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Contact: Vicki Hudson, 234-4206 | Mursalata Muhammad, 234-4950

 

GRCC PREMIERES MULTI-DISCIPLINARY EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING
200 YEARS SINCE THE ABOLITION OF TRANS-ATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
“Remember the Crossing”

August 27, 2007 - Grand Rapids, MI - How could one capture the raw emotions, myriad events and current relevance of a period of history over 200 years ago in a way that excites the learning styles of many different people? Through the arts!

Grand Rapids Community College presents a unique artistic collaboration between a poet, 17 visual artists, and two composers from around the country. The exhibit “Haiku Middle Passage” (HMP) is a traveling show designed to capture the breadth and relevance of remembering our connection to the slave trade 200 years ago and now to global issues of social injustices.

While GRCC hosts the inaugural showing of this exhibit, the goal is to have it travel to 198 other sites before returning to Grand Rapids for is final 200th exhibit. Once HMP reaches its’ 200th exhibit, one for each year in the commemoration, the pieces will be auctioned off and proceeds will go to charity. Each aspect of this exhibit is designed to echo, not only the soul of the Trans-Atlantic Slave trade, but also our current issues around forced human bondage and other social injustices.

The exhibit opens in GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery, on September 10 and continues through October 5. A reception, September 19 from 6 – 8:30 p.m., will feature Pennsylvania State University Professor Dr. Iyunolu o Osagie. Dr. Osagie will engage in a dialogue around her personal and professional experiences with the subject of the slave trade and making connection with the exhibition. GRCC’s Paul Collins Art Gallery is located on the 4th floor of Main Building, and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 12 to 3 p.m.

In addition to the exhibit and reception, this interactive exhibit will feature the following components:

  1. Suggest exhibit sites
  2. Suggest local, national, global charitable recipients for the exhibit’s auction proceeds
  3. Post their experiences, comments, and ideas regarding the exhibit
  4. Post questions for the artist and special guests involved in the exhibit
  5. Post using video or written comments
  • “HMP Speak”: This is an interactive poetry experience, in which the public is invited to dialogue the exhibit.

The HMP exhibit is GRCC’s contribution to both global and community events designed to remember this momentous occasion in human freedom. GRCC worked with the West Michigan’s Committee to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade by Great Britain (1807) and America (1808). This committee includes members from Aquinas College, Calvin College, Cooley Law School, Cornerstone University, Davenport University, Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Grand Valley State University, and Hope College.

GRCC has been providing an excellent, affordable education to all who seek it since 1914 when it was the first 2-year college in Michigan and the seventh in the country. The college offers over 150 degree options in its Arts and Sciences and Workforce Development. Student enrollment on the urban campus for both credit and non-credit courses averages 26,000 per year.

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