Murphy – The arts will be used to teach history this month as a local artist’s exhibit returns to the Murphy Art Center. “When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African-American People in Far Western North...
Murphy – The arts will be used to teach history this month as a local artist’s exhibit returns to the Murphy Art Center.
“When All God’s Children Get Together: A Celebration of the Lives and Music of African-American People in Far Western North Carolina” is an exhibit from Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center, curated by author Ann Miller Woodford of Andrews. The exhibit first stopped in Cherokee County in summer 2017.
Woodford is glad the community has another opportunity to see the images, history and how well all people in the region worked together.
“I’m excited about it,” she said. “It’s a good thing for us to learn about each other.”
The traveling exhibit features 12 panels of information, plus four of Woodford’s original works of art. For the Murphy exhibit, newer works by Woodford will be included with the exhibit. Woodford’s reference book of the same name was published in 2015.
Before guests enter the Cultural Calendar Room at the MAC, they will be greeted by another extra – prints of works by African-American artist Romare Bearden that were donated to the Cherokee County Arts Council by a retired teacher. The arts council is using the exhibit as a backdrop for a celebration for Black History Month in February.
“I always wanted something done locally for Black History Month for the entire community,” said David Vowell, the arts council’s executive director. “Let’s celebrate especially with how African Americans impacted culture in Appalachia.”
He hopes to have readings throughout the month showcasing the contributions of African Americans as well as show a movie. He is also working to coordinate the exhibit with One Dozen Who Care’s first Black History Project.
The organization will present Artistic Expressions Through Black Culture at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, in the Texana Community Center. Camden Johnson, executive director of One Dozen Who Care, said the event will educate the community about African-American culture through dance, poetry and music.
The exhibit runs throughout the month in the Cultural Calendar Room. The MAC is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Schools also are invited to see the exhibit.