Mural Dedication! The Struggle for Absolute Equality

Rain Date: Sunday, November 3rd, 2024

...layers and history, both lived and revealed, that depict the "long walk to freedom" for millions of people throughout this country. As part of the 2023 multi-city 'Absolute Equality' Mural Project, the Germantown ArtHaus introduced Philadelphia's 1st Juneteenth mural to Germantown. Founder and Lead Artist, Keisha Whatley shared the story behind each of the three levels of the mural that depict:

• Pre-Colonial West Africa,
• The Trans-Atlantic slave trade, and
• Juneteenth

But there's another level; another layer to this story...

Unfortunately in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger relayed the decree that "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."...those committed to the economy, power and position of slavery didn't get the memo so a new era began.

Since May of 2021, four courageous Community Artists have grappled with a creative challenge that sought to visually display the juxtaposition between the loss, rage and despair of this struggle for equality and the undying hope for a future of equality, peace and joy:

Join us at The Germantown ArtHaus for a one-of-a-kind Mural Dedication; one of grit, persistence, pain, triumph, protests, loss and hope. Set against a backdrop of history, each artists' work sounds the horn of hope and possibility that only art can.

Enjoy each artist's installation including their 7 foot tall works of art, installation decor and an interactive experience that will ignite your senses and spark your imagination:

• Victoria Holmes: @vic_toriaholmes "Positive Pockets"
• Keshida Layone: @keshida.layone "His Presence"
• Paige Lewis: @PinkTinyAngryMighty "Flowers of Remembrance"
• Kathryn Pannepacker: @kpannepacker "Someone's Someone"

Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in creativity and community!

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Host or Publisher The Germantown ArtHaus