Arts

CAMEO, A Place of Memories and Dreams

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Wednesday, 25 September 2024

Written by Adam Taylor

After 24 years of owning and operating Fayetteville’s iconic CAMEO Art House Theatre, Nasim and Chris Kuenzel have announced their retirement. The theater will be available for new ownership at the end of 2024. I asked the Kuenzels, staff and loyal patrons about their most fond films and memories of the CAMEO.
The CAMEO’s history is long and rich. The building, first opened as the New Dixie in 1914, was once home to silent films before transforming into Dixie Billiards and Eddie’s Music Center. As downtown theaters like the Broadway and Miracle fell to the wrecking ball in the mid-20th century, the Dixie Theater was condemned, and Fayetteville’s downtown moviegoing days were forgotten.
But in 1997, the Kuenzels, alongside Eric Lindstrom, saw potential in the long-abandoned building. After three years of research and restoration, the CAMEO Art House Theatre opened its doors in October 2000, ushering in a new era of independent cinema in downtown Fayetteville.
The venture, supported by friends, family, and volunteers, was not just a commercial endeavor but a community project. By 2002, the CAMEO expanded to include The LOGE, a 38-seat screening room, further cementing its place as an arts hub. In 2003, the meticulous restoration work was recognized with the Gertrude S. Caraway Award of Merit for historic preservation.
Over the years, the CAMEO has become known for showing award-winning films, hosting film festivals, and creating a platform for art and independent films that may otherwise never have reached Fayetteville. The theater has weathered changes in the film industry, most notably the shift to digital projection in 2012, which required a successful community fundraising campaign to replace its old equipment.
As Nasim Kuenzel looks back on their years at the CAMEO, several moments stand out, such as the 2014 screening of the controversial anti-North Korean comedy The Interview. With theaters across the country refusing to show the film due to threats, the CAMEO was one of the few to take a stand, even attracting Fayetteville native rapper J. Cole to one of the screenings. Nasim also remembers actor Tom Hardy attending a screening of Venom, where he gave a moving speech in support of the military.
And, of course, the theater’s Oscar parties, where the Fayetteville film community came together to celebrate, are some of Nasim's fondest memories. These moments made everyone feel like they were more than a movie theater—they were part of something bigger.
Chris Kuenzel shares equally vivid memories, from Sustainable Saturdays, a film series focusing on environmental issues, to Silent Film Sundays, where silent films were accompanied by a soundtrack. The CAMEO also became a cherished venue for weddings and proposals.
As for the films he loved showing, Chris highlights Amélie, Little Miss Sunshine, Billy Elliot, Napoleon Dynamite, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as personal favorites that helped solidify the CAMEO’s reputation as a unique film destination.
James Throssel, the CAMEO’s current manager, has created a lasting legacy of his own. He spearheaded the Makers Series which tells the stories of local Fayetteville artists. He loved the Oscar parties and Halloween events—complete with Nosferatu screenings and Halloween cartoons—have become annual traditions. For Throssel, films like The Worst Person in the World, Past Lives, and Waves have left an indelible mark.
“Movies at the CAMEO aren’t just something you watch—they become part of who you are,” he said.
For longtime patron and now staff member Darla Folkes, her connection to the theater began with her first screening of O Brother, Where Art Thou. Her favorite films, including To Kill a Mockingbird, Pan’s Labyrinth, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Inside Llewyn Davis, reflect the kind of diverse and thoughtful programming the CAMEO is known for.
“I’ve enjoyed many memories here.” Folkes treasures memories like the day she was hired, Tom Hardy’s visit, and the moment the community came together to secure the theater’s future with the digital transition.
Former staff member Chris Hollingsworth, now living in Austin, Texas, fondly recalls the unique moments that made working at the CAMEO so special.
"Previewing the film reels early was always fun," he said, reminiscing about his time behind the scenes. Hollingsworth remembers a friend’s wedding at the theater, the excitement of the zombie walk paired with Dead Alive, and the collective energy of the many fundraisers, especially producing promotional content for the campaigns.
One vivid memory was the fire scare that followed a hailstorm, which caused a flickering in the neon sign at Rude Awakening.
"It was one of those moments you don't forget," he shared.
Other standouts included the day-drunk, ritzy crowd at The Great Gatsby screening, and the lively Spielberg/Kubrick/Scorsese debates he had with his coworkers. The theater saw its share of emotional moments for Hollingswoth like hearing about Roger Ebert's death right after watching Twenty Feet from Stardom.
"I pulled out his Great Movies List from my notebook that day. It just felt like the right thing to do."
Hollingsworth’s memories paint a picture of a community deeply connected through film, from lighthearted moments to those that left a lasting emotional impact.
Brian Adam Kline, a former staff member and now CAMEO Film Society member, fondly remembers the people he met during his years at the theater.
“The friendships I made at the CAMEO are lifelong and beautiful,” he said.
Kline recalls screenings of Another Earth, Sound of My Voice, films by Christopher Nolan, Tree of Life, and a special showing of E.T. as some of his favorite cinematic experiences.
“It was never just about the films, though. It was about the connections—the love that people showed each other through good times and bad times,” he said.
Along with James Throssel, Kline produced Local Shorts, a night designated in giving local filmmakers a chance to shine on the CAMEO’s big screen.
The Kuenzels credit the theater’s continued success to its loyal membership base, its dedicated staff, and the Fayetteville community. As they prepare to retire, they are optimistic about the theater’s future.
The CAMEO Art House Theatre stands as more than just a cinema—it’s a time capsule, preserving the spirit of independent film and the shared experiences of Fayetteville’s arts community. As a historic landmark, it has borne witness to countless memories, from weddings and Oscar parties to the films that have shaped the lives of its patrons. For over a century, the building has evolved, reflecting the heart of downtown Fayetteville’s cultural landscape.
As it prepares for a new chapter, the CAMEO remains an irreplaceable part of our city’s arts and culture history, ready to inspire future generations of cinephiles and dreamers.

(Photo: The CAMEO Art House Theatre in Downtown Fayetteville has been a staple of the community. Photo by James Throssel)

Arts Council presents 46th Annual International Folk Festival

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Tuesday, 17 September 2024

Written by Amber Little

One thing that gives Fayetteville its distinctive vibe is the different cultures that reside here. Immersed in every part of the city and surrounding area, the influences can be seen in food, music, art and events. The city hosts one of the country's largest military instillations, two major Universities, and an increasingly growing population from the surrounding rural areas, making it the melting pot of North Carolina.
There is only one way to celebrate the vibrancy of the cultural diversity of a city: an International Folk Festival. This year marks 46 years of celebrating the diversity of Fayetteville.
The International Folk Festival is a free-to-attend, two-day community event. This year’s IFF is Sept. 28 and 29, with the Parade of Nations on the 28th at 10 a.m. kicking off the festivities. The Parade of Nations is a spectacular visual representation of the many cultures that are represented here in the city. This year’s parade will have over 30 nations flying their flags and showcasing clothing, music and dance from their home nations.
Those attending the parade should bring chairs for comfort and get downtown early to secure a good viewing spot. The parade will run down Hay Street, meaning there will be plenty of “perfect spots” to go around. Anyone interested in representing their nation should register at https://www.eventeny.com/events/vendor/?id=12502 by Sept. 19.
For those who want to start IFF by getting the blood flowing, the IFF Around the World 5K Run is Sept. 28 starting at 8 a.m. and ending at approximately 9:15 a.m. with an awards presentation. Registration is on Friday, Sept. 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Sols Arcade and Taproom, 420 Hay Street. Those who want to participate can visit the website https://runsignup.com/Race/AroundtheWorldRun/Page-1.
Registration is $45 and proceeds from the run go to The Friends of Civil Affairs Scholarship Fund, an organization committed to helping Civil Affairs soldiers and their families. Sponsoring this year’s run are Gaston Brewing, LC38, Cape Fear Botanical Garden, Team Jadlow, Sols Arcade and Taproom, Veterans Guardian, and the International Folk Festival.
After the Parade of Nations and the 5K run, attendees can head over to the International Cafe to grab some food. This will be a designated spot for food vendors and food trucks. There will be many options to choose from, representing every corner of the world, a foodie's paradise.
Miles McKeller-Smith, Director of Public Relations at the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County said, “We will have a variety of international food vendors in our International Cafe. This includes Japanese, Honduran, French, and Filipino cuisines, to name a few.”
The Art Market will provide a place for people to explore different vendors, selling everything from traditional clothing to soaps and wooden figurines. The market provides not only a place to make new purchases but also to have a cultural exchange and learn something new about the cultures that call
Fayetteville home.
McKeller-Smith is looking forward to the market and the cafe, saying “We will have various food and arts and craft vendors present for the festival. Our art market alone will have over 30 vendors present selling items such as handmade jewelry, body and home goods, paintings, and so much more.”
There will also be interactive art installations and a kid's zone for some energy-burning activity.
Throughout the day, the main stage will see a variety of performances, highlighting the songs and dances of nations from all over the world. A full list of performers and times can be found on the Arts Council website, https://www.wearethearts.com/iff. This year’s “headline” act is Cultural Forces Ukraine, McKeller-Smith said.
According to their website, Cultural Forces, “organize regular visits of cultural figures and psychologists to provide moral support to the population, to study their emotional state and problems through non-formal communication and a special program.”
The group is currently hosting events in “de-occupied” settlements in an effort to spread awareness and keep the areas from being reoccupied. Their site states, “Currently, the de-occupied settlements are in a state of partial destruction, both infrastructurally and psychologically. Residents of these towns and villages were under pressure from enemy propaganda for a long time. As a result, the psychological state of people declines, stagnation and despondency arise… To de-occupy territory, enemies should be expelled. To de-occupy consciousness, hard work with the mind and emotions is required.”
The group, all artists themselves, are fighting to preserve spaces for the youth to create art and use their imagination with their House of Imagination Houses and preserving the country’s existing art with Walls of Culture. For more information on Cultural Forces visit the website https://culturalforces.org/en/.
The International Folk Festival has continued to grow into the massive immersive experience it is today, in big part to the individuals who organized the successful 1st annual International Folk Festival: Martha Duell, Mildred Evans, and John Malzone.
“The festival began after Martha Duell and Mildred Evans approached John Malzone with the hopes of starting an event that every member of the community could enjoy together. The first festival took place in 1978 and we (The Arts Council) started organizing the event in 2000,” explained McKeller-Smith.
Each year that the festival has run it has only grown, from the number of Nations that are represented in the Parade of Nations to the performers who take the stage with pride; every aspect of the festival just keeps growing. The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County is excited to see the growth and hopes to continue to set the standard each year and surpass it the next. The success of the IFF is due to the collaboration of great minds and generous sponsors.
“We're grateful to our sponsors for helping us bring the International Folk Festival to life! We would like to thank Navy Federal Credit Union, the NC Education Lottery, Metronet, Cumulus Media, the NC Arts Council, the City of Fayetteville, and Cumberland County for their support,” said McKellar-Smith.
The Arts Council is still in need of volunteers for the IFF. Anyone interested should apply online at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/10618457040107/false#/invitation.

(Photos: Top-A singer takes the stage in Festival Park as part of the festivities during IFF. Bottom- A performer from Columbia dances during the Parade of Nations at the 2022 International Folk Festival in downtown Fayetteville. Photos courtesy of the Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County)

Fayetteville celebrates new interactive public art display

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Tuesday, 17 September 2024

Written by Staff Report

The City of Fayetteville, PWC, the Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County, and the Cool Spring Downtown District announce the arrival of a captivating temporary outdoor public art installation, e/motion.
This art installation, created by Olivier Landreville in collaboration with Serge Maheu, is an interactive series of sculptures to be found in downtown Fayetteville.
e/motion combines seesaws with sounds to create a sensory experience, and the public is invited to join in on exploring and engaging in this new public art installation.
Opening on Sept. 26, e/motion features eight seesaws, each enhanced with modern technology. As you ride the infinite wave on either end, a glowing liquid in the center ebbs and flows with every movement, creating a dynamic, mesmerizing display.
The Arts Council of Fayetteville-Cumberland County, a core investor in this project, believes that investing in interactive art not only brings joy but also has tangible economic benefits for the community, small businesses, and the overall sense of place.
e/motion is proudly supported by the Fayetteville Public Works Commission.
“As PWC looks forward to celebrating Public Power Week in October, I can think of no better way to celebrate art in our community,” said Timothy L. Bryant, CEO/General Manager of PWC.
“The energy and motion of the art pieces, combined with the glowing liquid, reflect the core services we provide as Fayetteville’s Hometown Utility.”
Chris Cauley, Director of Economic and Community Development with the City of Fayetteville, said, “The ‘vital’ in revitalization refers to life, energy, and vibrancy. Revitalizing downtown means bringing it to life with people and experiences.
"Placemaking initiatives like e/motion are fantastic opportunities to infuse the human experience into our downtown development efforts, and the City of Fayetteville is proud to support this initiative”.
According to Landreville, e/motion offers “endless possibilities to create the perfect wave. By manipulating or riding the seesaw, the user immediately takes control of the wave and, therefore, the experience.”
e/motion is free and open to the public in downtown Fayetteville through Nov. 4.
Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the magic of e/motion.

(Photo:A family enjoys a seesaw, a part of the e/motion public art display that is coming to downtown Fayetteville. The opening ceremony will be held Sept. 26. Photo courtesy of Cool Spring Downtown District)

Celebrate Banned Books Week, Sept. 22-28

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Tuesday, 17 September 2024

Written by Sheila D. Barker

The Significance of Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week will happen this year from Sept. 22 to 28. Banned Books Week, launched in 1982, was a response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. This annual event brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers — to focus on the efforts of others to remove or restrict access to books.
By drawing national attention to the harms of censorship, Banned Books Week underscores the importance of preserving the freedom to read. It serves as a reminder that book bans and censorship threaten not only access to literature but also many other rights and institutions in our society.
The 2024 Theme: 'Freed Between the Lines'
The theme for Banned Books Week 2024 is 'Freed Between the Lines.' This theme highlights the idea that we can find freedom in the pages of a book, but that freedom is threatened by book bans and censorship.
By focusing on the theme 'Freed Between the Lines,' Banned Books Week 2024 encourages people to commit to voting for the freedom to read and support policies and policymakers who uphold this right. Using hashtags like #LetFreedomReadDay and #BannedBooksWeek, individuals can show how they’re taking action on social media.
The Impact of Book Bans on Education and Society
Book challenges and bans primarily target public or school libraries, but even colleges and universities face challenges to their materials. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials based on objections, while a banning is the actual removal of those materials.
These actions limit what students can learn and what teachers can teach. Libraries level the playing field by providing access to all books to everyone, regardless of race, social background, or economic circumstances. Removing books from libraries takes them out of the hands of people who can’t afford to buy their own copies, thereby restricting access to new ideas and hindering societal progress.
How to Take Action and Support the Freedom to Read
Supporting the freedom to read involves committing to vote for policies and policymakers who support this right. It’s crucial to engage in local and national elections to ensure that the right to read is upheld across diverse communities.
Individuals can also take action by participating in Banned Books Week activities, using social media to raise awareness, and challenging book bans and censorship whenever they encounter them. By taking these steps, we can ensure that everyone has access to a wide range of ideas and perspectives.
Celebrating Diversity Through Literature
Book banning frequently targets efforts for diversity, equity, and inclusion, often focusing on books that feature gender, sexuality, racial, cultural, or religious identities. These are precisely the kinds of books that help foster understanding and empathy among readers.
By celebrating diversity through literature, we honor the myriad voices and stories that make up our society. Trusting individuals to make their own decisions about what they read and believe is a cornerstone of a free and open society. Removing and banning books from public libraries is a slippery slope to government censorship and the erosion of our country's commitment to freedom of expression.
To see a list of banned books visit: https://pen.org/book-bans/2023-banned-book-list/
City Center Gallery & Books Celebrates Banned Book Week
Be sure to stop by City Center Gallery & Books at 112 Hay Street, Downtown Fayetteville. They will have a display of banned books, mostly classics, that have been banned over the years and can be purchased for you to READ! They will also have commemorative bookmarks and of course, their staff will be sporting t-shirts that say, "I Sell Banned Books."