Masterpiece Mingle

Masterpiece Mingle

Friday, March 16, 7-9pm

The McKinney Center in Jonesborough has created an event filled with barbeque, Bluegrass, and cocktails — but the best part is at the end of the night, you get to take home a piece of art crafted by a local artist.

The McKinney Center is hosting Masterpiece Mingle which offers an elegant evening of food, music and you’ll leave with a piece of the exhibit.

The funds from Masterpiece Mingle will go to the McKinney Center’s Scholarship program. The scholarship program allows children, whose families struggle financially, to take a class at the Center at no cost to them. “The average income for families who receive the scholarship is $19,450.” Said Hammons. “The US average poverty level is $24,600. Those numbers say a lot, the McKinney Center scholarship families are $5,000 below the US average. This demonstrates a need for kids to be involved in the arts.”

The quality of life of a community is largely determined by the entertainment and educational opportunities, as well as the cultural activities available. By creating opportunities for youth and adults to nurture and stimulate their creative minds through the performing arts and special events in the community, Jonesborough is creating a more exciting community in which to live and work.

The McKinney Center has a goal of raising $6,000 for their scholarship fund this year. They have already fundraised 40% of this goal through their Go Fund Me campaign and are hoping Masterpiece Mingle can help them to obtain that goal.

At the fundraising event, Scott Wild, an American singer/songwriter specializing in vintage folk rock, will be performing along with the Sulphur Spring String Dippers, bringing along their old-timey, traditional sound.

A menu of light refreshments from the Catering Company includes BBQ Chicken Sliders, Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Spinach Artichoke Dip and Spanakopita. Sweet biscuits from Maple Street Biscuit Company will also be available along with a Tennessee Hills Distillery cash bar.

McKinney Center Director, Theresa Hammons, said this event spotlights the wonderful artists and work that comes out of this region. “It’s very easy to stereotype East Tennessee.” Hammons said. “We should be proud of our craft heritage, but a lot of people don’t associate East Tennessee with contemporary art.”

The McKinney Center has hopes that they can be a stepping stone in boosting that image.

“I am hoping that when people come to the event they will say, “Wow! That’s something you’d see in a gallery in New York or DC.’” Said Hammons. “We have some really amazing artists who make their living as professional artists here in the region. This is a really good opportunity to afford a piece of their work.” Masterpiece Mingle tickets are $25 until March 3 and goes up to $35 after that date. This event opens the door for traditions in allowing the public to obtain high-quality pieces of art that can be passed down.

For more information and tickets, call 423.753.1010, Jonesborough.com/tickets or visit the McKinney Center on Facebook.