African Heritage Festival Commemorating Juneteenth Seeks Artists
Help Stitch Together the Patchwork Pieces of African American History at JFest!
Ananse Patches by Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn
Gainesville, FL (BlackNews.com) - African American heritage, like a quilt, is composed of diverse and colorful fabrics. It has been passed down across centuries and through family lines. And yet, it is not entirely whole, and no quilt can provide warmth with pieces missing.
JFest, the 1st Annual Juneteenth Festival & Juried Art Show, is currently seeking applications from artists whose work touches on the African heritage experience to display and sell their pieces at JFest in Lincoln Park, Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday, June 16 and Sunday, June 17, 2007. The competitive media categories are ceramics/pottery, fiber/textiles/leather, glass, graphics/drawings, jewelry, sculpture, folk art, mixed media, photography, painting, printmaking, and wearable art. Cash prizes amounting to $17,500 will be awarded to top and emerging artists at the show. Applications are available online at www.JFestCentral.com or by request--but act fast, as the extended application postmark deadline is March 12, 2007!
JFest commemorates Juneteenth, a celebration recalling the end of slavery in the U.S. This unique occasion, which is only now being widely recognized (despite marking its 140th anniversary in 2005), is a celebration of independence, freedom, and family. JFest will explore all facets of African heritage in a multicultural extravaganza of fine and folk arts, music, dance, theater, and storytelling.
The theme of JFest 2007 is Sankofa: Go Back to Fetch It! Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana. Often represented as a bird looking backwards but with its feet planted firmly forward, it is a symbolic reminder that familiarity with the past is necessary in order to build for the future. The Sankofa Bird plays a prominent role in the JFest artwork for 2007, Ananse Patches, a piece specially designed for the festival by local artist Dr. Patricia Hilliard-Nunn. Dr. Hilliard-Nunn is a professor at the University of Florida, local historian, dance instructor, owner of Makare Publishing Company, and serves on the advisory board for both the University of Florida Performing Arts and Channel 5 - WUFT. With bright colors and the historical and emotional resonance of a patchwork quilt, her vibrant piece depicts the diverse facets of African cultural heritage that JFest celebrates. According to Vivian Filer, "The design captures the essence of our cultural experience and commemorates the journey from slavery to the present." Filer, a retired professor of nursing and local civil rights activist, serves as the Chairwoman of the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center, Inc. (CCMCC) Board of Directors.
CCMCC is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the historic preservation of the Cotton Club, a music hall that hosted legendary artists such as B.B. King, Brook Benton, James Brown and Bo Diddley, as part of the "Chitlin' Circuit". This hall, named after the Cotton Club in Harlem, was the cornerstone of the predominately black Springhill neighborhood and served as one of the few sources of entertainment for African Americans in North Central Florida during the period of segregation. The organization of this two-day event by CCMCC is another page in the illustrious history of this community.
Apply now to become a part of this unique cultural experience! JFest will draw art lovers, heritage enthusiasts, and prospective buyers from across the country. In addition to artists, numerous food vendors and community organizations will participate in the festivities. In addition, limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information and applications, please visit www.JFestCentral.com or contact Donna Isaacs, Festival Coordinator, at (352) 273-1172.
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