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Well, friends, it’s been a YEAR since we launched Mercury Studio! Can you believe that? Amazing.
The last year has been wonderful and educational. We now have an even clearer vision of how we can make Durham a better place and have identified the things we need to keep going. To get us there, we’ve launched another fundraiser through IndieGOGO. Check out the details on our campaign! Please consider donating (we’ve got some really fun perks this year!), help spread the word to your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers, and come out to our events this month! (Events are listed below!)
One easy way to get people you know involved is to invite them to the facebook “event” we’ve created to spread the word about our campaign. Click here to RSVP and invite friends.
EVENTS:
6/12, 9-5pm: PowerLunch + DayJelly – Come work and lunch with us! AND Megan will be offering free chair massages! 6/12, 7:30pm: #CinemaSeries – We’re watching Shane Carruth’s film, Upstream Color 6/14, 9:00pm @ The Roxy: Dance Party! – Come dance! Live music and a speciality cocktail with proceeds going to the campaign 6/20, 7:30pm: Art Salon – monthly salon were local artist’s share their current work. All are welcome! 6/21, 6:00pm: THIRD FRIDAY - This month our members are selecting a group show for the gallery! 6/28, 7:00pm: Listening Room – Monthly songwriter performance and discussion with Anna Rose Beck!
6/29: TBA – END OF FUNDRAISER EVENT! Lawn Party! Details to come!
PS. Make sure to tag Mercury Studio when you share via social media, and use the hashtag #upgrademercury
FB: /mercurystudiodurham
Twitter: @mercury_studio
Instagram: @mercury_studio
Thanks, as always, for all of your support. Onward and upward!
3/28 Thursday | Durham Storefront Project Artists Talk*
4/17 Wednesday | Power Lunch
4/18 Thursday | Art Salon
4/19 Friday | Third Friday**
4/20 Friday | Listening Room
4/24 Wednesday | Member Social
* I realize this is not an April event, but it was not included in last month’s event post and it’s really neat! Megan and I (Katie) have joined the Durham Storefront Project team and are very excited to host this event, which will be a sneak peek of all of the installations that will be showing up in storefronts around downtown Durham in just a matter of weeks. This season of Durham Storefront Project is particularly exciting because, fresh off a hiatus, the organization is going to be paying its artists for the very first time. As you know, Mercury Studio loves to see people making a living doing what they love. Please join us for this event to meet the artists and support the cause!
** If you did not have the pleasure of joining us for Sarah Goetz‘s opening last month, please do not miss this opportunity to see her show, the day i wrote love letters to everyone who’s ever given me a hug. It is a beautiful experience to behold – a combination of a series of her iconic paintings and a new, sentimental, and delightful installation – and you do not want to miss it. She’s one of our favorite artists in town and we’re sure once you see her work, she’ll be one of yours too! (Bonus: Sarah is selling a whole slew of paintings for an unbelievable 75% off. Want to own a piece of Durham culture? Now’s your chance!)
One of these days I’ll post a Member Monday entry on a Monday, but in the meantime…
This Saturday, two of our members (Jessica Lobdell and Dorothy Clark) will be hosting an Open House right here at Mercury Studio. There will be comedic entertainment and light refreshments and attendees will have the chance to learn a bit more about their two local businesses. You may remember Jessica Lobdell Photography from a previous post, but this is Bull City Tax Services’ (by Dorothy Clark) first appearance on The Orbit. Dorothy specializes in helping creative professionals file their taxes correctly and efficiently.
Whether or not you are in need of photographic or accounting services, you should come join us on Saturday for some fun and comedy!
In other news, Aaron Mandel, of Clarion Content, has been working diligently to plan and execute a kickstarter campaign for Creative Populist, which aims to provide support for highschoolers looking to become creative entrepreneurs. If you watch the video closely, you might just see some people you recognize! (Yep. I’m talking about me, but there are others too!) As a space often brimming with creative entrepreneurs, Mercury Studio highly endorses this project!
Please check out the campaign!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/276309113/becoming-a-creatively-entreprenuerial-high-school
Here’s a snapshot of all the neat things we have in store next month. Check them out and mark your calendars!
3/01 Friday | Our Holy Women
3/09 Saturday | Open House: Bull City Tax Service & Jessica Lobdell Photography
3/13 Wednesday | #CinemaSeries: Holy Motors
3/15 Friday | Third Friday
3/19 Tuesday | groundworkk
3/20 Wednesday | Power Lunch
3/21 Thursday | Art Salon
3/22 Friday | Listening Room
3/27 Wednesday | Member Social
Inspired by Dart St. Louis, this community art project gives artists working in any medium an opportunity to seek out and find beauty in Downtown Durham.
WINTER PIN DURHAM ARTISTS :
ROBERT AGRIOPOULOS – Digital Collage
JEREMY BERGGREN – Drawing
LEE MOORE CRAWFORD – Mixed Media
PAUL DEBLINGER & JEANNE HILLSON – Mixed Media
WILLIAM DICKINSON – Photography
JESSICA LOBDELL – Photography
TYLER MAHONEY – Photography
FRANK MYERS – Digital Painting
BRENDA VAN ORSOUW – Oil Painting
FRANK VAN ORSOUW – Photography Collage/Assemblage
JANICE SMITH – Video
At the Pin Durham launch party on December 8th, these artists “pinned” a location on the downtown map. During the following two months they visited their location and made art.
Through this project, participants are challenged to capture and share a part of Durham using the language of their own creativity, a language that is vital to our community.
Missed the Opening Reception? Stop by during Third Friday or 9-5 Weekdays. The Pin Durham show will be up through February 28 and a number of the works are for sale.
Want to see Pin Durham happen again? Annually? Bi-Annually? We’re taking a poll! Leave your name with your YES! and any suggestions on a slip of paper in the pocket next to the Art Statement in our gallery, or send us an email! Thank you!
 
NEXT IN THE GALLERY:
March-April: Installation by Sarah Goetz
I know, I know. It’s Tuesday and I’m posting a Member Monday member highlight. Sometimes Mondays just get away from you, you know?
Anyway, there’s a whole heap of exciting things going on around these parts. One of them is groundworkk, a community-based fundraising and networking event that launched last month in Durham, right here at Mercury Studio. The general idea is that all attendees contribute $5, watch a few pitches for creative, community-minded projects, and then vote to decide who gets the jar full of $5 bills. Fun, right?
The winner of our inaugural Durham groundworkk event was none other than Mercury Studio member and local photographer (among other things), Tyler Mahoney. What was his project? I’m so glad you asked.
Introducing: 1st Annual Bull City Photo Parade
On Saturday, March 2nd, Tyler will lead a group of photographers (professional, amateur, beginner, whoever, really) from one side of downtown Durham to the other on a route that will be decided beforehand by the group. The goal is to achieve a more accurate and complete photographic representation of Durham, by using several sets of eyes, each attached to a different person, with a different perspective. Part of he money Tyler won at groundworkk will go toward getting photos taken during the parade printed, framed, and hung somewhere together as a group show. And, if all goes well, Tyler would like to get a coffee table book made.
Now you’re thinking “I want to play!” Here are some links to help with that:
1st Annual Bull City Photo Parade website
1st Annual Bull City Photo Parade fb event page
Bull City Photographers fb page
January has been crazy, people. We launched three brand new monthly events (Power Lunch, groundworkk, and Listening Room) and we’re excited to say that they’ve all been lovely. Here’s what we have to look forward to next month, so mark your calendars and always keep an eye on ours!
Friday, February 8th: Pin Durham Reception
Wednesday, February 13th: #CinemaSeries
Friday, February 15th: Third Friday
TBA: groundworkk
Wednesday, February 20th: Power Lunch
Thursday, February 21st: Art Salon
Friday, February 22nd: Listening Room
Wednesday, February 27th: Member Social
 Photo Credit: Layne Sizemore
Jessica Lobdell joined our space in November of last year. She’s been very enthusiastic about working from a creative space and especially having acces to our Back Room as a studio space for her wedding, portrait, commercial, and nature photo projects. Her work is beautiful and Jessica and has been an absolute delight to have around the office. This is why we’re happy to highlight her in today’s Member Monday edition of The Orbit!
Since Jessica has been working from Mercury Studio, she’s been developing several promotions and packages to help her (and you!) utilize her new workspace. Here are a few things she’s bee working on that you should definitely check out!
- In the spirit of making connections with other local businesses (a behavior that we certainly encourage!), Jessica has partnered with the brand new Stay and Play Snack Cafe, just around the corner. Anyone who signes up for a Year Long Membership at this fun, new, kid-friendly coffee shop, can bring their receipt to Jessica and receive $25 off a full portrait session!
- On February 16th and 17th, Jessica will host her popular Love Bug Mini-Sessions right here at Mercury Studio! She will photograph folds in the studio and then outside, in urban Durham space. These 30-minute sessions are a steal at just $50! They make excellent Valentines Day gifts and a quick and fun way to have beautiful portraits of you and your loved ones!
- Perhaps the most exciting announcement for Jessica Lobdell Photography is the introduction
of birth photography! After attending births within her family and realizing how special the photos taken at these moments are, Jessica has decided to start offering this service. She is looking for expectantparents who are interested in having the first moments of their child’s life captured with care and sensitivity.
- Getting married this year or know someone who is? Jessica still has Spring and Summer dates available.
Because I know you’re all now excited about at least one of these things, I’ll let you know how to contact Jessica and schedule your next photography session! You can always stop by Mercury Studio Tuesday through Thursday to say hello, or take advantage of any of these:Phone: 919-699-1240
Last, but certainly not least, Jessica would like to wish everyone a wonderful Martin Luther King Jr. Day. May we all remember what he has done for our country and our world.
 Stay and Play Snack Cafe Grand Opening!  Jesssica Lobdell Birth Photography
Mercury Studio is a vibrant, creative coworking space, and we are blessed to be a part of Durham’s kickin’ downtown art scene. This week we’re hosting the Art Salon & our Third Friday opening reception, both in the Back Room.
Art Salon: This Thursday! 7pm
Last September Laura Ritchie, of The Carrack Modern Art, and I started organizing monthly Art Salons. These informal gatherings quickly became an energetic space for artists and art lovers of all kinds to come together and share their ideas. We rotate locations monthly between meeting at The Carrack and meeting here at Mercury Studio. Each salon offers artists time to share their recent work and receive constructive feedback from other artists, curators, and patrons. All are welcome!
Third Friday: This Friday! 6-9pm
Durham’s Third Friday is an excellent time to explore the diverse art scene in downtown. This month (Jan 18-Feb 8) Mercury Studio is showcasing the work of Paul Travis Phillips. Phillips is a North Carolina painter exploring human connections and disconnections. He is the Graphics Coordinator at Sawtooth School for Visual Arts in Winston Salem and the Gallery Coordinator for Associated Arts. Our Third Friday opening reception is Friday from 6-9pm. Visit the official Third Friday Durham website for details on the other events this month. Phillips’ show will be on display through February 8. Stop by weekdays 9-5.
Are you interested in a 2-month solo or group show in our gallery? Starting in March, we’ll be curating 2-month long shows that begin with a Third Friday reception. Fill out our online application or contact me today!
New Series: Listening Room
Some of you may know that my fabulous business partner, Katie, is also a fabulous musician in The Pinkerton Raid. Katie’s love for music and Mercury Studio’s love for hosting events that encourage community have (finally) joined forces! We are pumped to announce the Listening Room. Along the lines of the Art Salons, the Listening Room will feature one musician each month, give them time to share both their music and their songwriting process. This first Listening room is January 25 and will feature Duncan Webster (Hammer No More the Finger) and Leah Gibson (Lost in The Trees, Bowerbirds) and their newest collaboration, Prypyat. Buy your ticket today.
Be sure to keep an eye on our event calendar for different workshop offerings (like the intermediate photography workshop!) and other happenings here at Mercury Studio.
Every once in a while, something really neat comes along. Groundworkk is one of those somethings.
Groundworkk is a creative, community-minded, microfunding event that’s been happening monthly in Raleigh. As soon as I learn of its existence, I emailed Matt Konar, the founder, and let him know that Durham needed in. He agreed.
Introducing: groundworkk, Durham
From the groundworkk website:
“The concept of groundworkk is simple. At each groundworkk event, attendees will pay a small $5 door fee and learn about local, community ideas and projects through short 4 minute creator presentations and Question/Answer sessions. Presentations will be followed by a meal, prepared by an aspiring area chef, during which attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the presentations in a relaxed, communal atmosphere. After the meal attendees will vote for their favorite project/idea and the winning idea/project will be awarded the funds raised from that evening’s event!”
We are beyond excited for this event, especially because it’s going to be happening here, at Mercury Studio!
How can you help?
Keep an eye on the calendar and attend groundworkk events!
Invite all your friends!
Like groundworkk on facebook!
Want to be a presenter? Apply here!
Want to be involved in providing food/beverages for the event? Contact holler@groundworkk.com.
See you all there!
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