Public History in Film: Freeman Vines

The Gregg Museum of Art & Design is hosting a screening and discussion of Freeman Vines on Thursday, October 22, from 5:30 to 7 PM. The short documentary focuses on North Carolina artist and guitar maker Freeman Vines, who's best known for his hand-carved instruments. Many of those guitars were made from the wood of the tree used in the 1930 lynching of Oliver Moore, and the film works through that intersection of sacred art and history.

The screening is followed by a conversation with Vines' sister, Alice Vines, and the film's directors, Andre Robert Lee and Tim Kirkman. Nishani Frazier, NC State's director of public history, moderates the talk. It's part of the Public History in Film series at the Gregg, which is run by NC State's Department of History.

One of Vines' most striking pieces, The Skull Guitar, is also on display at the museum, so you can see it in person before or after the session. The whole evening is free and open to the public. The Gregg is at 1903 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh.