Faces in the crowd: WNC crowdfunding campaigns

The Mask Project: Day of the Dead

“Starting September of his year, I will be participating in a six-week artist residency in Oaxaca, Mexico to research and make masks for — and inspired by — the Day of the Dead,” writes local artist Melody Molina. “The somber overtone, the honoring of the deceased and the true intention behind the masks and altars will all be explored, uncovered, and shared with you during my residency.” Molina’s adornments are predominantly created from natural, repurposed or recycled materials like beeswax, twigs, human and animal hair, kombucha leather, and animal teeth and bones. Eventually, she hopes to create masks based on many cultures for an interactive installation where audience members can try on different masks while engaging one another in a modern-day pseudo-ceremony. Molina aims to raise $3,000 by Monday, July 20, to cover residency fees, as she has already covered travel and art material costs. Visit melodymade.com to keep up with Molina’s updates during the residency.

The Academy at Terpsiorps

During this season’s run of shows at Diana Wortham Theatre, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance founder Heather Malloy announced a new initiative: The local company plans to open The Academy at Terpsiorps, an affordable dance school for aspiring dancers age 3 to 18. The nonprofit school, reads a company newsletter, will “offer need-based scholarships to young dancers of all backgrounds, present aspiring pre-professionals the ideal environment in which to thrive and make accessible to the existing dance community a space in which to present small, informal performances on a stage the size of the Diana Wortham Theatre.” Terpsicorps aims to raise $40,000 to renovate a new location (after losing its River Arts District studio) and begin operations.

Asheville Foam Party

Inspired by a group of Louisville residents who threw a foam party following the 2013 Cyclocross World Championships, Shop Kitty Productions owner Megan Archer writes that her team is “doing it again… Asheville style.” Archer’s sudsy afterparty — which coincides with the final day of the sport’s national championship race held at the Biltmore Estate on January 10, 2016 — will harness the excitement of hoards of adventurers for the benefit of a local nonprofit. All proceeds from the party will be donated to Trips for Kids as the organization “opens the world of cycling to at-risk youth.” Archer’s event crew aims to raise $3,000 to put on the fundraiser.

Hermetic Astrology Podcast

Gary Caton’s free astrology podcasts have been gaining momentum since launching in 2008, and following positive feedback from users, Canton is ready to “raise the bar on the quality of astrological content that is regularly available” on his website dreamastrologer.com. The digital astrologer aims to raise $12,000 to increase the frequency of podcasts to a weekly basis, publish his own celestial photographs daily and purchase a higher quality camera with lenses.