May: Norm Miner

Artist's Spotlight for May 2009

Contribution. Impact. Legacy. Those are three words that generally come to mind when thinking of honoring someone with an award like the Artist’s Spotlight. Invariably, artists like those previously honored come to mind (Carolyn Govan, Mike Fowle, Willard Jacobs). However, there are many ways to make contributions and impact on the Arts without producing any artwork.

Since moving to Hartsville in a few years ago, Norm Miner has made many contributions to the Arts through volunteering and participation. For that reason, Black Creek Arts Council is pleased to honor him with this May’s Artist’s Spotlight. Norm’s efforts as a volunteer at Black Creek Arts Council have been tremendous. “Norm can fix anything,” says Bruce Douglas of BCAC, “He can make some things that aren’t broken, a lot better.”

While Norm has used his carpentry skills for the betterment of the Arts Center, his generosity has reciprocated itself in a special way: pottery. BCAC instructor Barbara Watson has had Norm in a few of her classes in the Pottery Studio. To say his carpentry skills were transferable to pottery would be an understatement. Currently, a few of Miner’s pottery pieces are on display in the gallery at the Arts Center.

In addition to the difference he has made at Black Creek, Norm is also a fixture (and fixer) at Wesley United Methodist Church in Hartsville. The repairs he did to some paneling in the sanctuary there are the stuff of legend.

People like Norm Miner are truly what make rural communities special places to live. It is their contributions and commitment to community improvement that leads to progress and prosperity. These things lead to growth, which explains why Norm and his wife ended up here in the first place. “We saw Hartsville as a place with a lot going on and a lot of things for people like us to do,” said Miner. So, just as Douglas said of Miner, “He can make some things that aren’t broken, a lot better.”