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Images Revisited And Reclaimed In “George Masa’s Wild Vision”

WUTC

Published May 17, 2022 at 2:16 PM EDT

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Smoky Mountains, North Carolina, 1920’s - 30’s.

George Masa / North Carolina Collection, Pack Memorial Public Library

George Masa emigrated to this country from his native Japan in the early 1900’s - and eventually, he settled in Asheville, North Carolina.

A self-taught photographer, he mapped uncleared trails in the Southern Appalachian Mountains - much of what is today the Appalachian Trail.

Masa became friends with Horace Kephart - a writer, conservationist and naturalist - and together, their collaboration played a role in the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Hub City Press

Brent Martin - a poet and environmental organizer - is the author of a new book, “George Masa’s Wild Vision: A Japanese Immigrant Imagines Western North Carolina,” published by Hub City Press.

Martin visited places that Masa captured with his camera - offering reflections on dozens of his photos.

Brent Martin

Hub City Press