April 2025

Foothills Photography Showdown Closing Reception

Drop by The Wisdom Table to view and vote for your favorite photographs during their regular hours, Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30–9:00 PM.

The Awards Reception will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 2:00–4:00 PM, where guests can enjoy complimentary light bites and water. Wine and beer will be available for purchase.

Votes will be tallied at 3:30 PM, with prizes awarded in three categories: Urban, Nature & Wildlife, and Portrait.

Patrons who purchased artwork on display may collect their purchases after voting concludes at 3:30 pm.

A special thanks to Don Hudson and Will Shover of MAXX Opportunities for sponsoring the contest, and to the talented photographers who entered: Melanie Bowles, Daniel Ferguson, Phisher Helton, Amy Jeffers, Andrea Jarrell, John Mikeal, Rick Stevens, and Lisa Wilmoth.

Foothills Theatre Reader’s Theatre presents…

Rick Lowell Private Eye “The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of”

A detective story set in 1942 Los Angeles

April 11-12, 7:30 pm

Main Amphitheater 257 Standard St. Elkin NC 28621

FREE Admission | Donations Appreciated

Nathanael Absher Exhibit

On display April 9th through June 28th.

Available for viewing and purchase during The Wisdom Table regular hours Wednesday through Saturday 5:30-9 pm

Artist Reception | Fourth Friday, May 23, 6-8 pm

The Wisdom Table 101 E. Main St. Elkin, NC

“These works explore themes of transformation, drawing inspiration from the music of Mahler, Schubert, and the operas of Strauss and Wagner. Through paintings and drawings, they delve into concepts of love, death, grief, apotheosis, immortality, and beauty. Picture stepping onto a magical island where everything feels radically different—hearts either soaring or being weighed down, where the boundaries between possibility and reality blur, and where even humor might unexpectedly appear.” -N. Absher

Do you play the violin, or have you ever dreamed of making your own? You can—no prior woodworking experience required! Since 2021, the Foothills Arts Center has offered 18-week violin-making courses led by master luthier Joe Thrift. More than 30 students have successfully completed the program and built their own instruments.

While starting something new can feel daunting, our program has an impressive 85% student retention rate—proof that students find the experience both rewarding and enjoyable. To make it even easier to begin, we’re offering 50% off the regular prorated tuition for the final four weeks of this semester.

Take advantage of this opportunity and start your journey into luthiery! Join us from April 15th or 17th through May 6th or 8th.

Our clay and traditional woodworking programs are currently on break. If you’d like to be added to the email notification list for either program, please email info@foothillsarts.org

Craft Demo Day & Instructor Meet & Greet

Curious about Clay, Traditional Woodworking, or Violin Making? Join us on Saturday, May 3, from 1–4 PM at 410 Memorial Park Drive, Elkin, to meet our instructors, explore our traditional craft semesters, and experience live demonstrations. You'll even have the chance to participate in hands-on activities!

Volunteer Garden Workday

Help enhance the beauty of the Foothills Arts Center on Saturday, May 24, at 10 AM! Bring your weeding and pruning tools to assist with clearing beds and shaping shrubs. Prefer to contribute plants? We welcome donations of perennials, shrubs, ground cover, or divided plants from your own garden. If donating multiple plants, we recommend providing multiples of the same variety to help ensure a cohesive look.

• Installation of our new sprinkler monitoring system will begin in April and take approximately one week to complete. ($13,570)

• Remaining main & lower floor electrical work will resume thereafter and take approximately two months to complete. ($73,500)

• Annual Sprinker and air quality testing will then be completed before occupancy is granted.

• The remaining scope of work is still on schedule at this time for a planned reopening for students and studio artists in August, and the general public shortly thereafter.