Stories of Black Appalachian life are at the center of two public arts events at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga this week.

Documentary photographer Chris Aluka Berry and oral historian and poet Kelly Elaine Navies will appear in programs linked to the exhibition Affrilachia: Testimonies.

On Thursday, November 5, a reception begins at 5 p.m. at ICA Chattanooga, followed by a public conversation at 6 p.m. in the Card Family Auditorium.

Berry is also scheduled for a First Friday book signing from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on November 6.

The accompanying exhibition remains on view through December 4 at the Institute of Contemporary Art on the UTC campus.

The project brings together photography, oral history and writing from communities in Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia.

It pays attention to families, landscapes, faith communities and traditions that do not always receive equal space in familiar Appalachian narratives.

The term Affrilachia reflects the region's Black cultural history and the work of writers and artists who document it.

Berry's long-running photographic project adds a visual record to those accounts.

Navies contributes an oral-history and literary perspective, helping connect personal memories with larger regional history.

The events offer more than an exhibition visit; they create opportunities to hear directly from people shaping the work.

ICA Chattanooga is located in UTC's Fine Arts Center near Dr. Roland Carter Street and Palmetto Street.

Visitors should consult the venue for current event details and campus parking arrangements.

For readers interested in art, local history or the many voices of Appalachia, the two dates offer a distinctive cultural stop this week.