RALEIGH – A fresh look at people and places in North Carolina is found in the “Telling Our Stories” Photography Exhibit May 4-28 at Edgecombe County Memorial Library in Tarboro. The best among North Carolina’s professional and amateur photographers are showcased in a traveling exhibit organized by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources. In addition to works by contemporary professional and amateur photographers, historic photographs from the State Archives are touring for the first time. A free opening reception will be on May 4, 4:30-5:30 p.m.
In collaboration, the top amateur winners of the Our State Magazine 2008 photography contest, and works by 21 invited professional artists selected by a panel convened by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, are on the tour. There are color and black and white images that show the state’s mountains to the coast, as well as some distant lands. The 11 images from Our State winners, and 18 from the State Archives, complete the exhibit. Coordinated by the State Library of North Carolina, the exhibit will travel to 33 libraries statewide on an eastern and western route.
Among eastern North Carolina scenes is the delightful This little pig in New Bern by Lindsey Springer, and Boy with beagle at Cape Hatteras, by Tina Banner, both Our State winners. Professional Tom Braswell of Wilson shares artphoto 1, an enchanting rural image of houses, clouds, field, and trees.
The exhibit has been popular in earlier stops. Among comments in New Hanover County were, “Wonderful photos, I enjoyed each one!” “Super. I am a photographer.” “Nice art show. My 6-year-old son and I enjoyed it.” In Bladen County, “Some beautiful photography, some showed very clever meanings…” Visitors are encouraged to add their comments to a notebook in each county, which is on tour through December 2009.
For information about the exhibit, call (252) 823-1141 in Tarboro or (919) 807-7385 in Raleigh. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources is a state agency dedicated to the promotion and protection of North Carolina’s arts, history and culture. Now podcasting information 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.