As part of their Good Works community grants program, the Hamilton Walmart presented officials from the Northwest Alabama Arts Council with a $500 community grant on Thursday, January 20.  Monies will be used for art-related projects and programs in the Marion County area.

Shown left to right:  Elaine Bartlett, Walmart assistant manager; NWAAC officers John Boyett, secretary; Tyna Pyburn, president; Ed Minter, treasurer; Carrie Bolton, vice-president; Zach Wiginton, board member; Deb Cochran, past president; and Josh Markham, Walmart assistant manager.

On Friday, November 12, officers from the Northwest Alabama Arts Council presented a check for $1,500 to the Hamilton High School Aggie Band in support of their trip to the 2011 Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana, in January.  These funds were raised by the arts council at this year's Buttahatchee River Fall Fest (BRFF).

The arts council raises funds through its administration of the BRFF's arts & crafts section with proceeds mandated by the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the festival, to be used in support arts-related programs in the Hamilton schools.  This year the arts council voted unanimously to provide all festival proceeds from the BRFF to the HHS band for this "once in a lifetime" opportunity to perform at the Sugar Bowl, and based upon their outstanding performances in their field of performing arts.

Shown presenting the check are: (left to right) arts council treasurer Ed Minter, band director Nathan Garner, arts council secretary and BRFF coordinator John Boyett, and arts council vice-president Carrie Bolton.

The arts council congratulates Mr. Garner and the Aggie band on their selection and outstanding achievements and wishes them continued success in representing Hamilton High School, the city of Hamilton, and the local area.

Photo Courtesy of Ginger Avery, Journal Record

Photo improvement seminar to be held Nov. 5-6
Beginner and advanced classes still available
By KATHRYN HIRSCHFELD
Staff Writer, Journal Record

Courtesy of The Journal Record

HAMILTON - Due to the great response among participants at the first photography improvement seminar in June, the Northwest Alabama Arts Council (NWAAC) will once again team with the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce to offer another course to interested persons on November 5-6.

Former Kodak regional manager and photography instructor John Dersham of Fort Payne will return to offer his expertise again, with both a beginner and advanced seminar on Friday night and a photo shoot on Saturday morning.

Friday night’s segment will be held at the Econo Lodge in Hamilton, with the beginner’s photography seminar at 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. and the advanced photographer’s seminar at 7:30-8:45.
NWAAC publicity officer Marla Minter said, “If you did not attend Mr. Dersham's first seminar, you are encouraged to attend the beginning photographers’ seminar.  This is not a ‘how to work your camera’ seminar.  A good portion of the beginners’ seminar discusses lighting, angles, composition, etc.

“You can register for either or both.  The fee covers both seminars, if you wish to attend both.”

On Saturday, a rural photo shoot will take place from 7:30 a.m. - noon in areas surrounding Hamilton.

“Photographers will be able to receive personal instruction from Mr. Dersham ‘out in the field,’” noted Minter.

The cost is $10 for arts council and chamber members and $20 for non-members. Fees will be collected on-site.

There are only a few spaces remaining, so interested persons should contact Minter at 921-3632 or Dana Scott at 921-4444 to reserve their spot.

More information on the photo seminar, including photos by Dersham and seminar attendees from June, can be found in the Community Arts Programs section at the art council’s website at www.northwestalabamaarts.org.

KATHRYN HIRSCHFELD/STAFF, Journal Record
‘Baby’ and John are back by popular demand
Former Kodak regional manager and photography instructor John Dersham of Fort Payne will be returning to Hamilton on Nov. 5-6 to lead another photo-improvement seminar, sponsored by the Northwest Alabama Arts Council and the Hamilton Area Chamber of Commerce. Dersham was photographed with “Baby,” his 8x10 Toyo M field camera, during June’s photo seminar, which all of the attendees said they thoroughly enjoyed.

KATHRYN HIRSCHFELD/STAFF, Journal Record
Wells Fargo donates $1,000 to arts council
Wells Fargo Bank in Hamilton donated $1,000 to the Northwest Alabama Arts Council (NWAAC) on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Shown are (from left) Wells Fargo Winfield store manager Karen Inman, Wells Fargo district manager Lori Powers, NWAAC president Tyna Pyburn and Wells Fargo Hamilton store manager Beth Dodd. Powers noted that during Wells Fargo’s recent “Days of Giving” campaign, the company donated approximately $170,000 to organizations like the arts council. After its recent conversion, Wells Fargo now has 170 stores, with more than 4,000 employees in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.