Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation

June 2005


Old River Bridge Celebrates 75 Years

SCHF joins with the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Old Mississippi River Bridge.  Festivities will include an anniversary dinner, a student art exhibit, and conclude with a stroll on the bridge Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 to noon.

The Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation will host the Anniversary Dinner in conjunction with the Bridge Commission of Warren County in the SCHF Auditorium on Thursday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m.  Speakers will discuss the bridge, its architecture and its contributions to Vicksburg and Warren County.  Tickets are $20 and reservations are required. (601-636-5010)

SCHF hosted a student art contests in honor of the anniversary.  Entries will be exhibited at the Cultural Center during the month of June.  Students from schools across Warren County offered their artistic impression of the Old Mississippi River Bridge.  Three winners will be selected and announced on the bridge in the June 25th ceremony.

Event sponsors include the Vicksburg Warren County Alliance, ABMB Engineers, HNTC Corp. and the Vicksburg Post.

For more information regarding the Anniversary Celebration or for dinner reservations, please call 601-636-5010.



Mini Monday Art Camp

The children’s multicultural art camp was well received, but it was only one week.  This summer we plan to keep the fun going all summer long with the Mini Monday Art Camps!

Every Monday during the months of June and July (except July 4 and 18) from  2 - 4 p.m. we will host the mini camps.

Students will work on a variety of art projects including painting, collage, crafts, drawing, ceramics, and sculpture.

Students do not have to commit to all sessions.  They may attend as few as one class or they may attend all classes.

Classes are open to any child age 5 - 12.  A $5 fee per child, per session covers all materials.  Reservations are suggested.

For more information or for registration, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997.


Adult Workshop: Altered Books

Do you want a low-pressure way to be artistic and creative?  Do you want to have fun creating art?  Do you have a lot of pictures and brochures from trips you have taken that you don't know what to do with? Make them into a book. Or, do you want to reflect how you are feeling? Well this is it...take the altered book workshop with Nancy A. Mitchell and enter a realm of adventure and fun.

The original altered book is a palimpsest. In the eleventh century, Italian monks recycled old vellum manuscripts by scraping off the ink and adding new text and illustrations to the blank pages to create a new book.

What's an altered book? It’s a book that has been embellished, decorated, painted, cut, torn, stitched, glued, printed, collaged, rubber-stamped, you name it, to turn it into an art object. You can develop compositions or themes or you can just follow your creative flow! There are no rules just the limits of your imagination.

You can create altered books to serve as a personal journal, scrapbooks, gifts, or keepsakes. The choices are unlimited.

Materials you need:

1) An old book, of course. The pages cannot be yellowed and brittle.

2) Any paints or glazes you may have - Paintbrushes, glue, tape, rubber-stamping materials, hole punches.

3) Collage images - old magazines, calendars, and even junk mail! Find images and materials that appeal to you.

4) Three-dimensional embellishments - buttons, puzzle pieces, game pieces, old jewelry, coins, beads and fibers.

Glue, paint, stamping supplies, and other embellishments will be provided, but it is good to have as many choices as possible. Who knows where your imagination will take you!

Reservations are required.  Two session workshop, June 10 -11.  The fee for the class is $30 for SCHF members and $35 for nonmembers.  Space is limited, so call today!  To register or for more information, please call the Southern Cultural Heritage Center at  601-631-2997.


Ballroom Dance

The SCHF offers ballroom dance classes monthly.  James Frechette, owner of Applause Dance Factory in Ridgeland, teaches classes in ballroom, Latin, country/western, swing and many other styles of dance.

Sessions in June will focus on the Rumba.  Class will meet Sundays, June 12 and 26 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Both individuals and couples are welcome.  The fee is $20 per person for each two hour session.  For more information, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997.


Southern Book Club

The Southern Book Club meets the third Wednesday of each month.  There is no fee to attend and it is open to the public.  The group focuses on Southern authors and subjects, but is open to any good read.  Book and author suggestions are welcomed.

For June, the Southern Book Club will discuss The Broker by John Grisham at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15.

Please call the SCHF office for meeting location or for more information.


Adult Workshop: Whimsical Creatures in Clay

Kathy Gibson returns to SCHF this June to lead a creative  ceramic course on whimsical creatures.  Participants will learn the art of sculpting animals, fish, or fantasy creatures in clay.

The two-session adult workshop begins on Thursday, June 23 from 6 - 8 p.m. where the actual sculpture will be formed.   After firing the pieces, participants will return on Thursday, June 30 from 6 - 8 p.m. to learn glazing technique for their piece.  Sculptures will be fired once more and ready to pick up anytime the following week.

The fee for the course is $45 for nonmembers and $40 for SCHF members.  Fee includes all supplies.

The workshop will be in the academy building, please use the courtyard entrance.

Reservations are required.  For more information or to register, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997.


Weekend-Long Celebration for the 4th

Four Seasons of the Arts, the Vicksburg organization responsible for the Chamber Music Festival and other seasonal performances and events, is planning a huge weekend long patriotic celebration leading up to the 4th of July.  SCHF will partner with Four Seasons to host two of the weekend’s events.

Friday, July 1, The Navy Band will perform an outdoor patriotic concert on the steps of the Old Courthouse Museum at 7:00 p.m.  Bring your lawn chairs and your blankets to settle in for a great performance.

During the heat of the day on Saturday, July 2, come to the  cool SCHF Auditorium for The Navy Band’s Swing Concert at 2:30 p.m. to be followed with cake  and lemonade.  We’ll be sure to leave space for a dance floor!

Sunday, July 3, SCHF will host the Myles Family Gospel Singers followed by an Old-time Ice Cream Social at 4:00 p.m.

Monday, July 4, the festivities begin with the Miss Mississippi Contestant Parade and Autograph Party in downtown Vicksburg.  Then the Mississippi Symphony Holiday Orchestra will present patriotic music followed by Ameristar Casino’s...

...Firework Extravaganza Over the River

Daytime festivities will also include:

  • Riverboat Tours

  • Historic Home Tours

  • Historic Reenactments

Be on the lookout for more information soon.  This will be one weekend you will not want to miss in downtown Vicksburg!


Multicultural Arts Camp

SCHF is proud to bring back the Vicksburg Multicultural Arts Camp for children this summer.  Last year’s camp was such a success that we immediately began to plan for summer 2005.

During the camp, children discover the art, dance, music and cuisine of many of the cultures that make up Vicksburg.

By studying cultural differences and similarities through the arts, students will have the opportunity to learn new artistic techniques while developing an appreciation for the traditions and customs of others.

Included in the cultures to be studied this year are Chinese, German, Mexican, and Northwest African (Morocco, Algeria, and Mali).

The camp will culminate with a public performance and exhibit on the last day in the SCHF Auditorium.

The 2005 Multicultural Arts Camp will be mornings, July 18 - 22 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.  The camp is open to any child age 7 to 12.  The $50 fee per child includes all supplies, materials, and a snack each day.

Space is limited and reservations are required.  For more information or to register, please call the SCHF office at 601-631-2997.


SCHF Summer Volunteers Needed

SCHF is in need of summer volunteers.  No matter what your interests, we have a place for you.

Here are a few of our current needs:

  • Gardening - The Green Hills Garden Club has volunteered to plant and maintain the courtyard beds, but there are many other areas on the block in need of attention.

  • Youth Programming - Volunteers needed to work with the children on their art projects and  assist the instructors with the mini camps.

  • Multicultural Camp - Volunteers needed to help with the first and last day of camp and with refreshments.

  • Administrative - Volunteers needed for folding and labeling newsletters, stuffing envelopes, etc.

  • Preservation - Volunteers needed to assist with preparations to  the Cobb House and the archives room.


Home ] Newsletter ] Past Events ] Membership ] Photo Gallery ] [ Event Photos ] Links ] About Us! ] Contact Us! ] Find Us! ]

Technology Partners