Public Programs
January 2010 Public Prgorams
1:30 - 3:00 p.m. Tours, Talks, and Tea
Take a DC history break and join us for a guided tour of our exhibitions on view and watch our featured WETA TV 26 documentary, "Washington in the '60s" narrated by Connie Chung. This video presentation looks at the political, social, and cultural events that shaped the history of the Washington area and changed it forever. After the video, enjoy complimentary tea and coffee and share your memories of growing up or living in the Washington, D.C. area during this decade of change! Tour begins at 1:30 p.m. and film begins at 2:00 p.m. Meet inside the K Street entrance of the elegant Historical Society of Washington, D.C. (Ages 12 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE
Friday, January 15
1:00 p.m. Family Film
PBS AMERICAN EXPERIENCE,
CITIZEN KING
Dir. Orlando Bagwell and W. Noland Walker, 115 min., 2004
In exploring the last few years of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this beautifully crafted AMERICAN EXPERIENCE production, CITIZEN KING, traces King’s efforts to recast himself by embracing causes beyond the Civil rights Movement, and by becoming a champion of the poor and an outspoken opponent of the war in Vietnam. Tapping into a rich archive of photographs and film footage and using diaries, letters, and eyewitness accounts of fellow activists, friends, journalists, political leaders and law enforcement officials, this film brings fresh insights to King’s harrowing journey, his charismatic leadership, and his truly remarkable impact on the Twentieth Century. Accentuated by the music of Nina Simone, the viewer gets a rare glimpse of intimate moments of King at home with his family. (Ages 15 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE
Monday, January 18
1:00 p.m. Family Film & Discussion
The Drum Major
Dir. Michael Mack, 20 min., 2009
In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, the Historical Society is pleased to present the short documentary, The Drum Major and a discussion with its crew members. The Drum Major explores Dr. King's call for 'a radical revolution of values' in his last and most challenging year—April 4, 1967 to April 4, 1968. The Drum Major is an Official Selection of The Amnesty International USA Human Rights Art Festival. Director, Michael Mack will introduce the video and share productions tidbits. after the screening, members from the production staff will take questions. Be sure to stay for a small reception following the event where you can mingle and meet The Drum Major crew. (Ages 14 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE
Tuesday, January 19
1:30 p.m. Daniel Freeman Exhibit Tour
and Gallery Talk with Jerome Gray
If you haven’t viewed the exhibition, Daniel Freeman: The Man Behind the Camera, here’s your chance to hear little known facts about Freeman’s photography from Washington collector, Jerome Gray.
Mr. Gray has loaned art and historical artifacts to libraries and several museums: Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum, Museum of American Art, and Portrait Gallery; Afro-American Museum, Philadelphia, Pa.; High Museum, Atlanta, Georgia; City Museum (Historical Society of Washington, D.C.; Library of Congress, and the Martin L. King Library, Washington, D.C.
As a collector, Mr. Gray has over 500 pieces of Art and Artifacts in his collection that include artwork from the following artists: Edward Bannister, Romare Bearden, Leslie Bolling, Elizabeth Catlett, Aaron Douglas, David Driskell, Ed Dwight, Sam Gilliam, Lois M. Jones, Wilmer Jennings, John Hardwick, Sammie Knox, Jacob Lawrence, James A. Porter, Augusta Savage, Charles Sebree, Hughie Lee-Smith, Henry O. Tanner, Alma Thomas, and James L. Well.
Thursday, January 21
1:30 p.m. Tour and Gallery Talk with Dr. Floyd Coleman
Students, colleagues, friends, and art-lovers will gather for a gallery talk by Washingtonian artist and scholar, Dr. Floyd Coleman and view the exhibition, Form and Content: Selected Works by Floyd Coleman. Dr. Coleman’s art reflects abstract themes and nuances of improvisation and like John Coltrane’s quintessential jazz hit, “A Love Supreme,” expresses elements of harmonic freedom captured on canvas. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Floyd Coleman: artist and scholar. (Ages 12 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE
Saturday, January 30
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Acting Workshop
Introduction to Playback Theatre Workshop
Have Fun. Get Inspired. Connect with others. This playful workshop, “Introduction to Playback Theatre,” is an interactive theatre founded in 1975 by Jonathan Fox and Jo Salas and is practiced worldwide. Playback Theatre is an original form of improvisational theatre in which a participant tells a moment or story from their life, chooses the actors to play the different roles, and then all those present watch the enactment, as the story "comes to life" with artistic shape and nuance. The re-creation of stories are shaped using metaphor, narration, chorus, genre, movement and song. Playback Theatre is sometimes considered a modality of drama therapy. The workshop is designed for anyone who wants to unleash their creative juices in a safe and creative environment. In this workshop you will:
- Learn basic Playback techniques.
- Receive training material outlining Playback structure and tools.
- Trust your instincts and creative impulses.
- Enhance your empathy, intuition and group trust.
- Watch your story re-enacted.
- Serve others by re-enacting their stories.
Workshop Time: 1-3 p.m.: Class limit 25; (18 to Adults) Reservations Required: rattley642@aol.com or call (240-432-3507) COST: $75; HSW members $60; Deposit: $25
Saturday, January 30
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Young Adults Film
Hip Hop Cinema Café Anniversary Celebration
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes
Dir. Byron Hurt, 61 min., 2006
The solSource Group and Historical Society of Washington, D.C. present Hip Hop Cinema Café One-Year Anniversary Celebration and the screening of Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes. Filmmaker Byron Hurt, a life-long hip-hop fan, examines representations of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture through the eyes of an adult fan, an African American male and anti-sexism trainer. Instead of offering simple conclusions about hip-hop’s fans and creators, the candid voices in the film describe the cultural and political environment in which the music is created, commercialized and consumed.
Sparking dialogue on hip-hop and its declarations on gender, HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes provides thoughtful insight from intelligent, divergent voices including rap artists, industry executives, rap fans and social critics from inside and outside the hip-hop generation. The film includes interviews with famous rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss and hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons; along with commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones and interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black school and one of the nation’s leading liberal arts institutions.
Parents, educators, artists and other professionals can use the film and the resources of this campaign to engage both young consumers and media makers in discussions about gender, race and community values. To support media literacy, facilitators can also encourage young men and women to reflect on the impact of violent and sexual imagery on themselves, their relationships and their communities. After the video presentation, there will be a powerful panel discussion to address the issues presented in the film and a small reception to celebrate Hip Hop Cinema Café’s One Year Anniversary. (Ages 18 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE
Sunday, January 31
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. HSW Author & Lecture Series
Memoirs of David Palmer
Memoirs of David Palmer recounts the first seventy years of David Palmer's life, from growing up as a child in World War II in the English village of Aldbourne, to becoming a civil rights activist in America, to his volunteer work at local Washington museums. In addition to Palmer memories of these events, he also gives an analysis of post-war Britain and the changes in its social structure, and the continued problem of racism in American society.
In 1960 David Palmer immigrated to the United States. Upon his arrival in Washington, D.C., he became keenly aware of the toxic effects of anti-Black racism in American society. Palmer became convinced of his need to take a proactive position to eradicate racism; he became involved in the local Civil Rights Movement. After completing college, he took a position that involved the implementation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the workplace. Upon retirement, he chose to perform volunteer work as a docent at the City Museum of Washington, D.C., the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., and most recently at the Smithsonian Institution. (Ages 16 to Adults) No RSVP required. FREE