NEWS

Art exhibit to connect creativity, spirituality

CHAPEL HILL -- Connections between creative expression and spirituality will be the theme of "art/spirit/art," a free public art exhibit of works by North Carolina artists Sept. 8-25 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence will host the exhibit, which will showcase a variety of media, in the Graham Memorial Building, near the Morehead Planetarium on East Franklin Street. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Artists featured will be Davey Arch, Betty Maney and Amanda Swimmer of Cherokee; Ken Crossen of Pittsboro; Linda Ruth Dickinson of Raleigh; Jyoti Duwadi, Carmen Elliot, Kimowan McLain and Michele Natale of Chapel Hill and Peg Gignoux and Mike Roig of Carrboro.

Their pieces are designed to reflect the spirituality of nature expressed in abstract forms and symbols, the unseen world of other principles and existences and the repetitions and variation that allow forms to build up energy, movement and power, said Dr. Randi Davenport, center associate director.

"Not only do these works present evidence of the intimate connections between faith of all kinds and creativity, but also, they help us think about the truly infinite number of ways we discuss, envision and imagine spirituality today," she said. "By no means limited by particular faith traditions, these artworks allow us to respond to their emotional content even as they equally demand from us a critical and analytic response.

"It's an important part of undergraduate education for students to have the experience of responding viscerally to an image or an idea and then working with that response to discover an entire intellectual context for their thoughts," said Davenport.

The following events will be held at the center in conjunction with the exhibit. Unless otherwise noted, all will be free and open to the public.

Sept. 8, 3-6 p.m. Opening reception, Kresge Commons Room.

Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. writer Peggy Payne will read from her latest novel, "Sister India," a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, John Lindsay Morehead II Lounge.

Sept. 12, 7 p.m. Singer, songwriter and instrumentalist Mark Smith and others will lead participatory community chanting of traditional and original chants, John Lindsay Morehead II Lounge.

Sept. 18, 4 p.m. Barbara Matilsky, curator of exhibitions at UNC's Ackland Art Museum, will moderate a roundtable dialog, "Art and Spirituality in the 21st Century," John Lindsay Morehead II Lounge.

Sept. 19, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Singer-songwriter Cynthia Rylander Crossen and friends will perform for the center's "Thursdays on the Terrace" series, Educational Foundation Terrace.

Sept. 19, 4 p.m. Cherokee potters will teach traditional methods in the workshop "Functional Art from Earth and Fire," Educational Foundation Terrace. Space limited, advance registration required by Sept. 13. Call 966-5110. Free for UNC undergraduates, $75 for others.

Sept. 24, 7 p.m. Malinda Maynor, who produces, directs and edits films about the Native American experience, will show her film "In the Light of Reverence." A roundtable discussion will follow. Kresge Commons Room.

The James M. Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence in UNC's College of Arts and Sciences provides programs to enhance the undergraduate curriculum, encourage innovative teaching and learning and create collaborations across disciplines.

"art/spirit/art" is made possible in part by a grant from the Orange County Arts Commission. For more information, visit the center Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/jcue or call 966-5110.

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Contact: Dr. Randi Davenport, (919) 843-7765