Timely through May 6
Contact: Richard Fleisher (304) 293-2694
The sights and sounds that reporters' cameras, microphones, and tape recorders love to capture will fill the Capitol Complex and The Cultural Center in Charleston Saturday during "Family Cultural Day at the Capitol."
The sights and sounds begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6, at The Cultural Center and State Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Charleston, and will reflect some of the state's best talents as they portray important aspects of African-American history.
On "stage" will be quilts that showed escaped slaves their path to freedom; portrayals of two West Virginia natives who gained national prominence; and a musical tribute to a national and international leader.
Family Day is a cooperative effort between the Governor's Office and the West Virginia University Extension Service, Shepherd College, and West Virginia State College.
The centerpiece of the event is "A Slave Ship Speaks: The Wreck of the Henrietta Marie." The exhibit is being sponsored by Gov. Cecil H. Underwood, All-Aid International Inc., West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and General Motors.
"Family Cultural Day at the Capitol" is one of the largest programs being held in conjunction with the traveling exhibit. The day is a unique occasion for families to visit the Henrietta Marie and have many related educational attractions that provide hands-on learning opportunities.
More than 350 people have registered for the picnic lunch, and many more are expected to attend the presentations. All activities are free and open to the public.
Several West Virginia natives, West Virginia University faculty and staff members, and community leaders will direct exhibits and demonstrations that depict African-American culture and history.
Note: In case of rain, the workshops and concerts scheduled for the Cultural Center patio will move to the Cultural Center auditorium.
Scheduled events include:
"Hidden in Plain View" - Serena Wilson, a retired Columbus, Ohio, schoolteacher, will explain and demonstrate how secret code messages in quilts helped escaped slaves travel northward along the Underground Railroad. The exhibit will be in the North Briefing Room at 11:15 a.m. and the South Briefing Room at 3:15 p.m. Wilson is a consultant and West Virginia native.
"History Alive - Anne Spencer" - Brucella Jordan will portray Spencer, a nationally known poet who spent her early years in Bramwell. Spencer was a librarian at Dunbar High School for more than 20 years and founded the local chapter of the NAACP. She will perform at 11:15 a.m. on the Cultural Center patio and at 2:15 p.m. in the North Briefing Room. Jordan is a historian and co-founder of the African-American Heritage Tree Museum.
"History Alive - Carter G. Woodson" - Norman Jordan will play Woodson, a West Virginia native who was the first son of slaves to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He served as president at West Virginia State College and was employed as a railroad worker, teacher, principal, and professor. The performances are at 12:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. in the North Briefing Room.
Norman Jordan is co-founder and director of the African-American Heritage Tree Museum. He is also a well-known playwright and poet.
Note: Both "History Alive" presentations are made possible by support from the West Virginia Humanities Council.
"African Masks, Beads, and Harvest Dolls" - Franny Mams, senior program coordinator, WVU Jackson's Mill, Weston, will teach children and adults how to create African masks, tribal beads, and harvest dolls. Her sessions are scheduled at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. in the South Briefing Room.
"African Influenced Art" - Kheli Willetts, director of education for Real Art Ways, will conduct a hands-on workshop focusing on African-inspired quilting and printmaking. Real Art Ways is a center for contemporary culture in Hartford, Conn. The exhibitions will be at 12:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the South Briefing Room.
"African Storytelling" - Iba N'Diaye, instructor, WVU History Department, will lead an audience participation session on the art of African storytelling. N'Diaye is also a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly representing the country of Mali. The sessions will be at 12:15 p.m. on the Cultural Center patio and 4:30 p.m. in the North Briefing Room.
"Botswana" - Beth Kleckner, International 4-H Youth Exchange (IFYE) delegate from West Virginia, will show slides and share experiences from her six-month visit to Botswana. Her presentation will be shown at 1:15 p.m. in the North Briefing Room and 2:15 p.m. on the Cultural Center patio.
"WVU African Drum and Dance Ensemble" - This internationally acclaimed ensemble, directed by Paschal Yao Younge, will perform at 1:15 p.m. on the Cultural Center patio. The African Drum Ensemble will perform there at 3:15 p.m. The WVU student group also will conduct an African Drum and Dance Workshop at 2:15 p.m. in the South Briefing Room.
"Pennies from Heaven Quartet" - This premier West Virginia barbershop quartet will sing gospel music and popular tunes from 4:10 to 4:25 p.m. in the Cultural Center auditorium.
The full day of activities climaxes with "A Musical Tribute to Rev. Leon Sullivan." Julian Woods, a Capitol High School junior and classical pianist, will perform a selection of classical scores and original compositions in honor of the renowned civil rights, religious and business leader at 5 p.m. in the Cultural Center auditorium.
The Rev. Leon Sullivan is a Charleston native and West Virginia State College graduate. He founded Opportunities Industrialization Council (OIC), which is a network of 46 self-help skills training programs with affiliates in 19 countries. The company, which has program centers in Charleston, Huntington, and Fairmont, trains unemployed persons in electronics, computers, and banking.
Capitol tours will also be conducted at 1, 2 and 4 p.m. Those who wish to participate should be in the Capitol Rotunda five minutes before the scheduled tour time. Each tour is limited to 50 people.
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For a complete listing of activities, please refer to the schedule.
