Arts Council in Fayetteville Is Holding Annual High School Art Show

Cumberland County is home to many talented young artists, and now they have a chance to showcase their gift to the entire community. The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County has announced the highly-anticipated return of the annual Cumberland County High School Juried Art Show!

The show is free to the public and available for viewing until April 6 at the Arts Center on Hay Street. The exhibits will include the breathtaking artwork of students from 15 high schools across Cumberland County. All the pieces featured have been chosen by a group of Cumberland County Schools visual arts educators. Since this is a juried art show, the works will be further evaluated by a panel of esteemed judges throughout the month. Each student's artwork will be judged on creativity, technique, and overall artistic merit.

In a statement to the Arts Council, CCS Director of Arts Education Carla Crenshaw stressed how vital these exhibits are for Cumberland County's next generation of artists. "Every March I look forward to this show.  I am always in awe of the talent and creativity our students demonstrate in their artwork," says Crenshaw. "Many thanks to the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County for hosting this annual event, giving our students their first experience of having their art on display at a real gallery. This is an invaluable opportunity for our students."

President and CEO of the Arts Council, Bob Pinson, echoed similar sentiments concerning the importance of these art exhibits. "This exhibition not only provides a platform for young artists to showcase their work, but also highlights the importance of arts education in our schools and community," Pinson says. "Studies show that students involved in art have better attendance, higher graduation rates, are more likely to continue their education, and are more likely to vote."

There's few things as gratifying for young artists and innovators than when their work is recognized and appreciated by their community. Now is the chance for us to encourage their creativity and continue to provide them an outlet for self-expression, which can help them in innumerable ways as they grow up and continue to pursue their passions.

For more information about the exhibit and the Arts Council, click here to visit their website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

North Carolina is known as the birthplace of of many talented and notable figures, ranging from famous actors, singers, athletes, and more. The Tar Heel state is practically a breeding ground for success. But did you know that North Carolina is also home to some of the funniest, most hysterical stand-up comics in the game right now? Let's take a look at some of my personal favorites!

Stand-up comedy seems to have skyrocketed in popularity recently. Now more than ever young up-and-coming comics are able to utilize social media to spotlight their material in a way that they never would have been able to before.

Even more seasoned comics like Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Pete Holmes and others have become household names over the years due to the increase in stand-up fandom. Hell, the most popular video so far in 2024 is longtime comedian Katt Williams popping off on his colleagues. All this and more makes it clear that stand-up is re-entering a boom period of sorts.

I've been a fan of stand-up comedy for as long as I can remember. When most kids were watching shows on Nickelodeon and the Disney Channel, 12-year-old KC was glued to the half hour Comedy Central stand-up specials. I even dabbled in performing stand-up myself in my early 20s, which quickly and harshly tempered my perception of how funny I really was. Thankfully no footage exists of my aspiring stand-up career, which I promise is for the best.

Aside from my botched open mic appearances, North Carolina does actually get to claim some of comedy's most successful and talented performers still in the circuit. Some NC-based comics have even managed to use their comedic chops as a launching pad to break through into other business ventures.

In no particular order, here are my picks for the funniest North Carolina-based comedians.

(Note: most of the clips used in this list contain NSFW language. You've been warned.)

Fortune Feimster's whole vibe is unlike anyone else in the stand-up scene right now. Fortune is a Belmont native and a graduate of Peace College, so she has deep roots in North Cackalacky. Though she made it big in California, Fortune doesn't seem to have lost touch with her southern roots, as noted in her distinct accent and uniquely country-fried material.

Fortune's energy is wholly infectious and I encourage you to check her out when she comes through her home state.

J.B. Smoove has such an impressive resume, especially considering his humble beginnings in the small North Carolina town of Plymouth.

Over the decades J.B. Smoove has proven to be a versatile comedy commodity. In addition to his stand-up, Smoove is also an accomplished comedy writer and actor. He's most known for his iconic role in the acclaimed comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm, in which he plays the fan-favorite Leon Black.

I'll admit I'm stretching the criteria of this list here. Ken Jeong is technically from Detroit, having moved to the Tar Heel state at a young age. But after earning medical degrees at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, all while simultaneously starting his improv and stand-up career, I'd say he's more than earned his Carolina card.

Ken Jeong started gaining notoriety in the mid-to-late 2000s with brief appearances in various TV shows and movies. His brand skyrocketed, however, when he took on the role of the flamboyant and dangerous Mr. Chow in The Hangover trilogy.

Nowadays Ken is enjoying a hosting stint on the popular singing competition series The Masked Singer.

Interestingly enough, Ken isn't the only NC comics who had their breakout role in The Hangover. Longtime funnyman Zach Galfianakis hails from Wilkes County and is an alum of North Carolina State University (his "one man wolfpack" monologue suddenly makes a lot of sense now).

When performing on stage, Zach is known for incorporating music into his stand-up. This helped set him apart when he was coming up in the scene. Another outlet for Zach's unique brand of comedy also came from his immensely popular webseries, Between Two Ferns.

Don't let his disheveled presentation and flighty demeanor fool you - Zach Galifianakis is a comedy workhorse who has expertly honed his craft, to the point where his name is now as well-known as it is hard to spell. And as a way of giving back to the state that made him, Zach has been known to donate much of his money and time to many NC-based food banks.

His name may not be as instantly recognizable as that of his contemporaries on this list, but make no mistake: Jerrod Carmichael is every bit as hilarious and talented.

Jerrod grew up in Winston-Salem, and incorporates much of his early childhood experiences into his stand-up. While his account of growing up poor in North Carolina isn't always flattering towards his home state, it provides an honest and unflinching perspective that he's able to seamlessly navigate toward uproarious laughter from the crowd.

Jerrod's relaxed, easygoing stage presence makes him an easily accessible personality to even the most casual of stand-up enthusiasts. After years of cutting his teeth on the road, Jerrod was finally able to bring his stylistic wit to a bigger audience when he hosted Saturday Night Live in the spring of 2022. His episode was one of the most critically well-received of that entire season, with his performance being lauded as one of the best first-time hosting gigs in recent memory.

Jerrod has certainly done North Carolina proud, and I believe his star has only just begun to shine. I look forward to seeing him star in The Hangover X in 2037.