NEWS

UNC professor to discuss North Carolina folk arts

CHAPEL HILL -- Dr. Glenn Hinson, an anthropology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss the state’s folk arts tradition in a free public speech July 9 in Sherrills Ford.

The speech, "Voices of the Soul: Folk Artistry in North Carolina," will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Sherrills Ford Library at 8456 Sherrills Ford Road. Call 828-478-2729 for more information.

Hinson, chair of UNC’s folklore curriculum, will seek to define folk art by examining the lives and work of two traditional North Carolina artists. Both black wood carvers, they work in different styles and bring different histories to their crafts, Hinson said. He will show slides and artifacts to illustrate the talk.

Hinson has studied the culture of the South for 25 years. His interests range from gospel music and barbecue to oral poetry. His projects to enhance public education have included developing programs for the Smithsonian Institution, producing compact discs by regional musicians and working to integrate traditional North Carolina music into fourth-grade curricula. His publications include the book "Fire in My Bones: Transcendence and the Holy Spirit in African American Gospel," written in collaboration with members of the gospel community.

The lecture was arranged by Carolina Speakers at UNC. The outreach program brings more than 90 faculty members to business, civic and community groups across the state. The speakers share their expertise on more than 150 topics, including 46 that focus on North Carolina and the South. For more information or to schedule a Carolina Speaker, contact Sandy Roberts at 919-962-1993 or sandy_roberts@unc.edu, or visit the Carolina Speakers Web site at www.unc.edu/depts/uncspeak.

- 30 -

(Atkinson is a graduate of UNC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication from Roanoke, Va.)

Contact: Sandy Roberts, 919-962-1993, sandy_roberts@unc.edu