J Newcomer Montg By AUDREY L. J WILLIAMS . Staff Writer ^ < Wanda Montgomery ' strayed from the norm ? the norm in her hometown of Shelby that is. 44I was all set to go to med school until Bemice Reagon (lead singer for the folk group Sweet Honey in jhe Rock and program ' director of black American culture at the Smithsonian | Institute) asked me to come to Washington and work , with her at the Smithso- i nian," says Montgomery. What impressed Reagon so was Montgomery's choice of entertainment at the Black Arts Festival at the University at North Carolina at Chapel Hill, . where Montgomery served i as the student cultural coordinator of the Black Student Movement. Not only was Reagon surprised to find that a mere college student had arranged the whole agenda, but she was also amazed to find that what she thought was only an invitation for her and Sweet Honey in the Rock was a festive nine-day line up of various black entertainers in the performing ; arts. After the invitation from Reagon, Montgomery, who majored in biology, says she decided to give herself a . year off from the academic rigors before entering medical school. She never , made ft. f Today, at 25, Montgomery, who also studied black American literature at Gardner-Webb College, has found herself as an educa tion program assistant at the Southeastern Center for Contemporary ,-Art CA) at the Jafne$ H^n^s, mansion on Marguerite* Drive, where she's been" since October. As education program assistant, she is responsible for implementing educational programming, tours of the center, training volunteers for tours and maintaining the slide and resource library. But back in Shelby, where Montgomery has probably raised a few eyebrows, she says for; blacks of above-average intelligence, the norm was to become a doctor or lawver. and not "a career in the "arts." "I've always been fairly independent in my thinking," she says, "and I felt that the decisions I made were left to me. "I wouldn't go io med school if I had to do it again," she says. "I never intended not to be in the arts, although I never thought I'd have a career in por ter Montgomery says after deciding she would rather be home in North Carolina rather than live in Washington, she landed an internship at the WinstonSalem Arts Council last summer. "The arts in Washington may be different from any place else, just because of the Smithsonian; but in North Carolina, Winston is the place to be if you're in a_ ?? mc aris. Because of her work alongside Reagon at the Smithsonian, Montgomery The lirst blues song to be written down and published was "Memphis Blues" originally written as a camf peign song by W. C. Handy in 1909. I v * ' i \ ;omery Breaks Av *- * . v:^. S >V .,- : /v^Bt. ^B^l ^H? ^sjl^BP^ r ' . i jj.:?'/ ' r ^:%; 'HW^Jr > ; F; & : - -\-' From pre-med to a career In art, Wanda Montgom Parker). v $ was smgled out from three not seem like enough to other interns to work at the those with a family in mind, Winston-Salem Arts Coun- 'but Montgomery says she's cil, which, in turn, helped doing all right by herself as her gain the position she a single woman, now has with SECCA. "When I interned with "The arts m the Fourth Street- Arts any place else, just beet Council," She says, "1 got a . but in North Carolina, very good perspective of the . be jf you're jn ,he arts_ arts and 1 realized that Winston is where 1 wanted to stay." ?? Being young and having a "I'm about as far from career that makes you feel marriage now as when I was good about yourself may five-years-old," she says r; Man And Wont Your chance to 5 * *m$ \ -> JM Last year's Man of the Year, Alderman Larry Parker). - i Once again the Chronicle solicits your aid in selecting our The nominees should be local residents who have made sigi J past calendar year. . Though we realize the holidays are a busy time of the year, * this form is well worth the recognition your nominees deser\ The winners will be announced and profiled in our Janua returned by mail to P.O. Box 3154, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27 Please print legibly and be as specific as possible in descri The deadline for nomination ia V Nominee's Name; Nominee's Address Occupation Nominee's activities,memberships, affiliations \ < : ? 1 r / a ? Please explain briefly why you think this person deserves to be "Woman" of the Year." Attach an additional sheet if necessary -? ^ 9 Your Name ________________ Your Addrott * \ ** Your Phont No.: Homa Wort_ Your Slflnatun ~ I r* * ' ' ! - V * ' I r pay From Norm I ^K H B f- B S 9 . BB^| ^1<-V r < ' "Sj Jfl B cry made a switch she Is proud of (photo by James with a wide grin. don't have in rural areas.-And what is her percep- and you don't have the tion of Winston-Salem as a hassles of a big city." ' whole? In the haphazard world 4tl don't consider of frowning faces and _ grumbling voices, Monm may be different from tgomery is an uncommon luse of the Smithsoniftn; pleasantry. She ejects^ a Winston is the place to smi,e thal has a sincere >? * . "nice to meet 7a" all over - Wanda Montgomery h^. |o be here awhUe . because I really do love my Winston-Salem a large city. j?b," she says. "Wild It's a large-sized one, but horses couldn't pull me thprp arp rtutlptc thai unn J1U/9V " ???v? V Ml V V/MtIV IIIUI JVM atTofTh^Year" | say, 'Thank you.' y Ww^B'nn M igRjH|n t>i&e ilv ^jfl I V H**,?|?P^H K H^k Bfc.ym^x^. /B^ Cl! ^Wp i|^pH^0r^ V PICKUP a DELIVERY ! JENNIE SAYS ' V . N N / k \ day, January 5, 1984-Page A9 f' S DEADLINE :30 P.M. |fey ^ is the answer / idbag that answers all your fashion / ag? This neat little style comes in / oordinate your outfits. Going out? It / does for casual. Durable urethane. / / * NESaMALL " I ScJc M Htfftwn )li?ppiRf (tf. 22SSI I J3 I m \ I 0*"^ *Tt M H GEr _ *"r * II world's only I is recommended I ors of Fashion I ' a DRY CLEANING SERVICE 722-6196 , HOUSEHOLD HINTS ' V . ? *