Highlighting America 250
Poster series looks at McDowell County's America 250 commemoration
The poster project was "dead in the water" until McDowell Technical Community College President J.W. Kelley (center) connected America 250 Chairman Doug Swaim with Jay Perry (left), director of the college's Arts and Design Program. Perry assigned the poster project to two classes of graphic design students. The posters of Aleta Cheynne Reese (right) were selected as the best designs.
Eight museum-style posters setting out the commemoration's major themes were installed in the McDowell County Administrative Offices lobby recently, where they will be on display through Saturday, July 4. The posters were designed by McDowell Tech graphic design student Aleta Cheynne Reese (pictured).
"North Carolina's america 250 celebration explores two big themes," announces the first poster in the series.
This poster focuses on "revolutionary Mcdowell — The Overmountain Campaign."
Another poster on display at the County administrative Offices highlights the protests in Old Fort about the closing of the town's school for Black students during the era of segregation.
A visit to the McDowell County Administrative Offices these days brings an education on the local America 250 commemoration.
Eight museum-style posters setting out the commemoration's major themes were installed in the building's lobby recently and will be on display through July 4. The posters were designed by McDowell Technical Community College graphic design student Aleta Cheynne Reese, according to a news release from the McDowell County America 250 Committee.
"The idea of using posters to communicate the major themes of our local 250 commemoration arose almost two years ago," said America 250 Committee Chair Doug Swaim. "Getting the posters designed and printed has been a huge challenge. A lot of folks contributed to the effort, and we couldn't be more pleased with the result."
According to Swaim, draft designs for the posters were developed a year ago by former Carson House Executive Director Amanda Elledge Finn, who moved from the area before the designs could be completed. The project was "dead in the water" until McDowell Technical Community College President J.W. Kelley connected Swaim with Jay Perry, director of the college's Arts and Design Program. Perry assigned the poster project to two classes of graphic design students. Reese's posters were selected as the best designs.
"McDowell County Manager Ashley Wooten and the county commissioners have been super supportive of the America 250 effort," Swaim said. "They provided the funds and Masters Hand did an excellent job on the printing."
"North Carolina's America 250 celebration explores two big themes," announces the first poster in the series, "Revolutionary N.C." and "When are we U.S.?" "Revolutionary N.C." is the local Revolutionary-era history. "When are we U.S.?" looks at efforts through the years to live up to the ideals that were set out in our nation's founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence, which was signed 250 years ago this July 4.
Four of the posters present the "Revolutionary N.C." theme:
1. "Revolutionary North Carolina" provides a timeline comparing national events with events in North Carolina.
2. "Revolutionary McDowell — Service in the Patriot Cause" distinguishes between service in the Continental Army under Gen. George Washington and service in a local militia unit.
3. "Revolutionary McDowell — Securing the Frontier" focuses on the fact that many local patriots spent the Revolution defending the frontier against Cherokee incursions.
4. "Revolutionary McDowell — The Overmountain Campaign" provides an overview of the backcountry response to British Major Ferguson's invasion and the ensuing Battle of King's Mountain.
Three posters present the "When are we U.S.?" theme:
1. "Labor Strikes 1929" summarizes the important chapter in the history of labor organizing when workers at two Marion textile mills went on strike.
2. "The Road to Equality" translates the national story of progress in race relations to the local level, focusing on activists in Old Fort in the 1950s.
3. "New Roots, Shared Dreams" focuses on two immigrant groups who have enriched our local communities in the recent past.
"Spend a little time with these posters and you've got the major themes of our local 250 commemoration 'from soup to nuts'," Swaim said.
The McDowell County America 250 Committee plans to keep the posters on display at prominent locations around the county for as long as there is interest.
