The annual Johns Hopkins Day at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum will take place in a new virtual format this year, featuring digital renderings made of the museum's temporary exhibits as well as pre-recorded videos and activities. The event and special programming will take place from 6-8 p.m. on May 6, and select elements of the exhibit will remain online until May 12. Register online to attend to the virtual event.
Johns Hopkins Day at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, traditionally held in February in observance of Black History Month, is a celebration of the history and heritage of African Americans from Maryland and from around the country. The event is made possible through a grant from Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine.
"COVID19 has required that we all adapt in a number of ways—we are happy to be able to offer this popular event in a new, virtual format this year," says Nondie Hemphill, assistant director of Government and Community Affairs at Johns Hopkins.
The live virtual programming will include a welcome message from Terri Freeman, executive director of the museum, and Michael Preston, director of Community Affairs at Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. The live event will also include virtual tours of two of the museum's temporary exhibits:
- Making Good Trouble: Marching for Change, which examines the George Floyd/Black Lives Matter protests that took place in Maryland communities through the lens of protest signs, photos, video clips, and art murals.
- Freedom Bound: Runaways of the Chesapeake, which explores the stories of nine people from the Chesapeake Region from the Colonial Period to the American Civil War (1728-1864) who escaped from bondage in the pursuit of freedom.
The event will also include pre-recorded content and activities, including words of thanks from Johns Hopkins leaders, and a variety of museum-sponsored activities including a juried high school art show and children's book fair. Other activities are:
- Billie Holiday: Unapologetic, a celebration of the jazz legend featuring White House correspondent April Ryan, physician and columnist Leana Wen, saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and Johns Hopkins Professor Lawrence Jackson, founder of the Billie Holiday Project for Liberation Arts
- Jumping into Records, Virtual Genealogy, which lays the groundwork of researching family history through public records and documents
- Objects Revealed: Baltimore Jazz and the Blues, an exploration of Baltimore's jazz history, introducing leading local jazz icons such as Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, and Chick Webb and featuring the music—including works that were deemed too scandalous for radio at the time they were recorded
- Family Story—Unraveling Your DNA, which explores family history research through the use of DNA analysis
The temporary exhibit tours and museum activities will remain online until May 12.
All individuals who RSVP will receive special promotional discounts that can be used during future visits to the museum and will be entered into a drawing to win a free museum membership.
Register online to attend to the virtual event.
Posted in University News
