School Pride: The Eastern NC Story, an installation by Willie Cole will be on view in the Cameron Art Museum’s Brown Wing through Nov. 2, according to a press release from the museum.

In collaboration with Countywide Community Development Corporation (Countywide CDC) of Navassa, the museum observes the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act this year.

Cole is a nationally known artist whose new work investigates a community’s struggle for equality in education. Museum staff and volunteers digitized photographs and other items collected by alumni and teachers from 16 Cape Fear-area schools that closed during desegregation in Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Pender and New Hanover counties.

Cole grew up in Newark, New Jersey but traces his father’s family to Brunswick and Columbus counties, according to the press release.

He attended Boston University School of Fine Arts, received his bachelor of fine arts degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 1976 and continued his studies at the Art Students League of New York from 1976 to 1979.