Information on the Sustainable Living Education Center

The Sustainable Living Education Center, (SLEC), at the Jacksonville Center campus is offering a unique, hands-on educational experience in the construction of a straw bale building. The building was started in 2005 as a class project by Leon Davis, who was a Virginia Tech architectural student at the time. Upon completion, this building will be a SLEC demonstration exhibit. SLEC already has a working wind generator, solar panels and a rain water collection system already in place.

Leon Davis’s interest in green building comes from his past experience working with rammed earth and visiting straw bale structures around the United States. After graduating, Leon spent the following year working on Mt. Rainer in Washington as a climbing guide. Now, before returning to Washington for another climbing season, Leon has returned to Floyd for the next five weeks finishing the plastering on the straw bales.

Since the building process is intended to be educational, if you are interested in straw bale construction and plastering, this is the best time to learn and ask questions. Leon is looking for volunteers to help with the plastering. No experience is necessary and an extra set of hands is always appreciated. Please contact Leon by email at leonvernondavis@gmail.com or call The Center at 745-2784 to leave a message for him. Volunteers should bring a lunch and a pair of durable rubber gloves (not the dishwashing kind).

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hi everyone
hope you are well

here are Chris C. and Chris L. playing in the silo yesterday

many thanks to all who made this weekend's events at the Jacksonville Center so interesting and fun.

bye, have a great day and thanks for reading. -Suzy

Press release from Studio Row & the Traces Library

For immediate release

The Jacksonville Center welcomes you to a reception on Friday, March 23

Studio artists at Jacksonville Center will hold a New Works reception on Friday, March 23 from 5-7 pm. Glass artist Linda Osborne will highlight her personal bead collection and her wide variety of jewelry and handmade bead items. Sarah McCarthy, home from displaying at the New Jersey arts and crafts show, will show her gas fired pottery vases, bowls, glasses and tableware. Wood fired pottery will be just a part of McCabe Coolidge's functional works display. And Karen Day will show handmade books.

In addition guest artists will share the studio spaces. Look for Gretchen St. Lawrence's pastels, Anne Vaughn's jewelry, Glenda and Don George with shibori fabric and wood working. Traces Library Open House will be highlighted by Suzy Nees and live music will be provided by Billy Miller.

Traces Library installation sites during this event include studio 119, the silo conservatory, and the Maple, Oak, and Kentucky Coffee rooms in the Center's residence building. Leon Davis will also be answering questions and hosting tours during this event to introduce visitors to the Jacksonville Center's straw bale building, which is in the final stages of completion.

Refreshments offered in abundance, all at Jacksonville Center just south of town on Route 8. This is a free event, and all are welcome!

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Discover your local ambient library!

Ideapark.org press release
For immediate release - March 15, 2007

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The Traces library for creative literacy is currently housed in studio 119 and in the student residence building at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, Virginia. Traces is a public art project and ambient library designed to foster awareness about land care, cultural conservation, and sustainable, compassionate living.

From now until April 1, visitors at the Traces reading room in studio 119 will find artwork, writings, antique maps and locally made musical instruments on display along with furnishings from the collection of the Traces library. This exhibit is open to the public from 9 to 5 on weekdays and noon to 5 on Saturdays.

Other items from the Traces library collection are also installed in the Oak and Maple rooms of the Jacksonville Center's residence building, known to some as the Little House at the Jacksonville Center. The Oak and Maple rooms of the Little House will be open to visitors on March 23 and April 14, 2007. Music samples, ceramic work, Japanese handicrafts, and stone sculpture are just a few of the exhibit items to be found in the Oak and Maple rooms during this installation.

On the evening of Friday, March 23, 2007, a free public reception will be held at the Jacksonville Center to celebrate a collection of new works now on display on Studio Row on the first level of the main building at the Jacksonville Center. These works include handmade books, photography, drawings, ceramic work and much more. Live music and refreshments are being offered during this event, and all are welcome.

The Jacksonville Center is located about 1/2 mile south of the stoplight in Floyd. For more information on the Jacksonville Center, please call 540-745-2784 or visit their website at www.jacksonvillecenter.org.

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images - scenes from the Traces almost-spring exhibit & celebration on February 24 at the Jacksonville Center.

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Spring is nigh! Come celebrate with us.

- o -...- o -...- o - - o- - o -...- o -...- o -

You are invited

to an art & music party
at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, Virginia
on Saturday, February 24 2007
from noon to 5 pm.

Hosted by audiopark.org and friends of the
Traces library for creative literacy

All are welcome! Please join us as we...

...enjoy old & new music from Virginia and around the world

...trade art cards etc. and browse through the
Traces library collection

...celebrate democracy, independent learning,
community ties, and the miracle of Spring.

If you like, bring: CD's, musical instruments,
art cards, barter goods, snack items, friends!

Free live music will begin at 2 pm.
Hope to see you there!

Location: Jacksonville Center residence building,
221 Parkway Lane South, Floyd, VA

To learn more about the Jacksonville Center
in Floyd, please call 540-745-2784 or visit
jacksonvillecenter.org.

To learn more about this event, please visit
audiopark.org > news.

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News post from RTM

hi everyone
I just read something in the Floyd Press about new things happening with the Round the Mountain Artisan Network...below is a bit of copy.
Many thanks to everyone who made the Winterfest such a fun event.
-Suzy

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Abingdon - Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Network (RTM) is now recruiting membership from throughout the region's artisan communities.

Diana Blackburn, Executive Director of this non-profit organization, is excited to be at this point.

"The Steering Committee, Board of Directors, and staff of RTM, along with artisans in the region have been working toward this movement for over a year.

RTM defines artisans as "people who make handmade objects without the use of kits, commercial molds, and whose primary components are not manufactured. This includes producers of agricultural specialties and farmers who have a direct connection with the culture and heritage of the region."

Blackburn emphasizes, "The term "artisan" is widely used and we worked to refine the common definition to be more specific to those that we serve and to be inclusive to the many creative and talented craftspeople and farmers in our service area."

Round the Mountain serves the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe, and the cities of Bristol VA, Galax, Norton, and Radford.

For more information on Round the Mountain, please call 276-492-2079.

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tags for this post - rtm artisan network