Painting Bluegrass: Artist to Paint the Bands During "Kickin' Back at the Vineyard"

Goldsboro, NC, April 16, 2008 --(PR.com)-- Goldsboro artist Brenda Behr has a thing about bluegrass bands. She likes to create paintings of them – while they’re playing. And that’s what she’s going to do with recording artists Kickin’ Grass when the band headlines “Kickin’ Back at the Vineyard,” an afternoon fundraiser to be held at the Hinnant Family Vineyards and Winery in Pine Level, NC, on Saturday, May 10, 2008. The event will benefit the Bear Creek Center for people with disabilities in LaGrange.

“I have been looking for a venue in which to paint more performing bluegrass musicians,” said Behr, whose preferred medium is watercolor. She first painted bluegrass musicians at a Goldsboro event several years ago. Since then, “I've painted blues musicians for two consecutive years at the Fargo Blues Festival in Fargo, North Dakota,” she said. “The fans love it, and are very willing to pay on the spot for the watercolors.” Her work can be seen at the LaGrange Arts Council.

Behr said she’s excited about helping to raise funds for the Bear Creek Center, a member of the not-for-profit RHA Howell Care Centers network, supports and educates 125 people with intellectual and physical disabilities, many of whom require round-the-clock staff assistance for their daily living needs. Each person living there has an individual plan with specific goals to educate and develop skills so they can function with as much independence as possible. She will donate a portion of her profit from selling her watercolors at “Kickin’ Back at the Vineyard” to the Center.

Kickin Grass (www.kickingrass.com) will headline the musical part of the day. Billed as “contemporary Carolina bluegrass with traditional roots,” the band has produced two CDs: “Backroads” and “On The Short Rows.” More live music will be provided by “Digger Foot” and the “Flat Mountain Dulcimers.”

Festivities will begin at noon and continue through 6 p.m. An Arts & Crafts Fair will feature the work of North Caroline artists and craftspeople along with other made-in-North-Carolina products. A live auction is also being planned, including a chance to bid on a collection of antiques. The winery will offer tastings of some of its award-winning wines. Other vendors will be on hand to provide an assortment of food.

Hinnant Family Vineyards, located in Pine Level, will host the afternoon-long event. Other sponsors include WKIX (97.7 FM) of the Curtis Media Group, Southern Pharmacy Services, Frema Motors, Marcom Medical Consultants, the Kinston Indians, and Wilbur’s Barbeque.

Tickets ($20; children 12 and under free) are available now at the vineyard and online at www.rhahowell.org. More sponsorship opportunities, vendor sign-ups, and volunteer opportunities are available by contacting Debbie Valentine at 919-941-0530; dvalentine@rhanet.org. For directions to Hinnant Family Vineyards, visit www.hinnantvineyards.com.

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