Culture - The Daily Tar Heel

Daniel Wallace, the director of UNC's creative writing program, has just completed the first draft of his nonfiction novel "This Isn't Going To End Well". Photo courtesy of Daniel Wallace.

UNC professor reveals shift to nonfiction in upcoming novel

By Elise Mahon | Apr. 16

An experienced writer, Daniel Wallace decided to shift his focus after the passing of his sister.

Office DJ: A Postmodern Jukebox Playlist

By Angelica Edwards | Apr. 16

Postmodern Jukebox is offering a new way to listen to your favorite artists—from Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, to Lady Gaga and Haley Reinhart.

Members of Company Carolina perform in its 2019 production of "Sweet Charity," co-directed by Bradley Barefoot and Kayley Carpenter, assistant directed by Kathryn Brown. Photo courtesy of Kathryn Brown.

Kenan Theatre Company, Company Carolina look ahead to fall 2020 season

By Emma Gerden | Apr. 16

Despite the disruption to their scheduled spring season, theater organizations at UNC, like Kenan Theatre Company and Company Carolina, are looking forward to the fall with shows like "Kemps" and "Iphigenia 2.0." Other student-run companies, such as The LAB! Theatre and UNC Pauper Players, are reviewing proposals for next season.

Assistant University Editor Hannah Lang. Photo courtesy of Hannah Lang.

Office DJ: Let's be honest, it's sad girl hours

By Hannah Lang | Apr. 16

"Sometimes you just need to get in your feelings, and then listen to sad, angsty music to make all of those feelings worse and more intense."

The ArtsCenter will continue to offer online workshops and classes as a way to help people engage positively with the community. Photo courtesy of Patrick Phelps-McKeown.

The ArtsCenter to offer online arts classes during social distancing period and beyond

By Dominick Ferrara | Apr. 15

"It's a way to strengthen existing connections and to find new connections to other people and to ideas. Right now, when a lot of people are looking for ways to connect, it provides a unique opportunity because it's possible to collaborate and make art without being in the same room."

A tiger reclines in its cage at Carolina Tiger Rescue in 2012. In addition to tigers the rescue houses leopards, jaguars, ocelots and other animals.The preserve offers tours to inform the public about threats to these animals.

Carolina Tiger Rescue in Pittsboro addresses 'what Tiger King doesn't tell you'

By Mary King | Apr. 14

Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” has generated lively social media discourse over the past weeks, and UNC students were quick to contribute. But not everyone in the Orange County community thinks this show is the cat’s meow. Pittsboro-based Carolina Tiger Rescue released a statement in early April criticizing “Tiger King” for inadequately documenting how big cats suffer in the cub-petting industry. "While we are glad that the issue of captive big cats in the U.S. is currently at the forefront of popular culture, we would like to refocus the conversation toward the problem rather than the story," Carolina Tiger Rescue wrote in the statement.

Film Fest 919 will be holding a Virtual Film Series featuring three films and live Q&As with filmmakers. Photo courtesy of Sarah Lipetz.

Getting creative during quarantine? Film Fest 919's festival wants to share original art

By Rylee Parsons | Apr. 14

Film Fest 919 is now hosting a Social Distancing Film, Song and Photo Festival. Participants are encouraged to submit short films, re-enact scenes and songs from a favorite film, create a music video or create a photo montage.

UNC students attended Mi Pueblo's "Stay-at-Home Latin Night” on Saturday, April 11, 2020. Photo courtesy of Julian Berger.

Here's how Mi Pueblo hopes to maintain community through COVID-19

By Elise Mahon | Apr. 13

Mi Pueblo hosted a virtual Latin Night to keep members connect despite not being together on campus.

Members of Blank Canvas, a student dance group, sit in Memorial Hall's auditorium for a past performance. Photo courtesy of Tiffany Oliver.

UNC dance groups find ways to recognize their work despite canceled performances

By Maddie Singleton | Apr. 9

Following the cancellation of extracurricular activities due to COVID-19, members of these dance groups have continued to try to celebrate their hard work and share their performances with the community.

Nathalie Joachim of Flutronix performs a cappella in a video she recorded at home for Carolina Performing Arts. Photo courtesy of Christina Rodriguez.

Carolina Performing Arts launches CPA at Home program in wake of COVID-19

By Dominick Ferrara | Apr. 9

Using Spotify, live streaming and social media, the CPA at Home program encourages its users to reconnect with the performances they missed.

Preston Lennon, director of enterprise, pictured on Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.

Office DJ: Zoom University will persevere

By Preston Lennon | Apr. 8

"It's not ideal, but if there's one thing I've learned from the past 3.75 years, it's that it will take far more than a global pandemic to stop Carolina in its tracks."

Rachel Pollock’s home studio, where she has sewn dozens of masks for people affected by COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Rachel Pollock.

'But I can sew': PlayMakers costumer trades making stage masks for surgical masks

By Kristen Jones | Apr. 8

Rachel Pollock, a costumer with the PlayMakers Repertory Company, has dedicated much of her time to sewing masks for hospitals across the U.S. as their demand has soared in recent weeks. She has posted mask-sewing tutorials across her social media in an effort to encourage others to do the same.

One of the bus shelters in the decorated as part of the Arts + Transit's Artistic Bus Shelter opportunity. Photo courtesy of Brian Litchfield.

Art to walk, run or roll by: Chapel Hill Art + Transit calls for bus shelter designs

By Elise Mahon | Apr. 8

Chapel Hill Art + Transit is bringing back their Artistic Bus Shelter program, an opportunity for local artists to decorate bus shelters in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.

Students working on honors theses in creative writing for Daniel Wallace's fiction class are continuing the revision process remotely despite disruptions caused by COVID-19. Photo courtesy of Daniel Wallace.

'A little literary family': Students finishing fiction and poetry theses write remotely

By Liz Johnson | Apr. 8

“We’re still writing, and we’re still going to keep writing,” Alexis Byrd said. “All of us are writers at heart.”

DTH Photo Illustration. Town of Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle has declared April as Carrboro Poetry Month since her first year in office.

Carrboro Mayor continues tradition of proclaiming April as Poetry Month

By Rylee Parsons | Apr. 7

Town of Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle is urging everyone to read and share poems during April's Poetry Month.

An Orange County ceramics teacher had the foresight to send home small amounts of clay with individual students before schools were closed.  She had the students create a two dimensional Zentangle, then create a 3D version.  Photo courtesy of Brenda Whiteman.

Here’s how local schools are adjusting arts education for remote learning

By Dominick Ferrara | Apr. 7

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School arts teachers have had to get creative to continue teaching students online.

Senior Isabel Perry makes a vase using wire and beads for a ceramics class. The class no longer makes ceramics because it is being taught remotely because of coronavirus.

'Necessity is the mother of invention': UNC arts education adapts to remote learning

By Patty Weeks | Apr. 6

These artists are using their creativity to identify new ways to approach their craft, remotely.

Matt Randal O’Wain is a professor in the English and comparative literature department. Photo courtesy of Matt Randal O'Wain.

Creative in isolation: A UNC professor teaches from a McDonald's parking lot in W.Va.

By Mary King | Apr. 5

Over spring break, UNC professor Matt Randal O'Wain traveled with his wife from their Durham home to their farm in West Virginia, as they typically do when classes aren‘t in session. Now, a stay-at-home order has them stranded there, and O'Wain treks to a nearby McDonald’s three days a week to teach his classes.

UNC students paint in the Morrison Art Studio. Arts Everywhere is bringing the Morrison Art Studio online, sending out emails with activity prompts. Photo courtesy of Haley France.

Arts Everywhere brings art studio online to inspire creativity for UNC community

By Kristen Jones | Apr. 5

Arts Everywhere at UNC is encouraging students to create art at home to relieve stress during quarantine.

UNC senior and Loreleis President Julia Kelly performs at a UNC Loreleis concert. UNC’s premier all-female a capella group, the Loreleis, will release a new album titled “Solstice” on April 18. Photo courtesy of Amy Smith.

'A good unifier in times like this:' Loreleis release new album despite COVID-19

By Emma Gerden | Apr. 5

“We’ve been relying a little bit more on social media to get the word out,” said Loreleis public manager Amy Smith. “We usually still use social media pretty heavily when we are on campus, because everyone uses it for the most part, but now it’s more of a transition from publicizing the concert to publicizing the album.”