STARworks celebrates 10 years

STAR — Can you believe it has been 10 years? Ten years of an amazingly artistic journey known as STARworks.

STARworks will celebrate “Ten Years of Creativity” at Central Park NC Annual Gathering on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4-9 p.m. Attendees may try turning a pot on the wheel, blowing glass or forging metal during the STARworks Open Studios program, from 4-6 p.m., before the evening program begins at 5:30 p.m.

The evening program will include live music by Eck the New Manics, a short program about STARworks, locally sourced food and a glass demonstration by Slate Grove and Courtney Dodd. The program, dinner, music and glass demonstration are free. Open Studios is $10 to participate.

“STARworks has come a long way since we first opened in 2005,” said Central Park NC executive director Nancy Gottovi. “The program for the Annual Gathering will show visitors the changes that have taken place over the past 10 years as well as the changes that are yet to come.

“We’re continuously growing and expanding our scope.”

STARworks is a project of Central Park NC, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the local economy by focusing on the cultural arts and natural resources of central North Carolina.

STARworks started out as a simple business incubator concept, and has since evolved into an important center for craft, arts-­related manufacturing and applied arts.

Rather than just focusing on resurrection of a former hosiery mill, STARworks focuses instead on diversification by attracting and developing small businesses that include manufacturing, and art and craft related small businesses that also attract tourism.

“We believe that diversity is critical to any healthy local economy, but especially for small rural communities,” Gottovi said. “We believe it is dangerous to have all your jobs tied up in one large manufacturer, particularly in an age when the average life expectancy of a company might be less than 10 years.”

Through strategic partnerships with other artists, arts organizations and businesses, STARworks has been working to increase the diversity of artistic experiences available by bringing nationally and internationally known artists for demonstrations, classes, lectures and to make artwork. Its programs are targeted to professional makers, young adults and school children of all ages.

Despite launching mere months before the crash of the U.S. economy in 2007, STARworks has managed to create and attract several new small businesses, provide community access studio rental space for creative entrepreneurs, and educational and entrepreneurship programs for youth and adults. Together they have created more than 50 jobs in the creative and manufacturing sectors with average wages currently above the average wage for North Carolina. In addition, these small businesses are deeply committed to ensuring a strong and sustainable economy.

“Though most local people associate STARworks with our annual events that include FireFest and the Glass Pumpkin Patch, STARworks is also developing into a national model for arts­-related entrepreneurial development,” Gottovi said. “For example, STARworks Ceramics is beginning to attract national attention for its exceptional clay products, which brings attention to the connection between North Carolina’s high quality clay materials and the state’s reputation for its pottery.”

STARworks recently has been recognized by Artplace America, a consortium of funders that include the Rockefeller Foundation, Ford Foundation, the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Kresge Foundation, McKnight Foundation and Bloomberg philanthropies, as a national example of “exemplary creative place-making.” STARworks has also been featured in the Harvard Investor, American Craft magazine and, just this month, in the New York Times online magazine for its new innovative design program that links designers and makers to produce high­-end craft products for the home.

Today, STARworks Glass Studio is a bustle of activity with three full-­time employees, interns, resident and visiting artists, studio rentals, high school and college glass-blowing classes, and countless visitors.

The most exciting news is that STARworks will begin renovation of the building in November to remove a failing façade and renovate the historic school building that sits in the center of the former hosiery complex.

“This has been a goal of ours since we took over the building 10 years ago,” Gottovi said. “Though it has taken a long time, we’re excited to finally be able to restore a fine example of the town and county’s history. Once the renovation is complete, STARworks will have a large retail space and an accessible space for public meetings and events, as well as new gallery space, office space, and new and safer facilities for its manufacturing and other businesses.”

The renovation is being undertaken with assistance from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Duke Energy Foundation, Golden LEAF, the Covington Foundation, the Windgate Foundation, grants from the Town of Star and Montgomery County, Wet Dog Glass, Uwharrie Capital Corp and First Bank. Frank Harmon is the architect; locally, he is best known for his design of the North Carolina Pottery Center.

STARworks Celebrates 10 Years

STAR — STARworks is celebrating Ten Years of Creativity at the Central Park NC Annual Gathering on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 4-9 p.m.

The event is divided into two programs. STARworks Open Studios (4-6 p.m.) offers the opportunity to try working with clay, hot glass and metal, all for $10. Experienced instructors will be available at each station to help visitors push their creativity. Information for upcoming classes and workshops at STARworks will also be available.

The evening program, 5:30-9 p.m., will consist of a short program about STARworks, live rock music by Eck the New Manics, glass demonstration by STARworks Glass resident artists Slate Grove and Courtney Dodd and locally sourced food. The evening program is free and open to the public. Beer from Four Saints Brewing Co. in Asheboro will be available for purchase.

Guests may attend both STARworks Open Studios and the evening program, or either program separately. Registration is required and can be completed at www.STARworksNC.eventbrite.com or by calling (910) 428­-9001. For more information, visit www.CentralParkNC.org or www.STARworksNC.org. Register by Oct. 26 to be entered in a drawing to win a STARworks Glass pumpkin (must be present to win).