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MAS launched in November 2020 to create new, electric experiences in the middle ground between divergent communities.
MAS began in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic with collaborative festivals, including the communal painting of a large triptych led by Kellie Perkins in November 2020. Additional events followed that included a jazz concert by Skip Walker & Friends, classical duets such as Duo-Cellists Paul and Diana Kirkpatrick and Darrin Thiriot with Scott Marosek, Kirtan Bliss Band, meditation events, a speaking presentation from Buddhist speaker Heiwa No Bushi, collaborative writing workshops led by UNCP Professor Laura Hakala, an Americana blues concert with Aaron Alderman, a piano and electronic music concert with Yaroslav Borisov and more.
MAS plans to focus on celebrating and space-making in the arts in 2022. They are working on "creating moments of integration, connection and community through the arts," according to their website. MAS describes themselves as being "located in a shared space -- the high ground of the Sandhills and Fayetteville's Historic Haymount district, the low country of Eastern North Carolina, the overlapping territories of the sacred, secular and natural worlds -- MAS sits at the intersection of diverse artistic forms, political ideologies and interests."
On Jan. 27 to 28, MAS is holding their latest festival, "The Idea of Freedom (TIF)."
"We try to hold a major event each fall or Spring and then smaller events throughout the year. This is scheduled to be our main event for 2022," Nan Cekuta, Rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, said.
MAS is creating a new experience to bring artists together to express themselves. TIF is a mix of performance, audience interaction and experiential installation. What is fresh about this event is that artists will be paired up to create new art inspired by the artists and the attendees.
There will be three groups of two artists coming together. During the two-day event, the groups will create two projects. At the end of the festival, the six works will be combined with an attendees' piece, so there will be seven artworks total.
The plan is to experience a journey along with three different spaces. The artists and attendees will have truly up-close experiences with light, sound and most importantly, art.
The event will occur at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 1601 Raeford Road. The event will also be streamable at www.holytrinityfay.org/middlegroundartsseries.
Folks interested in attending can find the schedule for the festival on the Holy Trinity website. MAS will be held from Jan. 27 to 28, from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. each day. Registration for the events is available at holytrinityfay.org/middlegroundartsseries. Donations of $10 per person are recommended, and organizers ask larger groups contribute $3 per person.