At Arena Stage Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, 7-9 pm The Anacostia Smithsonian Museum is asking for help to prepare a 2016 exhibit covering DC during the Kennedy/Johnson and Nixon Years (1962-1975) During those years DID YOU march for civil rights or against the Vietnam War? During those 12 years did you support Black power, women’s equality, pay equity, tenant’s rights, gay rights, fair housing, religious freedom, veteran benefits or any other cause to make society a better place? Do you have stories to tell or pictures or memorabilia from that time? Meet Dr. Josh Gorman from the Anacostia Smithsonian Community Museum who will discuss what makes objects historically valuable from a museum’s perspective, especially a community museum.. Discover the historical value of your memorabilia – from political buttons to signs, circulars, banners, handbills, or hats, tee shirts, knick-knacks, pictures or anything else that has been on the wall in the attic or at back of the closet for the past decades. Become a part of the “Twelve Year Project” between the SW Neighborhood Assembly and the Anacostia Smithsonian Community Museum, at Arena Stage Monday evening, November 24 at 7 pm.
Tom Thumb wedding at the Frederick Douglass Recreation Center. Frederick Douglass Dwellings Collection, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of members of the Southeast Voices.
Both collections contain photographs of social activities in the community sponsored by the local recreation center. Among the charming activities for the children were “Tom Thumb Weddings,” where children played the roles of bride, groom, minister, wedding party, and guest. Other activities documented in the collections are dance recitals, sporting events, hobby shows, and the annual soap box derby. The images challenge perceptions of life in public housing during the 1940s by illustrating the positive aspects of life in the projects.
In 2009 members of Southeast Voices gather at the Anacostia Community Museum to share old pictures including “Tom Thumb Wedding” images, and photos of family and community. They also attend a workshop on the Preservation of Photographs and participate in video interviews. Photograph by Henry Bazemore.
Installation shot of Black Mosaic exhibition. The groundbreaking show was organized by the Anacostia Community Museum and held there from August 21, 1994 to August 7, 1995.
The exhibition explored the immigration of people of African descent from Central and South America and the Caribbean to the Washignton Metropolitan area. The show focused on several issues including: Identity; the African Diaspora in the Americas; memories of home; race and color at home; migration/immigration; music; and community life in Washington.
To view the exhibition and research records from this exhibition contact: ACMarchives@si.edu.
I am just back from over a week in the beautiful nation of Panama. It has been four years since I was last there and the changes are astounding (more on that in other posts).
I went with our photographer, Susana Raab, to do photo documentation for the upcoming exhibit Bridging the Americas. The framework for Bridging the Americas is the relationship between the nations of Panama and the United States. The Panama Canal and the former U.S. territory, The Panama Canal Zone, are literally and figuratively at the center of this bond.
One of the spaces I was most excited for Susana to document was the ascent at Cerro Ancon, or Ancon Hill.
Ancon Hill is the highest point in Panama City. It is home to lush vegetation and wildlife, provides spectacular views of Panama City and the Panama Canal, and has historical significance.
When the U.S. controlled the Panama Canal Zone (1903-1979/1999) multiple levels of U.S. authority existed in and around Cerro Ancon – political, medical, and military. The area held the residence of the U.S. Canal Zone Governor, the U.S. Gorgas Hospital, and also parts of U.S. Southern Command.
On my first journey to the summit in 2010, I was greeted in route by fellow hikers and the reclamation of public space via nationalist art. I loved them! It felt like the perfect visual goodbye gift on the final day of my research year in Panama.
Here are just a few of the many pictures I took on my ascent in 2010.
painted bench in Cerro Ancon, August 2010 Photo by Ariana A. Curtispainted bench in Cerro Ancon, August 2010 Photo by Ariana A. Curtis the style looks like Rolo de Sedaspainted cement block in Cerro Ancon, August 2010 Photo by Ariana A. Curtispainted bench in Cerro Ancon, August 2010 “Centro del Mundo, Corazon del Universo” translation: Center of the World, Heart of the Universe Photo by Ariana A. Curtis
Four short/long years later, the hike up Cerro Ancon was much less colorful. Gone are the benches formerly painted with Panamanian symbols – ladies in polleras, the Bridge of the Americas, the Panamanian skyline, the gold frog.
Now the benches are a standard dismal gray. There are small remnants of color and nationalist symbols near the top of the hill like this one:
Rana Dorada (Golden Frog) Cerro Ancon August 2014 Photo by Susana Raab
And though gray the benches, even on a cloud day in Panama City, the views of the city, the bridges, and the Panama Canal are still spectacular and well worth the hike!
Panama City, Panama from Cerro Ancon August 2014 Photo by Susana RaabBridge of the Americas from Cerro Ancon August 2014 Photo by Susana Raab
