painting the town with eric
Eric Dowdle of the “Painting the Boondocks with Eric Dowdle” TV alternation is apparent to the larboard with bounded old-time artisan Marsha Todd, as they are actuality filmed alfresco the Earle Theatre by Steve Olpin, the administrator of the show. Footage additionally was attempt at several added locations in Mount Airy for an accessible episode.
Submitted photo
A television aggregation that “painted the town” this anniversary in Mount Airy didn’t leave any spills or splatters behind, but took abroad addicted memories — and camera footage — from assorted bounded attractions for a appearance this fall.
Eric Dowdle, a folk artisan from Utah, visited the burghal Monday to blur segments for his biking alternation that appears on accessible television, “Painting the Boondocks with Eric Dowdle.” Its architecture involves him traversing North America to accommodated the people, sample food, apprentice about the ability and bout attractions in assorted communities in an accomplishment to actuate what makes anniversary abode special.
In Mount Airy’s case, this included stopovers at the Wally’s Service Station and Mayberry Squad Car Tours location, featuring a ride in a replica convoying car; Floyd’s Barber Shop; The Loaded Goat restaurant, area the Dowdle aggregation met Thelma Lou extra Betty Lynn; and the Earle Theatre.
“They absolutely visited Mount Airy a brace of years ago,” said Jenny Smith of Mount Airy Visitors Center, who accompanied the TV accumulation Monday. “They aloof visited (then), they did not do any filming.”
While that beforehand appointment didn’t aftereffect in a TV broadcast, this week’s beat through Mount Airy will be featured in an Eric Dowdle adventure to be aired internationally in October on Create TV, allotment of the Accessible Broadcasting System family.
Create TV is a approach specializing in how-to, do-it-yourself and added lifestyle-oriented advisory programming in the areas of cooking, arts and crafts, gardening, home advance and travel.
The actual aggregate during Monday’s appointment to Mount Airy will be included in a affairs mostly highlighting Winston-Salem, according to Smith. “The focus on Winston-Salem was Old Salem,” she said, with Dowdle’s aggregation additionally filming at locations there in contempo days, which will be supplemented by footage from the ancillary cruise to Mount Airy.
Smith said the Piedmont Triad Blur Commission was active in allowance to set up the cutting agenda for “Painting the Boondocks with Eric Dowdle” in Winston-Salem and Mount Airy. Bounded tourism official Jessica Roberts serves on the commission’s board.
Monday’s assembly beat actuality began at Mayberry Squad Car Tours’ address on South Main Street, area the buyer of that business, Mike Cockerham, alone gave the visitors a ride about boondocks in one of his brand Ford Galaxies.
Then it was on to Floyd’s Barber Shop, area the TV appearance assembly abstruse about the history of the longtime business area Andy Griffith got his beard cut years ago and which resembles the boutique on “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Later, there was cafeteria at The Loaded Goat and the affair with Betty Lynn. “Eric was captivated to do that,” Smith said of his appointment with Lynn, who resides in Mount Airy afterwards affective from California about 10 years ago and plays a big role in bounded tourism efforts.
Monday’s appointment was capped off with the abode at the Earle Theatre, with bounded old-time banjo picker Marsha Todd — first-place champ at the Mount Airy fiddlers assemblage in June — assuming for the camera.
Local painting
As is name implies, the appellation of Dowdle’s TV appearance reflects the classical acceptation of “painting a town” by indulging in all its accessible ball — but there is absolutely a painting involved.
After visiting places for his series, Dowdle creates a painting that illustrates the bodies and attractions that accord anniversary area its different flavor.
Those images eventually become abundant and bright puzzles that are awash about the world, absorption Dowdle’s bifold talents as a folk artisan and addle creator.
“He’ll leave actuality and again he’ll do his painting,” Smith said of Dowdle’s procedure.
The artisan affairs to acknowledgment to Mount Airy to bare that creation, she added.
Tom Joyce may be accomplished at 336-415-4693 or on Twitter @Me_Reporter.
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