NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2000

LOCAL ARTISTS ADD EXTRA DIMENSION TO AREA MLK CELEBRATION

CARY, NC – A Saturday evening reception and celebration will bring to the community five area artists who are participating in a month-long exhibition honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibition and reception are part of two weekends of free events for DreamFest 2000—Cary’s annual celebration of the life, work, and vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibition, entitled "Peace, Unity & Social Justice - The Message of Martin Luther King, Jr.", will run from January 5 - February 1, 2000 at Cary’s Page-Walker Arts & History Center, 119 Ambassador Loop.

At the 7:00-10:00 PM reception on January 15^th, the public will meet:

• Javier Alarcon, a Durham photographer and painter, conveys Dr. King’s message from a religious perspective. On display for the first time, will also be a set of commissioned photographs capturing Cary’s adopted town of Princeville, NC.

• Vandorn Hinnant, a Greensboro painter and sculptor, captures the spirit of MLK, Jr. from a philosophical perspective, using his knowledge of geometry, philosophy and the healing effects of color to create art that "touches and heals the souls of its viewer".
• André Leon Gray, a Raleigh mixed media artist, captures the DreamFest spirit from an historical perspective, using pieces of history such as photos from the 1800’s and pieces of abandoned homes, along with his knowledge of history, to create art that "narrates to its viewers".
• Alyssa Hinton, a Carrboro mixed media artist and painter, captures the spirit from a Native American perspective by combining multiple layers of organic forms with figurative depictions and historical references.
• Lorenzo Augustas Smith, a Raleigh painter, uses finger painting to reveal his message. As an additional treat, a commissioned piece for Queen Latifah will be on exhibit.

Awards for outstanding achievements in community service and leadership will also be conferred during the "Dream Makers" reception. Honorees include North Carolina State University’s Dr. Lawrence M. Clark, Cary’s P and J Kids, and 12 year old Brandi Nicole Johnson.

Other activities in this final weekend of Cary’s DreamFest 2000 include:

• January 14^th, "Dream Performance", featuring international recording artist, DeNeay, live in concert at 8:00 PM at the Cary Community Center.
• "Dream Dance" follows the concert at about 9:30 PM, also at the Community Center. A local dance instructor and students will be on hand to guide a 2½ hour party of New World music.

• January 15^th, "Dream of Democracy", a unity march beginning at 10:30 AM at Cary’s Fidelity Bank at the intersection of Academy and Chatham streets and ending with a rally at Cary Town Hall around noon. Lunch will follow at the Cary Community Center.

• January 16^th, "Dream United", a community-wide ecumenical observance on Sunday, January 16^th at 3:00 PM in the Cary Community Center.

Sponsored by the Town of Cary in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force of Cary and Parent’s Coalition for Excellence, DreamFest is designed to recognize the strength in the diversity of the Triangle Community. Cary’s Cultural Resources Division coordinates all DreamFest 2000 events. For more information, visit the Town of Cary’s website at www.townofcary.org or call 469-4061.