news-record.com

A lucky guest at a raffle on April 30, during the annual Wine and Dine fundraiser for the Rockingham County Fine Arts Festival, will win a 4x4 painting, “Hayfield,” donated by the artist, Leigh Rodenbough.

Rodenbough is a longtime member of The Studio Group, a nonprofit artists’ organization in Rockingham County whose members have won many awards .

Although Rodenbough was interested in art as a young boy and was encouraged by his mother, he led a full life before he devoted his time to painting. He is a father and a Navy veteran of World War II, and he has been a practicing attorney in Madison for more than 50 years. Now, at age 86, he is in full throttle as a successful gallery artist .

Bill Moore, a member and former president of The Studio Group, calls Rodenbough “a faithful participant,” an open and helpful artist who has “gotten a lot out of The Studio Group and given a lot to the group.”

Lia Miller, the executive director of Creative Aging of North Carolina in Greensboro, where Rodenbough lives near his children and grandchildren, calls him the “poster child for creative aging.”

He has volunteered to make note cards and donated artwork to the nonprofit organization that fosters a focus on creative skills.

Wine and Dine is the major fundraiser for the Fine Arts Festival, which is held in the summer at Rockingham Community College. Artists, writers, potters musicians and other artisans will display their works to be judged by professional judges in one of the oldest (it started in 1947) arts festivals in North Carolina.

A Taste of the South is the theme of this year’s fundraising event at Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center in Reidsville. The buffet will feature Southern fare. Various wines will be available that night from N.C. Jones of Mutual Distributing, who will lead wine tastings and offer descriptions of different wines. Veronica and Company of Reidsville will provide music.

Local artists have donated their work for a silent auction for Wine and Dine.

Raffle tickets, $1 each, offer a chance to win “Hayfield” and can be purchased from any board member of the Fine Arts Festival.

Tickets are $25 for the Wine and Dine evening and can be purchased from board members or reserved by phone with Debbie Moore, executive director of the Fine Arts Festival, at 344-5539. Debbie is also selling raffle tickets. Tickets bought at the door are $30.

An Eden native, Rachel Wright, an Eden native, is retired as a teacher at Morehead High School and an instructor at RCC.