On July 26, a mural named SERVICE was dedicated at UNC’s School of Government in the Knapp-Sanders Building. The mural, depicting a gathering of African-American leaders at the counter of a diner, was painted by Colin Quashie as a creative interpretation of the historical 1960 Greensboro, North Carolina, sit-in. We will be featuring each of [...] Read more »
Archive of posts filed under the Art / Architecture category.
WATCH: Furniture Making slideshow
Though North Carolina has welcomed the recent arrival of a certain Scandinavian furniture mecca, the state has a rich history as the “Furniture Capital of the World.” Patricia Phillips Marshall, coauthor of Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color, provides an entry in the Encyclopedia of North Carolina that gives a brief account [...] Read more »
The Legacy of Thomas Day
During the mid-1800s, Thomas Day was the most successful cabinet maker working in North Carolina. A significant figure in the history of woodworking, equally as important for his role in American history as an astoundingly successful free man of color in the Antebellum South, Day developed a truly original aesthetic and showed unmatched skill as [...] Read more »
North Carolina Pottery on PBS Tonight
The American craft tradition did not just appear, fully-formed and mature. Where have our craft practices come from? How does the tradition continue? Tonight at 8pm on PBS-TV, the Peabody award-winning series CRAFT IN AMERICA will feature several craft experts on the segment titled, “Origins.” Each of the artists featured in “Origins” ties their work [...] Read more »
Tar Heel Trek: Brunswick County
The following is a guide to Bald Head Island written in the form of a children’s book: One summer we took the ferry to an island. We stayed in a little house on the beach and watched the ocean move. We put on suntan lotion and laid towels out on the sand. We built castles [...] Read more »
Tar Heel Trek: Forsyth County
We’re starting a new series today – Tar Heel Trek will feature a different North Carolina county each week. Drawing on information from UNC Press’ great books about North Carolina, we’ll highlight the history, culture, and people that help give each place its character. We hope these posts will inspire you to look deeper and [...] Read more »
Grandfather Mountain: personal and public
Yesterday Governor Bev Perdue signed legislation making Grandfather Mountain North Carolina’s newest state park. Hugh Morton (1921-2006) inherited the 2500-acre property and developed part of it into a tourist attraction, including a famous “mile-high” swinging bridge. Morton’s family will continue to operate the tourist site and nature center there. My family vacations as a child [...] Read more »
Circa 1958 now showing at the Ackland
Ever had the urge to nail a strand of your hair into a mirror but thought, “Hey, if I nail anything into this mirror, it’s gonna shatter”? Well, think again—in the ’50s anything was possible: they nailed human hair into faux mirrors, splotched paint across the canvas, and even put everyday chairs on display, all [...] Read more »
Roy Underhill talks to Mother Earth News
America’s favorite traditional woodworker, Roy Underhill, recently talked to Mother Earth News about his brand new book, The Woodwright’s Guide: Working Wood with Wedge and Edge. The next time someone asks me what famous (not dead) person I’d like to have dinner with, I’m going to have to say Roy Underhill. Wait a sec . [...] Read more »
Weekend Roadtrip #4: Eating and Touring Down East
Keeping with the coastal Carolina theme of the past couple of weekend roadtrips, this week’s suggestions get you in the kitchen and on the move. Guides for preparing seafood, bird watching, and visiting historic architecture after the jump… // Read more »
BEA Report
The biggest annual trade show in the American book biz, BookExpo America was held in Los Angeles this year from May 29 to June 1. UNC Press had a double booth and featured several great books coming up on our Fall 2008 list. Pics of our booth and a peek at some forthcoming gems, after [...]
