFAE) administers the program at the national level and showcases the positive impact and association between art teachers and students at the K-12 level.  The month-long celebration emphasizes the positive influences of visual art education not found in standard core curriculum subjects. Art shows, special exhibits, fundraisers, and school and community activities take place annually, traditionally during March. The theme this year is “Healing Through Color”.

Since 2019, the Macon County Art Association has invited the Macon County art teachers in grades K – 12 to select student artwork for a YAM exhibit at the Uptown Gallery. This year the homeschool students have been invited to participate and with the expanded show, it has been moved to Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center in the auditorium from March 1 – 31.  A reception will be held on Saturday, March 15 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. that is open to the public with refreshments served.  The Arts and Heritage Center is open from 9 – 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 

 On the radio show, “Citizens Making a Difference”, Gordon Mercer will be interviewing individuals involved to explain more about the impact the arts make on students. It will be broadcast on Saturday, February 22, at 8:00 a.m., on WFSC – 104.9 FM, WNCC – 104.1 FM, and 1050 AM. 

Also in Highlands, in celebration of YAM, Stephanie Hudson, art instructor at the Highlands Schools, will have her student’s artwork, both 2-D and 3-D, on display at the Hudson Library.  

Hailing from Durham, NC, Jon Shain is a veteran singer-songwriter who’s been turning heads for years with his words, his fiery acoustic guitar work, and his evolved musical style – combining improvised piedmont blues with bluegrass, swing, and ragtime. Jon has released nine solo albums to date, along with two albums with duo partner FJ Ventre, a Jon Shain Trio live album, and one album of co-writes with Joe Newberry. Shain’s newest album, Restless Soul Syndrome, recorded at Good Luck Studios this past year, will be released April 9, 2024. Shain is also the author of the music books Gettin’ Handy With the Blues – a Tribute to the Legacy of W.C. Handy and Jon Shain’s Fingerstyle Guitar Method, both published by Mel Bay Publications. In 2019, Shain won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in the solo/duo category.

Over the last several years, Shain has headlined listening rooms both as a solo and with duo partner FJ Ventre throughout the US and he's done two solo tours in Europe. He has opened shows for John Hiatt, Keb’ Mo’, Little Feat, and many other roots legends. When Shain is not recording, producing other artists, or performing, he stays busy giving private instruction in guitar, and teaching group workshops in songwriting and blues guitar.

FJ Ventre began playing music with Jon in 1982 when they met in high school and have developed a brotherly connection that continues to this day. Ventre went to University of Massachusetts-Lowell, earning a B.A. in Music Performance and Sound Recording and remained for some time in the Boston area, performing in the city's vibrant music scene. Since relocating to Chapel Hill, NC in 2000, Ventre has performed with his own group The Swang Brothers, as well as with Chris Stamey, Wes Collins, Huzzah, and a who's who of NC music groups. In addition to being a sought-after bassist, Ventre spends his time behind the mixing board, producing and engineering at his own Good Luck Studio as well as writing his own songs.

Starting January 25th and going through February 15th (4 classes total) on Saturdays 10am-12pm at the Cowee School. This class is free, but limited to 10 people. Pattern, yarn, knitting needles and online tutorial and written material to be provided. Please call the school (828/369-4080 and ask for Gayle) to register.

This class is geared to those who have no previous experience with knitting. Come learn this ancient art at your own pace. There will be one-on-one help and support as needed during class. Outside of class you will have access to a tutorial to refresh your memory on what was taught in class.