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Recent Acquisitions Releases Press Release Archive |
Tyler Museum of Art Celebrates Black History Month with Special Performances Tyler, TX— The Tyler Museum of Art is planning a special family day February 13 in celebration of Black History Month with a variety of activities focused on African-American experience in the arts, with all events open to the public at no charge. The choir of Greater St. Mary Baptist Church will perform, two local educators will present a special reading and story-telling for children, and light refreshments will be provided. Activities begin at 3 p.m. at the Museum, 1300 S. Mahon, adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus. This is the fourth year for the Greater St. Mary Baptist Church Choir to present their blend of gospel and special selections as part of the TMA’s recognition of artistic contributions by black Americans. “We’re a very family-oriented congregation with great continuity of service and historic ties to this community,” said the Rev. Michael Mast, church pastor. “We’re pleased as always to contribute to this celebration at the Museum.” This year’s Black History Month celebration coincides with the current exhibition Thirty-three Years of Collecting at the Tyler Museum of Art, which includes a display of a set of hand-made books by Alan Govenar, entitled The Life and Times of Osceola Mays. Govenar, who is an artist, filmmaker and folklorist, created the books to highlight the experiences of Ms. Mays, the daughter of an East Texas sharecropper. “Osceola Mays was born in East Texas in 1909 and grew up under slavery’s oppressive legacy. Her grandmother had been a slave,” said Kimberley Bush Tomio, TMA director. “She shared with Govenar and others the story of her life – what it was like growing up African-American in the rural South in the early part of the twentieth century – through storytelling, songs and poetry. Ms. Mays visited the TMA in 2003 and was part of our Black History Month celebration that year. She passed away just last year in Dallas, and we want to honor her artistic contributions during this event.” Ms. Tomio said visitors to the Sunday celebration will enjoy hearing noted local educator Henria Armstrong read from a special children’s book, Osceola: Memories of a Sharecropper’s Daughter (Hyperion Books for Children, 2000, available in the Museum Gift Shop.) Ms. Armstrong has had a lengthy career, beginning in 1950 educating East Texans. She served as a teacher, supervisor, coordinator, and program director, and contributed to a number of teacher education committees at Jarvis Christian College, Texas College and the University of Texas at Tyler. She was recognized by Phi Delta Kappa educational society with their 1995 Outstanding Educator Award. Another East Texas educator, Tina Wesley, will entertain visitors with her telling of a traditional African-American folk tale, “Tiger and the Big Wind.” Ms. Wesley recently retired after working as a kindergarten teacher for 30 years, with all but two of those spent in the Tyler Independent School District. “My goal in storytelling is to try to make it vivid and come alive,” said Ms. Wesley, who said her new calling as a professional storyteller is something she has always wanted to do. “We are so pleased to have these talented women and this very talented choir share their gifts with the community,” Ms. Tomio said. “We encourage everyone to come enjoy this celebration.” For more information about this event, current exhibitions, gift shop or Museum Café services, call the TMA at 903-595-1001. Other exhibitions open at the Museum include Lance Letscher: Books and Parts of Books 1996-2004 and Robert Langham: Intimate Expanse. The Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed Mondays and major holidays. Greater St. Mary Baptist Church is located at 1615 Texas College Road, Tyler. |