Contact: Tess Mayer
Director of Library Services
Berkeley Public Library
510-981-6195
tmayer@berkeleyca.gov
New Exhibit & Events at Berkeley Public Library:
Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore
Berkeley, California (October 17, 2024) – Come to the Central Library (2090 Kittredge) to view the Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit, a partnership between curator Vania Kinard, Grammy-award winning musician Dom Flemons, the Library and the Freight & Salvage. The exhibit is on the 5th floor of Central as well as in the historic lobby.
The exhibit includes Western and music memorabilia, photographs of contemporary Black cowboys by Ron Tarver, records of African-American country music singers from the last several decades, and more.
Curator Kinard notes, “The exhibit is a glimpse into a larger part of American culture that has often been overlooked but has recently gained national attention. I hope visitors will appreciate the variety of items, books, photographs, stories, and additional educational resources throughout the Library.”
A keynote address and reception at the Central library on Saturday, October 26, at 2pm with music historian Mark Montgomery French will include a banjo performance by musician Hannah Mayree of the Black Banjo Reclamation Project.
A curator’s talk with Vania Kinard will be held virtually at 2pm on Saturday, November, 2.
Additional programs that celebrate the culture and contributions of African-Americans in American Western culture will be hosted at the Library from October to December and include musical performances, music history lectures, cowboy crafts for youth, and film screenings.
The Westward Bound exhibit and related Library events culminate in the Deford Bailey Legacy Music Festival held at the Freight & Salvage in mid-December, which honors the first Black Grand Ole Opry performer and harmonica virtuoso.
“Two years ago, someone from Freight & Salvage walked into the Library and said essentially, ‘Can we work together to host an exhibit celebrating Black cowboy culture and African-American country music at the Library?’” explains Heather Cummins, Supervising Librarian. “It felt like serendipity to me because I had just been admiring Gabriela Hasbun’s book, The New Black West. I was thrilled with the potential for partnership and to extend the Library’s access to information on a subject that has been marginalized.”
For questions regarding this program, call Heather Cummins at (510) 981-6124.
For questions about additional Library events, services, hours and locations, please call (510) 981-6100 or visit the Library’s website www.berkeleypubliclibrary.org.
Wheelchair accessible. For questions, to request a sign language interpreter or other accommodations for library events, please call (510) 981-6195 (voice) or (510) 548-1240 (TTY) at least five working days in advance to help ensure availability. Please refrain from wearing scented products to public programs.
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