Johnson C. Smith State University News June 11, 2012 Times Square to Showcase Works of Visual Artist at Johnson C. Smith University Six digital prints by Cynthia Cole, professor of photography and graphic design at Johnson C. Smith University, will be shown at a premier event "Art Takes Times Square" on June 18 in New York City. Cole and other visual artists from around the world will display their pieces that evening on the Jumbotron screens in Times Square from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on smaller screens around the city during the day. The event is sponsored by the Times Square Alliance, Chashana and Artists Wanted to raise awareness and globalize the visual arts in a way that breaks down barriers between countries and the arts. Six of Cole's works were selected for the exhibit including prints titled "It's a Jungle Out There" and "There's No Place Like Home." Based on the theme of place, Cole's prints combine rural and urban life and how people are always looking for a home or a sense of place. Born in Wilmington, N.C., Cole had lived in cities her entire life until ten years ago when she moved to western North Carolina. At that point, she decided to explore landscape photography which she later combined with urban scenes to illustrate how the two can come together. Cole has taught at Johnson C. Smith University for ten years. She is a graduate of Agnes Scott College and New York University where she earned her Master of Arts in environmental studies photography. Her work has been featured in the City Gallery of Chastain in Atlanta, Ga.; The Lieca Gallery in New York City, Gallery One Eleven in Birmingham, Ala.; and The Light Factory, Charlotte, N.C. She is a two-time 1st Choice Pick for the Creative Capital Fellowship for the visual art category and received a Grassroots Grant for North Carolina artists. Founded in 1867, Johnson C. Smith University is the premier independent urban liberal arts university located in the heart of Charlotte, N.C. It offers a progressive liberal arts curriculum with 23 fields of study to more than 1,600 students. The University prepares students for success through excellent academic programs with a focus on servant leadership, civic engagement and global responsibility. Contact: Jennifer Gaskins Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing 704.330.1338 | jgaskins@jcsu.edu SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.