Exhibit to honor pioneering Black musician, actress with PSU ties
Special to the Morning Sun / news@morningsun.net
PITTSBURG, Kan. An exhibit opening Monday in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts helps tell the story of pioneering Black musician, conductor, actress, and author Eva Jessye, who spent time at Pittsburg State University as an artist in residence and whose personal collection of documents is archived there.
Jessye also fought injustices in the world of performing arts that led to change, and was part of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington.
The exhibit includes photographs taken from PSU Special Collections, as well as three works of art that capture her likeness. An accompanying brochure, designed by graphic design major Katelyn Phelps, is available to visitors.
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Black History exhibit: A conversation starting point
Special to the Morning Sun
PITTSBURG, Kan. Last spring, Shawna Witherspoon finally had a long overdue conversation with her children, ages 9, 10, 11, and 13.
“We talked about the meaning of social injustice and how people have been discriminated against based on the color of their skin,” said Witherspoon, whose husband is Black. “We also had to explain to our kids that all police officers are not bad and that they cannot judge the many based on the actions of a few.”
That conversation, and the art she and her children made afterward, would be the catalyst for a new exhibit that opened Monday in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts in honor of Black History Month: “A Series of Artistic Inspiration.”
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