Escribitionist tells the story of Josh Thomson, a writer who shares every detail of his daily life on his blog. His bare-all style costs Josh his job and throws his life into a downward spiral. Josh must rely on an obsessive fan named Claire and a cast of unusual characters to help him get back on his feet.

David Smith, a Huntington native, has spent the past three years writing, producing and directing the film. It was shot entirely in West Viginia.

For more information, visit http://www.apartment2bproductions.com.

Every Tuesday this July, the profits of the day will benefit the YWCA Charleston. Dig in heartily on your favorite seafood, knowing that you’re helping the community!

The Tricky Fish is located at Charleston’s West End at 1600 Washington St East, open from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm.

On July 22, experience some high rollin’ fun at the Edgewood Country Club. Hosted by the St. Francis Hospital Domestic Violence Committee, you’ll be in for a great evening of dice, hors d’oeuvres, soft drinks, door prizes and a cash bar. Bring a personal or toiletry item to be donated to the YWCA’s domestic violence shelter, Hope House, and you’ll be entered to win a great door prize or bring your plastic for the silent auction.

Tickets are priced at $50 at the door, $35 in advance. Reserve your seats by calling (304) 340-3573 or registering online at the YWCA website. For more details, visit the Bunco website at www.buncowv.com.

There will be outdoor music from the Charleston band The Lost Cause, food booths from participating Bridge Road restaurants, zumba lessons from the YMCA, exhibition by 47-time National Woodchopping Champion Arden Cogar, and several activities to keep the kids entertained.

The highlight of this event is “Travelers of the Midnight Sun”, an exhibition and workshop by artist Mark Soppeland.

Shuttle will be provided from downtown Charleston and St. Mathew’s Church. The event is from 6-9pm. For more information, visit the Bridge Road Neighborhood Association events page.

How did you get started in your art?
I’ve been a photographer for over 25 years; I had experimented with painting some time back, but never perused it with the same passion as I had photography, so it fell to the wayside. Then came along software developed by painters for painters who were working from photographs; it was a perfect marriage of disciplines for me!

I realized that I could take my photographic work and digitally “paint” using a mixture of oils, watercolors, different media
“textures” to create original artworks. When I started walking and photographing the streets of Charleston – I was inspired to try my hand at working with subjects that I had been around almost all my life; but seeing them in a totally new way!

What are the major influences in your art?
Light, Shadow, Color. Those are what draw my eye to something of course. I like exploring new textures to output my work onto- I love canvas, the material has “visual weight ” to it. I enjoy other artists work, seeing how they might interpret the world around them- it sometimes forces me to re-examine my own approaches to ideas that I may have dismissed or put on a back burner, only to be redefined and made possible by the inspiration of others.

What differs your technique from other artists?
Well, apart from the fact that all my work is created digitally from inception to the printing of the final work- I would have to say that the way I explore light and it’s relation to the subject is key when I come up with my ideas- remember; I’m starting from a raw photograph-then to digitally paint with bright and saturated colors, which give a “known “subject an entirely different feel. It elevates the common scene to an uncommon view or experience for the viewer.

How do you describe the art scene in Charleston?
I think that there is an abundance of talent in the Charleston Art scene. There are so many mediums represented here, from painting, sculpture, beadwork, photography, clay, glasswork and stained glass, to my unique specialty of creating digital paintings. It’s robust, and as many of us can attest to- it is a very “family” type group of individuals!

The key to the core of this is that as long as your art is from the heart, the community will come out and support you as an artist- and other artists have given me so much advice on how to present myself and succeed- I think there is a very nurturing aspect of the community as a whole.

How receptive are the people of Charleston towards your art?
I didn’t start out creating my canvases and prints for anyone but me at first- so I honestly wasn’t sure how my works would go over here in Charleston.

But with the shows I’ve had here in the city- The response was immediately positive! I’ve gotten a lot of feedback, which some has surprised me. The things I’ve felt an affinity for, places I used to go as kid-those are the places I’m drawn to- and to have someone come up and say “I bought that piece because it was where I met my spouse” or “we used to take the family and buy such and such at this location”. I’ve come to realize that a lot of what I have created are links to those people’s memories. My work means as much to them viewing it as it did when I first decided to make it. That is VERY satisfying!

What are your favorite art pieces around Charleston?
I like works of Mark Tobin Moore – his work, although a distant style from my own- reaches me. Tracy Higginbotham- I love the “Vibrancy” of her work- and I get a sense of both chaos and peace by looking at it. Bruce Haley- He’s inspired by the world around him and a fearless explorer in his work; bold. If it’s of my work, I like the streetscapes I’ve done; it gives a sense of “place” for me

What particular things in Charleston inspires you to create art?
Aside from light and shadow (I notice that first and foremost ) is the architecture of Charleston, more and more the people and how they interact with the city around them, and how the city’s personality changes from day to evening and the transition as it becomes two distinct and different places- yet still the same.

If you were to create an art piece depicting Charleston, what medium, technique and inspiration would you use?
That’s a good question! I would still use the same techniques I do right now- Taking a photograph, digitally painting with my tools and programs, and making it onto canvas- but I would like the opportunity to make it large- much bigger than the 20×30′s that are my typical size.

My inspiration would come from the people and the city around them. From my memories as well as those that are given to me as suggestions- I would like to create something that everyone could identify with and feel a part of when they see it.

Where would you recommend tourists to go for the best place to experience Charleston’s art scene?
Several come to mind. Going to the Clay Center for one, as it is one of the best places to view the best artists only Charleston, but the state. And the Artwalks held on the third Thursday of each month, where the galleries of Charleston open their doors and you actually get to MEET the artists! And more recently- Festivall, where the city becomes a work of art- this has become a quick favorite of mine!

Clayton started his photographic career in 1984, when a chance meeting with Author Stan Cohen, led him to have some of his first photographs appear in Kanawha County Images: A Bicentennial History. Since that time, his work has gone on to be published in Tourist magazines and trade magazines nationwide. “I’ve been really fortunate to be able to travel, see and meet so many wonderful people, and get to attend events I wouldn’t have gotten to see otherwise.” Clayton says “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

In addition to his journalistic and environmental portraiture skills, Clayton also shoots fine art, landscapes, and specializes in event photography. By pushing himself to be more creative, he strives to keep an “edge” to his work without sacrificing his style and artistry. “It’s the challenge of setting my work apart, not settling for what’s already been done that motivates me” he says.

This production was awarded first place honors at the West Virginia Theatre Conference, and represented West Virginia at the Southeastern Theatre Conference in March. Actor Joe Miller took home the “BEST ACTOR” award for the entire festival.

The playwright Glen Berger is an Emmy nominated screenwriter and alumnus of New Dramatists, Underneath the Lintel played for over 400 performances Off-Broadway and received the Elizabeth Sterling Award for Best Play in 2004.

A thought-provoking and compelling play, this one man production encompasses the globe and two thousand years of history in eighty minutes. An old man with a beat up leather case enters a small theatre and has just one night to demonstrate “An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences”. This man is a librarian from Holland and when a travel guide is returned overdue to the library, he is astonished to note the book is 113 years overdue! What follows is a simple librarian following scraps of history through the years in an attempt to find the miscreant. A laundry claim ticket in the book leads to a pair of trousers that leads to another clue and another. He travels to London and China, then all over the world, to track down the identity of the mysterious man who, may be (or maybe not) the mythical Wandering Jew. Something as small as an overdue library book can lead to an obsession that can consume a life.

Tickets are sold at $15 each. Call (304) 766-5721 for reservations. Curtains rise at 7:30 pm.

Performers on WV day include Charlie McCoy, the West Virginia Superpickers, the Bob Thompson Unit, Brian Diller, the Kanawha Valley Community Band and Beckley’s Gospel Reunion.

There will also be a raffle, prizes include a guitar and harmonica autographed by Charlie McCoy and the Superpickers.

The concert is co-sponsored by the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame, Festivall Charleston and Verizon.

“Schoolchildren exposed to drama, music and dance may do a better job at mastering reading, writing and math than those who focus solely on academics, says a report by the Arts Education Partnership,” writes Tamara Henry of USA Today. Art education is not just dependent on schools. The Charleston Stage Company is offering Summer Arts Camp to children of different ages this summer.

Elementary camp for Grades 3-7 will be held on July 5 – 16, and Junior/Senior High Camp for Grades 7-12 will be held on July 19 – 30, 2010. Both camps will be held at the Davis Fine Arts Building of the West Virginia State University.

Core classes in acting, art, music and dance will be held daily to develop the student’s skills. They also have elective classes that gives them a chance to explore different opportunities within each medium (i.e. set design, animation, scriptwriting, modern dance, hip hop dance, stage make-up, etc). Students will showcase their work for parents on the last day of camp.

The summer workshops cost $300 per child, and scholarships are available for talented individuals. For more details, call Jamie Anderson, Camp Director at (304) 766-5721 or visit the Charleston Stage Company website.

• A contest for a family to win a trip to San Francisco for dinner with Milk Mustache celebrity and chef Tyler Florence
• A football toss as part of the National Dairy Council and NFL Fuel Up To Play 60 program
• Milk Mustache photos
• Free ice cold milk from local dairies – Broughton Food Co. and United Dairy
• Health consultation from a local registered dietician

Event Schedule:
June 15th from 11-2 p.m. at the Town Center mall. Mayor Jones will read the ‘Milk the Moment Family Dinner Day’
proclamation on June 15th

June 16th from 11-1 p.m. at the Clay Center For Arts and Sciences

June 17th from 6-8 p.m. at the West Virginia Power game

For more information, visit the got milk? website at www.whymilk.com.

The park will be host to a series of concerts every Friday this summer. It opened The Esquires last May 28, and it will be followed by the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympics on June 4.

Other bands performing at the Schoenbaum stage are Highway Jones (June 11), The Davisson Brothers Band (June 18), Voodoo Katz (June 25), 600 LBS of Sin (July 2), Stratus (July 9), Santa Cruz Band (July 16), Stan McDaniel Band (July 23), Blues Du Jour (July 30), Fox Hunt (August 6), Bud Carroll & the Southern Souls (August 13), Soul Doctors (August 20), Steve Himes Connection (August 27) and Adam Tucker Band (September 3).

For more information about Live on the Levee, visit their website at www.liveontheleveecharleston.com.