"Peace Pole" Dedication by the Rotary Club of Morganton
A peace pole is a monument that displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth". The idea originated in 1955 by Masahisa Goi, from Japan. Hundreds of thousands have been placed around the world, in almost 200 countries. They are made of many materials including wood, limestone, copper, plastic or stainless steel.
It was Rotary District 7670’s goal to plant such peace poles in Western North Carolina throughout 2024-25. The Rotary Club of Morganton accepted the challenge and club member Scott Brooks, a woodworking hobbyist, stepped up to create the pole. Scott selected a heart pine beam from the Burke Arts Council’s theater renovation. He carved the Rotary seal as well as the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on four sides: one side in English and the other sides in languages spoken most frequently in Morganton - Hmong, Spanish, and Aquateco - a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala.
The Rotary Club of Morganton’s peace pole is now planted in the front yard of Burke Arts Council and was unveiled at a dedication ceremony during the Third Thursday Art Crawl on June 19, 2025.
Summer Strings Concert featured in The Paper!
Summer Strings at the Burke Arts Council, featuring the Carolina Primrose Quartet. Photo by Sandra Wilkerson Queen, Arts & Entertainment Editor of The Paper
We had a nice little write up in The Paper, this past Saturday, July 6, by Sandra Wilkerson Queen, the Arts & Entertainment Editor.
The Burke Arts Council welcomed the Carolina Primrose Quartet for a Summer Strings concert on June 28. An audience of about 50 people gathered in the Arts Council gallery for a wine and cheese reception and a one-hour concert. An ice cream social on the Arts Council’s back porch followed the concert. The quartet played classic tunes such as Handel’s “Hornpipe in D and La Rejouissance,” Led Zepplin’s rock anthem “Kashmir,” and The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” among other traditional and pop favorites. The Carolina Primrose Quartet is Daniel Leich (violin and viola), Mari Hashimoto (violin and viola), Vivian Torres (viola), and Zo Taddie (cello).
The Burke Arts Council is a “Breath of Fresh Air”
The Burke Arts Council won the “Breath of Fresh Air” award from the The Burke County Chamber of Commerce at the Downtown Morganton, North Carolina Distinguished Award Ceremony.
On Thursday evening, June 27th, Deborah Jones (Executive Director) and Kathy Lindquist (Secretary) were on hand to accept the “Breath of Fresh Air” award (for enhancing the vitality of downtown) from The Burke County Chamber of Commerce at the Downtown Morganton, North Carolina Distinguished Awards ceremony. Along with the Burke Arts Council, The Olive of Morganton, and Merrill Mischief were also recipients of awards that night. It was an honor to be in such wonderful company and we are so grateful for the recognition from everyone at The Burke County Chamber of Commerce.