MORGANTON, N.C. – We are in a season of what author Paul Hawken called “Blessed Unrest” in his 2007 best seller by that title. The subtitle, “How the Largest Social Movement in History is Restoring Grace, Justice and Beauty to the World,” is even more relevant now than when he wrote it. Referring to the people of the movement, he asked, “Rather than a movement in the conventional sense, could it be an instinctive, collective response to threat?”

One such affirmative response to that question is Indivisible Burke NC in Burke County, North Carolina. According to its website, Indivisible Burke NC is “A nonpartisan, nonviolent, action-oriented grassroots organization dedicated to building real democracy—of, by, and for all people.”

Make no mistake though. This is not an organization. It’s a movement.

Three leaders of Indivisible Burke NC – Amy Brooks, Brittny Valdes and DeAnna Steiner – met with me recently at Indivisible Burke’s temporary home in downtown Morganton. Brooks explains, “A group of us had been meeting for a few months following Trump’s election and were making efforts to organize into a chapter of Indivisible at the time of the first Nationwide protest, Hands Off, which took place on April 5, 2025. Indivisible Burke NC officially registered in May 2025 and the first nationwide No Kings protest was in June 2025.”

It is a nonprofit seeking its 501(c)(4) status, according to Brooks.

Referring to the title “This Moment” Valdes offers, “Nothing else needs to be said.”

The three decisively and unanimously agreed that what is happening in Morganton through Indivisible Burke NC is a reponse to a collective threat to our democracy. Building community is the antidote to that threat, the three say. In response, the large and active group in Burke County decide to host a month-long series of events, including an art exhibit, called “This Moment.”

Brooks says, “As members of Indivisible Burke NC, the three of us, Brittny, DeAnna, and I decided we wanted to host an Art Show to expand and deepen the reach of our local indivisible chapter.” Steiner adds, “The art show was just one idea for ‘This Moment.’ We just decided to do it! We want to do something inclusive for the problems the country has.”

It worked. They have 51 pieces of art, 41 artists, 1 book, 1 short film, 4 musicians, 7 poems and 5 poets. Brooks says, “’This Moment’ Art Show is being hosted at 123 W. Union St. as a pop up event.” It opened on July 4 and will close on August 2. Brooks notes, “Indivisible Burke NC doesn’t have a ‘home’ per se. We meet in different community locations and host social and political events around Burke County.”

The schedule of events of “This Moment” is listed below, with this weekend offering a Dish & Dance Party.

Steiner knows building community isn’t easy, but says, “We’re more alike than we are different.” Art, she offers, helps bridge the differences. Valdes adds, “We want Indivisible Burke to grow. We know we need more people. We need more voices.” Another purpose for “This Moment” is to provide alternatives to those who seeks change but are hesitant about protesting publically. Steiner explains, “Some don’t want to protest.” Valdes notes, “This might connect them with others in a different way.”

She continues, “Look at the events.” They have been intentional she points out, in making sure the LQBTQ community “feels safe and part of us.” Indeed, some of the art reflected that. But it also touched on many more topics, such as a work of Brooks, which is titled “The Wheel of Anxiety,” a play on the TV game show “Wheel of Fortune,” only there is no good fortune to be found on “The Wheel of Anxiety.” She explains that anxiety of losing our democracy is “next level.” She continues, “Sometimes, when it is all too much, I like to envision a game show. Maybe Bob Barker is there, his hair shellacked into place, encouraging us to spin the brightly colored wheel – just to decide what to panic about today. Will it be racism? AI? Election tampering? ICE deportations?”

Other artwork include “The Fruits of Arbitrary Power: The Death of Crispus Attucks and Four Others, March 5, 1770.” In his artist statement, Mark Poteat writes, in part, “This work was inspired by two events: the first confrontation of the American Revolution, the Boston Massacre, and the much more recent events in Minneapolis during the winter of 2026, with protests against the presence of ICE, which resulted in the uncessary deaths of of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.”

Cheri Natoli painted a portrait she titled, “Meditate.” She explains, “I did this piece because one day I took my grandson to the park and although he’s young, he’s an old soul. He sat on this rock in the middle of the river and decided to meditate. He had heard adults talking about how difficult things were in the world right now. He said he needed to meditate and ask God to make sure the world became peaceful again so that he could grow up in a wonderful place. I was very moved and wanted to catch the moment.”

Lenoir resident Tony Deal has a small table display for his recently-published book, “But that’s not true!” In it, he shows his book being banned, burned and redacted.

Gesturing through the space, pointing to art, and reflecting upon what “This Moment” has meant so far, Valdes offers, “We didn’t over-promote. It was by word of mouth. Those who get it are sharing.” Brooks adds, “We are safe people. We are trying to signal that to people.” She added, “Artists are fringe people sometimes. This gives them a safe space.” Meanwhile, Valdes adds, “We still have a lot to do.”

Indeed, they have established working groups to tackle many of those issues on “The Wheel of Anxiety.”

The art exhibit has been effective, says Valdes, because it has led to “A big part of the conversation we want to have.” Indeed, those viewing the art were given opportunities to write feedback on small paper plates to be placed beside the works. Brooks offers, “That provided them feedback in way they hadn’t heard before.”

Though it is time consuming, Valdes insists she is having a good time and is enjoying meeting new people as more and more people come into the fold. She notes, “When this sort of movement starts in a town this size, something is going on.” She continues, “It’s a warning sign. People have been open and waiting. This is why we must get young people involved.”

She concludes, “I am a spiritual person. Our souls have a purpose. We need to find our purpose and pursue it.”

She has. Many are joining her.

The “This Moment” art show ends on Aug. 2., with a reception from 2-5 p.m.

Learn more about Indivisible Burke NC.

© Michael M. Barrick, 2026