Carolina Inn exalts Christmas

Twelve recycled drummers stand in marching positions, 10 UNC basketball “lords” leap on a mechanical Christmas tree and two turtle doves sit in a display in the middle of the lobby.

As a part of its 12th annual “Twelve Days of Christmas” month-long celebration in December, the Carolina Inn commissioned local artists to do works based on the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” It also has arranged events all throughout the month to celebrate the holiday season.

Each year, the inn commissions a new piece from a local artist to display in the Christmas exhibit. Past works are also included in the show.

This year, textile collage artist Elaine O’Neil was the commissioned artist for the exhibit. She created a piece titled “It’s Snowing at the Carolina Inn.”

O’Neil’s piece depicts the Carolina Inn surrounded by falling snow. She makes her artwork by layering and sewing together pieces of fabric.

“I want my art to be happy and for people to smile when they look at it,” O’Neil said.

She said she tried to capture the spirit of the Carolina Inn during Christmas time.

This holiday spirit at the inn is also complimented by the work of sand sculptors Damian Hoffman and Ed Moore. The two sculptors have made sand creations at the inn every year for several years.

This year’s sculpture depicts a Christmas tower with figures playing on a slide sloping down the tower.

Events that celebrate art, community and Christmas time supplement the art on display at the inn.

Later in the month, the inn will offer many performance art events including swing dance lessons, a tap dance show and a children’s orchestra concert. Other events include a gingerbread house competition and holiday-themed afternoon teas throughout the month.

For the gingerbread competition, the inn accepts 30 entries: 15 from adults and 15 from children.

Carolina Inn Marketing Manager Laurence Bézy said some of the past entries have been Chapel Hill landmarks such as fraternity houses and local stores. Winners will be announced Dec. 21.

Bézy said these events and exhibits help bring people to the inn but emphasized that these events are for the community.

“The Carolina Inn is a central part of Chapel Hill,” Bézy said. “This brings in people to celebrate this special time of the year.”

Each year the inn also supports nonprofits in several of their events.

The inn also sponsored a fundraising event for Our Children’s Place, an organization that helps children whose mothers are incarcerated, and the inn will be hosting an event, “The 12th Night Gala” to support the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

O’Neil spoke highly of the inn and said she was honored to be the commissioned artist for this year.

“The Carolina Inn is such a beautiful gem on campus,” O’Neil said. “I think everybody is happy and proud to go there.”



Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.