Boone photo exhibit explores kin and community in Appalachia

Boone’s Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is preparing to exhibit the finalists for its 22nd annual Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition.

This year’s theme touched on community, a topic that was brought to the forefront following the devastation caused by Helene. 

The exhibit, which will be on display starting February 7 inside the Turchin Center’s Bickers Gallery, will feature 47 photographs from Appalachian artists.

It’s titled “Making Kin: Belonging and Longing in Appalachia.” 

Shauna Caldwell, associate curator for academic engagement at the Center, said Helene’s influence could be seen in the over 500 submitted photos. 

But of course, the spirit of Appalachia can’t be defined by a storm.

"It’s not a documentation of the damage caused by the hurricane but more so a celebration of the idea of making kin, you know what new connections were found this year," Caldwell said. "So we have images that are a little more documentary and then we have work that is really narrative and really lyrical."

The exhibit will be on display until May 3 and will feature work from artists like Marcus Morris and Sarah Pfhol.

Santiago Ochoa covers healthcare for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. Follow him on X and Instagram: @santi8a98