Black Genealogy through the Eye of An Artist

"I Am America: Black Genealogy through the Eye of An Artist" is an exhibit that will run from November 5, 2011 through February 2, 2012 at San Francisco’s Main Public Library’s African American Center.  The exhibit is created and curated by Kheven LaGrone.

The Main Library is at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.  A genealogists/artists reception will take place on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. A program will follow from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Latino Hispanic Room.

"I Am America" commemorates the black individuals and families who contributed to the making of America immediately before, during, and after the Civil War.  The exhibit also revisits the role of the continual slave revolts in the making of America.

For the exhibit, genealogists provided family stories, black and white photographs, marriage certificates, land deeds, census records, military papers, narratives, and other documentation on their families.  Artists then used this information to reimagine the stories and images.

Artists participating in "I Am America" include Alice Beasley, Inez Brown, Marion Coleman, Nate Creekmore, Todd King, Karen Oyekanmi, Makeda Rashidi, TaSin Sabir, Malik Seneferu, Nicka Smith, Nena St. Louis, Tomye, Morrie Turner, and Orlonda Uffre.

For more information or for images, contact Kheven LaGrone at kheven@aol.com.