Press release from Transylvania Community Arts Council:
Transylvania Community Arts Council and Nicola Karesh have partnered again for the 6th annual Faces of Freedom expressive art exhibition. The invitational show features minority and other underrepresented artists in Transylvania County.
Community engagement powerhouse, Nicola Karesh is an author, public speaker, activist, and owner of Morning Glory Inspirations. She organizes impactful community programs that are creative, memorable, and engaging. “The idea for Faces of Freedom came to me during a time when I was feeling concerned about minorities,” said Karesh. “Many minorities felt like their ancestry was something shameful, something that had to be hidden. I wanted to give them a platform to share their experience of freedom or lack thereof.”
Each year, Karesh invites marginalized artists in Transylvania County to interpret the theme Faces of Freedom through their creative medium, resulting in a diverse and powerful exhibition. The opening reception showcases many of the artists through visual and performance art, the spoken word, and interactive installations. Karesh anticipates an installation of community created prayer flags will be a powerful piece in the exhibition.
“Earlier in the year, Moms Demand Action showed “Newtown” at Brevard College. The film was gripping and emotional as it documented how the traumatized, yet resilient, community of Newtown, Connecticut came together in the aftermath of the largest mass shooting of schoolchildren in American history… Sandy Hook,” explained Karesh. “The film was deeply moving for those who attended, so I asked them to write down their thoughts on index cards. At the time I didn’t know what we would do with their responses, but I knew they would move forward into some kind of community art. The Faces of Freedom exhibition will be the third community event since, where we have incorporated their reactions, along with additional community expressions for public art.”
The mission of the Transylvania Community Arts Council is to enhance the quality of life in Transylvania County by celebrating and nurturing the creative spirit of artists, youth and individuals throughout the County. Faces of Freedom has become one of the most widely attended and captivating exhibitions of the year for the TC Arts Council. Sponsors for this exhibition include the Audrey Love Charitable Foundation, and Morning Glory Inspirations.
“It is an honor for these artists to be invited to the show, especially for the minorities who are not used to being represented through their art,” said Karesh. “They are so thankful to discover that their voice matters in our community.”
The Faces of Freedom exhibition will be on display at the Transylvania Community Arts Council from January 13-31. The public is invited to the opening reception and evening performances on Friday, January 17 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The TC Arts Council is located at 349 S. Caldwell St. in Brevard, NC. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information call TC Arts at (828) 884-2787 or visit www.tcarts.org.
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