BRIDGES: A Celebration of African American Arts and Culture

The Bach Festival Society of Winter Park is pleased and proud to present a week-long celebration of African American artistry in music, literature, painting, and culture to complement its production of Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s Sanctuary Road.

The Concert

Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 18, 2024 at 3:00 pm Knowles Memorial Chapel, Rollins College

  • Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra, John V. Sinclair, conductorLaquita Mitchell, soprano; Melody Wilson, mezzo soprano; Joshua Blue, tenor;Benjamin Taylor, baritone; Dashon Burton, bass

    This powerful and poignant oratorio draws on the compelling stories in the memoirs of writer, historian, businessman, and philanthropist William Still.  The son of a former slave, Still risked his life to serve as a “conductor” for The Underground Railroad, the grassroots network of both Black and white women and men who helped enslaved people escape to freedom.  Historians credit the Underground Railroad network for the rescue of over 100,000 people during the volatile decades preceding the Civil War (1810-1850.)  Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec collaborated with Grammy Award-winning lyricist Mark Campbell to create Sanctuary Road, which received a Grammy nomination for Best New Choral Work in 2021.

  • Florence Price’s Symphony No. 1 in e minor was completed in 1932. Its historic performance by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra made it the first work by an African American woman to be performed by a major American orchestra.  While the symphony’s structure is consistent with Western classical tradition, Price also incorporated the Pentatonic scale and melodies from the African American culture.

The Celebration

Multi-disciplinary experiences will explore and honor 19th, 20th and 21st century interpretations of African American cultural traditions through fine art and crafts, oral histories and storytelling, fashion, food, dance and more. All of the following presentations are open and free to the public. EventBright registration is encouraged.

 

Monday, February 12, 2024 | 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Welcome Reception and Introductory Program with Fairolyn H. Livingston, Chief Historian
Hannibal Square Heritage Center

The museum’s permanent collection will be on display with docents conducting gallery talks and Ms. Fairolyn Livingston, Hannibal Square’s Chief Historian, will speak. Refreshments and live entertainment will be offered.

Fairolyn H. Livingston, Hannibal Square’s Chief Historian

Light refreshments will be provided by Chef Allman, Catered Delight Kitchen. Live entertainment by BassX3.

 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Reflections on how African American History and Traditions Inform Arts and Culture, Panel discussion moderated by Ben Brotemarkle of the Florida Historical Society, PBS program screenings and Form2Fashion exhibition
Winter Park Library

Special encore presentations of WUCF/PBS programs:

21st Century Community Activism, Leadership and Fellowship through Arts and Literature

Ben Brotemarkle, Florida Historical Society, Moderator 

Panelists:

  • Dr. Eric Smaw, Special Assistant to the Provost, Professor, Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Rollins College

  • N.Y. Nathiri, Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community and Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts 

  • Lance Walker, Jr., Walker Collection of Florida Self-Taught Art

  • Charmaine Hunter, Director of Community Enrichment, Orlando Ballet 

  • Jaison Radcliff, Co-Founder, Form2Fashion and authors of “Black Influence: Rising Stars, History Makers, Risk Takers & Influential Icons in Fashion.”

Special exhibit presented by Form2Fashion. Light refreshments will be provided by Chef Allman, Catered Delight Kitchen.

 
 

Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Performances by young dancers from Wolf Lake Middle School, University High School and Solo by Cyan Love of Orlando Ballet School
Rollins Museum of Art

The Rollins Museum of Art galleries will be the stage for community students from the Orlando Ballet. They will perform specially choreographed dances inspired by the Florence Price symphony. The performance will be preceded by a gallery talk featuring works from the current exhibitions on view.

Charmaine Hunter, choreographer 
Patrick Ingram, choreographer
Amyia Burrel, choreographer

Special thanks to Bang & Olufsen for providing their quality sound system for this event.

 
 
 

Thursday, February 15, 2024 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Exhibition of Highwaymen Art
The Walker Collection of Florida Self-Taught Art, 949 Pennsylvania Avenue, Winter Park

Winter Park businessman Lance Walker, Jr. has assembled one of the largest known collections of paintings by The Highwaymen, as well as artworks by "Outsider Artists." Mr. Walker, who is currently producing a documentary series on The Highwaymen, will open his gallery, located just blocks from Hannibal Square, and lead gallery talks along with special guests. Light refreshments will be served.

Lance Walker, Jr., Walker Collection of Florida Self-Taught Art
Kelvin Hair, artist, son of the late Alfred Hair, Highwaymen Artist
Sede and Larry Clark, Clark Catering Concepts

Special thanks to Bang & Olufsen for providing their quality sound system for this event.

 
 

Friday, February 16, 2024 at 7:30pm
A Raisin in the Sun
Annie Russell Theatre, Rollins College

Lorraine Hansberry’s masterpiece, which has captivated and inspired millions, was the first Broadway production written by a Black woman. It tells the story of three generations of a Chicago Southside family navigating divergent dreams through a sea of prejudice.

This is a Rollins College Theater Department student production that may be of interest to participants in the Sanctuary Road celebration because of its compelling and complementary subject matter.

 
 

Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 6:30 - 7:00 pm and Sunday, February 18, 2024 | 2:00 - 2:30 pm
Pre-Concert Talk with Paul Moravec, composer
Keene Hall, Room 119, adjacent to Tiedtke Concert Hall, Rollins College