African American Heritage Center Opens with Look at Racial Perspectives

By: Ruth Morton Email

Updated: Sat 12:28 AM, Jan 19, 2013

Friday, January 18, 2013

A local arts and history center gave artists the opportunity to look at people in our community on Friday night.

The Jefferson School African American Heritage Center marked its opening by holding a 12-hour Draw-a-Thon. African American models posed for artists and an audience for 30 minutes each.

By drawing different faces, participants could consider their thoughts about being black from an insider's and outsider's point of view.

"I'm kind of new to Charlottesville," said Angeline Boyd-Gather, a Draw-a-Thon model who moved here this summer. Boyd-Gather said she noticed there "wasn't as much of a presence of the black community. So, I kinda thought it would be interesting from the perspective of the black female just to kind of take part in the exhibit and show that there are different varieties of our culture."

"What does it look like to be an African-American person?" said Andrea Douglas, the Executive Director of the African American Heritage Center. "My interest is talking about the way in which one sees people in their community by actually causing people, for at least a half hour, to look at people."

The Draw-a-Thon continues Saturday during the Jefferson City Center's Open House. If you want to draw or model, come come to the Jefferson Center from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Heritage Center will provide easels, charcoal and paper for free.

Related Links
Jefferson School African American Heritage Center

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