Phil Borges, who travels the world photographing indigenous and tribal people in remote parts of the world, will speak at UNC Thursday (Sept. 27) for the opening of an exhibit of his work.
Borges’ free public talk and book signing, at 7 p.m. in the FedEx Global Education Center, will open “Women Empowered,” a display of 29 of his pictures of women in Africa, Asia and South America. With support from the nonprofit organization CARE, Borges not only photographed the women, but also gathered stories of how they empowered themselves and their communities.
At age 45, Borges, of Seattle, left his orthodontic practice for a second career in photography. Among his accomplishments since then are the book “Tibetan Portrait: The Power of Compassion,” and “Enduring Spirit,” an exhibit and book on the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He has hosted three television documentaries for Discovery and National Geographic.
In 2001, Borges created the organization Bridges to Understanding, an on-line classroom project connecting students from indigenous cultures with their urban contemporaries in middle and high schools. His tools: interactive technology, photography, storytelling and travel.
"Women Empowered” will be free to the public in the FedEx Global Education Center, at McCauley and Pittsboro streets, through Jan. 3. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit http://www.philborges.com or www.global.unc.edu, or call (919) 962-2435.
FedEx Global Education Center contact: Laura Griest, (919) 962-0318, lauragriest@unc.edu