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UNC American Indian Center to rededicate final phase of Senora Lynch’s “The Gift” on April 10
Chapel Hill, N.C.—April 2, 2015) – The UNC American Indian Center will rededicate noted artist Senora Lynch’s “The Gift” to Carolina on April 10 at 11 a.m. The rededication marks the completion of Phase 2 of the project, which transforms the breezeway between the Frank Porter Graham Student Union buildings into a plaza where students can sit, study, gather and enjoy the art.
Chancellor Carol L. Folt, Provost James W. Dean, Jr. and Board of Trustee member Alston Gardner will join state tribal leaders, the NC American Indian Health Board and Lynch at the ceremony. The event is open to the public and will take place on the monument site, with a reception to follow inside the Student Union.
Spanning roughly 240 feet long and 40 feet wide, “The Gift” came to life through the participation of several groups, including the Carolina Union, representatives from Clearscapes, the brick masons and various Native American faculty, staff, and students.
Created and installed in two phases, with Phase 1 dedicated on April 20, 2004, the design is rendered in colored brick and incorporates imagery from Native American storytelling and the natural world in a staggered pattern typical of beadwork. A plaque near the monument explains the symbolism behind each image.
Lynch, a member of North Carolina’s Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe, is nationally known for her unique style of extraordinarily detailed hand carved pottery. Her work has been displayed at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. and is featured in permanent collections at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington and the Museum of History in Raleigh.
“After creating the design, I realized how much it relates to anyone pursuing growth, movement, and change,” said Lynch. “I hope those who walk across this path will find a place of comfort and inspiration.”
-Carolina-
Communications and Public Affairs contact: MC VanGraafeiland, (919) 445-8555, mediarelations@unc.edu