The Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (ERUUF) is proud to announce that Justin “Demeanor” Harrington has been selected as the congregation’s inaugural Artist-in-Residence.
ERUUF invited Triangle-area artists to apply to the Artist-in-Residence Program. Several outstanding artists submitted their portfolios of work leading to a highly competitive selection process. Demeanor demonstrated a unique approach to his art form and a vision for working with ERUUF and the larger community in ways that inspired the selection committee.
Demeanor coined the term “Rap is Folk” after merging his experience as a clawhammer banjo player and a Hip Hop artist, making the assertion that Hip Hop is a traditional American folk music form. The ERUUF residency will run from January 2025, with programming that concludes in May 2025. Demeanor will create work and engage with the ERUUF worship team and community through a combination of discussions, workshops, and performances with an eye toward innovation in worship arts and concluding with a concert in late May.
The Artist-in-Residence program is funded by the Eno River Fellowship Foundation. “We developed the Artist-in-Residence Program to explore what it means to create innovative worship for the 21st century,” says ERUUF’s Lead Minister Rev. Jacqueline Brett, “As we continue our commitment to offering a radical welcome to those on their spiritual journey or in their search for truth, meaning, and liberation, we look forward to working with artists of many different disciplines including visual, performance, music, and literary arts.”
ERUUF’s Music Director, Dr. Wendy Looker, is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with local artists through this program. “Demeanor possesses a deep understanding of traditional roots music and has a unique perspective on musical genres that makes his work both innovative and powerful. The Artist-in-Residence Program presents the ERUUF community with the opportunity to push boundaries, learn, and co-create with talented artists in our area.”
Justin “Demeanor” is a rapper and musician from Greensboro, North Carolina. A OneBeat Fellow Alum, Harrington has been featured on Americana Award Nominated album “Freedom Highway” and reached Billboard Bluegrass’ Top 40 with his collaboration with Gangstagrass. He recently made his debut on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with Jake Blount. Harrington formed a nonprofit in 2020 named “Haus of Lacks” which now works under the name “Studio 176” which is dedicated to empowering and uplifting the artist community by providing platform, opportunity, and education for those who seek to build a career outside of the metrics of the modern music industry.
Demeanor will offer a series of six workshops suitable for adults and young people during his residency at ERUUF. These workshops will be in the Fellowship Hall. Topics include:
- Wednesday, January 15, 7:00-9:00 pm - Music of the Diaspora in America: a presentation on the history of the banjo, its instrumental ancestors and how it shaped American music and influenced American Culture from West Africa to Broadway to the White House
- Wednesday, January 22, 7:00-9:00 pm - North Carolina Roots Music: a presentation on the specific history of North Carolina roots music and its impact nationwide, including specific movements and artists who are active right now based in Durham. RSVP here
- Wednesday, January 29, 7:00-9:00 pm - Technologies of Folk Music: a hands-on workshop on the banjo, bones and instruments that shaped the soundscape of modern American music. RSVP here
- Saturday, February 1, 2:00-4:00 pm - Folk Music Today: a breakdown on folk elements in pop music, gospel music, and dance music. RSVP here
- Saturday, February 8, 2:00-4:00 pm - How I Create Folk Music That Reaches the Masses: What a modern musical recording session looks like, and a breakdown of exactly how we make the records that end up in movies and on the radio/streaming. RSVP here
- Saturday, February 15, 2:00-4:00 pm - Let’s Create Together: Demeanor will bring his equipment, and you bring an item of significance to you. He will record the sounds these items make, and turn them into playable instruments on the computer, making a new song together as a small community of artists in the room. RSVP here
