FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2020
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Press Contact: Rebecca Dawson, Director of Communications
860.443.2545 ext. 2112 / dawson@lymanallyn.org
Notable LOCAL Residents share stories of resilience
for BLACK HISTORY MONTH at the Lyman Allyn
NEW LONDON – The Lyman Allyn Art Museum will host a special exhibition reception featuring a panel discussion by notable New London County residents on Feb. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m., as part of its observance of Black History Month. The discussion complements the museum’s exhibition Stories of Resilience: Encountering Racism – on view from February 14 through April 11 –showcasing personal photographs, artifacts, and video testimonies that portray remarkable successes in the face of personal and systematic racism faced by African Americans. The exhibition highlights the lives of five exceptional people – attorney Lonnie Braxton, Rev. Florence Clarke, Sonalysts Board member Donetta Hodge, Coast Guard Commander (Ret.) Merle Smith, and 19th century freed slave and teacher Ichabod Pease.
Developed as part of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut’s Encountering Differences program, the exhibition represents the group’s efforts to educate youth and combat hate in light of the rise in racial incidents occurring locally and on school campuses.
The exhibition explores the stories of area residents and their experiences relating to race: segregation, the migration North, the Civil Rights Movement, systemic racism, and current acute manifestations of racism. Through the exhibition and related programs, museum visitors are encouraged to think about how they can promote change and advocacy in their schools and greater communities as well as examine their own responsibilities in creating a just society.
The exhibition is generously supported in part by the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund, Bank of America, Trustee.
The opening reception and panel discussion will be Thursday, February 20, with the reception beginning at 5:00 PM and the panel discussion at 6:00 PM. The event is free for museum members and $10 for non-members. Please RSVP to 860.443.2545 ext. 2129.
Check the museum website at www.lymanallyn.org and the museum’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for updates and additional programming.
Tours of the exhibition are available for groups. To schedule tours, call the Education Department at 860.443.2545 ext. 2110 or email healy@lymanallyn.org.
For more information or images, please contact Rebecca Dawson at 860.443.2545 ext.2112 or at dawson@lymanallyn.org.
About the Lyman Allyn Art Museum
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum welcomes visitors from New London, southeastern Connecticut and all over the world. Established in 1926 by a gift from Harriet Allyn in memory of her seafaring father, the Museum opened the doors of its beautiful neo-classical building surrounded by 12 acres of green space in 1932. Today it presents a number of changing exhibitions each year and houses a fascinating collection of over 17,000 objects from ancient times to the present; artworks from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, with particularly strong collections of American paintings, decorative arts and Victorian toys and doll houses.
The museum is located at 625 Williams Street, New London, Connecticut, exit 83 off I-95. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sundays 1:00 – 5:00 pm; closed Mondays and major holidays. For more information call 860.443.2545, ext. 2129 or visit us on Facebook or the web at: www.lymanallyn.org.
About the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut
The Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut (JFEC) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that supports humanitarian, social service and educational efforts in Eastern CT, Israel and worldwide. Locally, the Federation provides direct services to seniors, adults and youth through a variety of programs and activities, and provides a living bridge to Israel through its Partnership programs.