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Join Buncombe County Public Libraries as we celebrate Black Legacy Month in February. Below is a list of events we will be hosting, we look forward to seeing you!
Exile From Altamont? Race and Belonging in Thomas Wolfe's Asheville
Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Pack Memorial Library - 67 Haywood St. – Asheville
Join the Buncombe County Special Collections and our partners from the Thomas Wolfe Memorial and Vance Birthplace State Historic Sites for a mini-symposium examining issues of race in Thomas Wolfe’s Asheville and how those themes continue to impact our community in the present.
Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p .m., Lord Auditorium
- A diverse cast of community members will present selections from Thomas Wolfe’s Welcome to Our City and a complete reading of The Road by Andrea Clark followed by a facilitated discussion. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Mountain History and Culture Group.
Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m., Lord Auditorium
- Dr. Darin Waters (Deputy Secretary of Archives and History for North Carolina) and Dr. Kevin Young (Appalachian State University) will present short lectures on Thomas Wolfe’s examination of race in his works Welcome to Our City and Child By Tiger followed by a facilitated Q&A. Light refreshments will be provided courtesy of the Mountain History and Culture Group.
These events are free, but you do need to register. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.
Freedom Songs
Saturday, Feb.17 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Weaverville Library - 41 N. Main St. – Weaverville
- From the work songs of the fields of people who were enduring the bonds of slavery, to Ragtime, Jazz, R&B, and the inspired spirituals of the Civil Rights movement, this play follows the compelling story of the role that music played in the history of Black Americans. Meet incredible Americans like Scott Joplin, Billie Holiday, Little Richard, and more in a tale that is sure to intrigue audiences of all ages! Presented by Bright Star Touring Theatre, this program is ideal for grades 4 and up, but all ages are welcome.
This event is free, but you do need to register. Please stop by the Weaverville Library or call 250-6482 to reserve your space!
Black Experince Book Club: The Changeling
Feb. 22 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Noir Collective AVL - 39 S. Market St. Suite C – Asheville
- The Black Experience Book Club reads books by Black authors about the many facets of the Black experience. Join other book lovers to discuss this month's pick, The Changeling by Victor LaValle.
Call your local Buncombe County Public Library or visit buncombecounty.org/library to reserve your copy online. Or stop by Noir Collective AVL during open hours, call (828) 257-4540, or email noircollectiveavl@gmail.com to check availability. This program is sponsored by the Noir Collective and the East Asheville Library.
Swannanoa Winter Art Series: Figurative Portrait Collage Animals
Age 5-7: Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.
Age 8-12: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
Swannanoa Library - 101 W. Charleston Ave. - Swannanoa
Join us again for part one of our Winter Art Series at Swannanoa Library! Local artist Nora Mosrie will lead six sessions over the winter where kids can learn about different types of art and materials. For our February sessions and in celebration of Black History Month, we will learn about Romare Bearden, an African-American artist from WNC, and his medium of collage! This class session is for ages 8-12. Please register for this event so we can predetermine the amount of materials needed. Please visit the library web page and use the link on the calendar for this program to sign up.
Sponsored by the Swannanoa Valley Fine Arts League and funded by The Black Mountain-Swannanoa Valley Endowment Fund through the Community Foundation of WNC.