ATrhet of Music
CASEY BURNS ’ 98
From Cradle
to coffee table,
artist Casey Burns ’ 98
has made his mark
making images
about sound.
by Kathleen Kearns
Burns, in his studio in Portland.
Morehead Scholars tend to have
impressive work histories, but
check out these resume items:
designing the cover of a Batgirl comic,
touring as the bassist in a rock band,
designing T-shirts for Kiss and having your
rock posters collected all over the world.
Casey Burns ’ 98 started playing music
and drawing fliers for friends’ bands when
he was in high school in Hendersonville.
But his love of music and his talent for
illustration flowered in Chapel Hill.
While pursuing a journalism degree,
Burns worked as a DJ at WXYC and took
silk screening in the art department. When
he turned 21, he got a job at Cat’s Cradle,
where he tended bar and designed distinctive, hip-retro fliers and gig posters.
Owner Frank Heath ’ 86 liked what he
saw, and when Burns graduated, Heath
created a full-time position for him.
The job was an artist’s dream, Burns
says, noting that it’s rare to find someone
willing to pay by the hour for the
