Sandra Deal
Deal is honorary chair of the Georgia tour of New Harmonies, a Smithsonian traveling exhibition on the early traditions of American music. The exhibition will visit 12 communities in Georgia from April 14, 2012 through Nov. 26, 2013.
The Georgia Humanities Council in partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia, Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Department of Economic Development is sponsoring the statewide tour.
Deal is proud to be a part of this project, noting that, ”Georgia has a rich heritage of musical traditions, from sacred hymns to bluegrass, from string bands to gospel, and of course, southern rock, modern country, and the blues. Most of us have stories about roots music in our family or community.”
At the grand opening in Calhoun, the First Lady will be joined by Rose Lane White Leavell, chair of the exhibition and wife of rock music legend Chuck Leavell (Rolling Stones, Allman Brothers). Carol Harsh, director of the Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street program, is also a special guest.
The grand opening of New Harmonies is set for 2 p.m. It features a keynote speech by Dr. Jamil Zainaldin, president of the Georgia Humanities Council, and a number of local musicians led by fiddler Mick Kinney of the Georgia Crackers.
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees receive a first look at the exhibition, access to a special reception, a commemorative CD and a Georgia-focused exhibition catalog.
“I can think of no better person to open this exhibition than our honorary chair, First Lady Sandra Deal,” said Zainaldin. “We are thrilled to have Mrs. Deal as a part of this project and are grateful for her support.”
The New Harmonies exhibition will remain in Calhoun through May 24, 2012, allowing just enough time for overlap with the annual Georgia String Band Festival in Calhoun on May 11-12.
After New Harmonies leaves Calhoun, it will stop for six weeks each in Madison, Darien, Perry, Moultrie, Toccoa, Bremen, Thomson, Nashville, Americus, Waycross and LaGrange.
For more information on the Georgia tour of New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music, visit www.georgiahumanities.org/newharmonies. For information about the grand opening in Calhoun contact Toni Molleson at tonicgarts@bellsouth.net .
About New Harmonies
New Harmonies in Georgia is led by Honorary Chair Sandra Deal, First Lady of Georgia, and Chair Rose Lane Leavell. New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music has been made possible in Georgia by the Georgia Humanities Council in partnership with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Center for Public History at the University of West Georgia, Georgia Council for the Arts, and Georgia Department of Economic Development.
New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music is part of Museum on Main Street, collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution and state humanities councils nationwide. Support for Museum on Main Street has been provided by the U.S. Congress.
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