DURHAM – Citizens across the state have gotten a fresh look at North Carolina over the past 14 months. The “Telling Our Stories” Photography Exhibit depicts the mountains to the coast, various time periods, and even far away places on two routes in a road trip across the state. The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources organized the tours; the western route will end with the exhibit at the main Durham County Library from Dec. 10-31. A reception with remarks by photographer John Rosenthal will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, at 4 p.m.
Each route includes 11 images from the top winners of the 2008 Our State magazine Readers Choice Photography contest, 21 images from professional photographers, and 18 pictures from the State Archives, that traveled for the first time. Among images is a young Andy Griffith in The Lost Colony or a pleasant pig. Chapel Hill photographer John Rosenthal’s Wrightsville Beach, NC is on the western tour. Area photographers who will be available for questions include Titus Heagins, with Usher, O’Bryant AME Church, Bruce Melkowits, with Pod, and Susan Simone, with Desert Crossing. Other area photographers exhibited are Taj Forer, Margaret Sartor and Chris Sims.
The State Library of North Carolina contacted public libraries across the state about hosting the exhibit. Altogether 33 libraries displayed the photographs, bringing small and medium sized markets a quality of artwork not often seen. Citizens from Macon County to Pasquotank have enjoyed the unique exhibit. The eastern tour ends at the Wake County Library-Cameron Village. Dec. 3-31, so both exhibits can be seen by Triangle residents.
Among comments written are “Beautiful, all pictures tell a story of time. Your mind goes to the past and present. Great work!,” from Alamance County and from McDowell County, “Thanks for sharing these with our state – wonderful photos!”
For information on the Durham exhibit call 560-0171. For information on the tours call 807-7389. The State Library of North Carolina is a division of the N. C. Department of Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.ncculture.com.