News
Preservationists seek to showcase artisans
Date:
September 2005
By Amy Ritchart
The Leaf-Chronicle
A local preservation group has attracted the attention of several
organizations that will bring artistic performances to Clarksville for
the Black History Month celebration.
The Mount Olive Cemetery Historical Preservation Society and Montgomery
County Arts and Heritage Development Council has joined forces to host
the Memphis Black Arts Alliance Firehouse Community Arts Center's
performance "Africa the the Present" 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. February 12
and the Next Generation Awareness Foundation's Black History Month film
and discussion series "Reaching Back" from 1 to 6 p.m. February 26
Corey Jennings, president and CEO of Next Generation, said Clarksville
was selected to host a film festival -- along with Washington D.C., and
Newark, N.J. -- because of the Mount Olive Cemetery Historical
Preservation Society's tremendous dedication to black history.
"At first glance, people ask 'Why would they go to Clarksville'" he
said. "On second glance, you see.
"Our (program) has a great educational component to it. We do it
for a reason -- it's a very spiritual program. We can tell our
story (by making films.)."
Jennings said the series shows people "the work that we do to make a
difference gets recognized -- and sometimes in the most interesting
way."
The film festival will be in Clarksville as part of the overall program
designed to bring the motion picture industry, celebrities and American
heroes face-to-face with underserved communities.
This year's theme pays tribute to the mothers of the civil and human
rights movements and utilizes film to spread awareness about urban
problems and solutions in the United States and Africa, Jennings said.
Question-and-answer sessions will follow the films, and a follow-up
workshop to encourage young Tennessee filmmakers to make short films
about their personal experiences and interests are planned as part of
the event, said Diane Batson-Smith, executive director of the Arts and
Heritage Development Council.
The February 12 performance by the Arts Alliance will include song,
poety, music, and dance, intertwined with historical and cultural
contributions of black men and women.
Geneva Bell, director of the Mount Olive Cemetery Historical
Preservation Society, said the events are part of the group's focus on
preserving the past through youth. The events will be sat against
the backdrop of displays spotlighting local black history, and handouts
will be available for visitors to take home.
Event are free and open to the public. For information, contact Mrs.
Bell at 931-552-8026 or Mrs. Batson-Smith at 931-551-8870
Amy Ritchart covers higher education and diversity and can be reach by
telephone at 931-245-0200 or via e-mail at
amyritchart@theleafchronicle.com