TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — The Johnson Center for the Arts hosted “What Would Dolly Do?” Friday night in downtown Troy, bringing the community together through music and art.
The event combined diamond art and crafts with Dolly Parton’s music performed by the Troy Ensemble Populus. Community members could create art while listening to some of Parton’s music. Andrea Pack, Executive Director for the Johnson Center for the Arts, said the event reflects the center’s goal of supporting different forms of art in the community.
“We like to support all arts, cultural arts that include music, theater, visual arts; of course, that’s what we’re most associated with,” Pack said. “We like to be a source for our community to put on events to come and do classes, to see exhibitions, really anything that has to do with the arts.”
Parton’s influence also reaches beyond her music. Her Imagination Library has played a role in the lives of children and families by providing books to children from birth to age five.
CONTINUING COVERAGE: Remembering Dolly Parton’s visit to Troy
“My own children grow up with the Imagination Library program, and families with a child from zero to five receive a book in the mail from the Imagination Library,” Pack explained. “That was a huge part of my children’s lives.”
POPulus, Troy’s popular music ensemble, also joined the Johnson Center for the Arts for the event. Members of the group said performing Parton’s music was a way to recognize her impact on artists and the community.
Christian Pate, Vocalist Section Leader of Populus, explained the group’s connection to the event.
“POPulus is the music industry program at Troy,” Pate said. “It’s a pop ensemble where you go, and you learn how to be like a rockstar.
“I mean, Dolly Parton did so much for us, especially as artists in the music industry. When we get to come sing and perform at events like this, we get to show what Dolly gave back to us and our community.”
For Pate, Parton’s legacy also includes her willingness to remain true to herself.
“Dolly was one of the first performing artists who was really open and true to herself. She didn’t care what other people thought. As a kid, that was important to me, and seeing this really glamorous woman everywhere who didn’t care what society thought.”
From music and visual art to literacy, “What Would Dolly Do?” gave the Troy community a chance to celebrate Dolly Parton’s influence on the arts and the people still inspired by her work. For information about upcoming events at the Johnson Center for the Arts, visit their Instagram page, @JC4ARTS. To learn more about Populus, visit @POPULUSBAND.
