Vintage photographs and colorful quilts from the local African American community will be on display Saturday at the Heritage Museum of Orange County’s inaugural “Celebrating History, Culture, and Community” event.
The free celebration will offer family-friendly activities, including five guest exhibitors, arts and crafts, face painting, food and more.
The Santa Ana museum has hosted lecture programs to observe Black History Month, but this will be the first event that offers something for all ages.
“Our mission is to preserve, promote and restore Orange County history. We understand and are aware that much of the cultural history of our African American community is not known throughout Orange County,” said Kevin Cabrera, the museum’s executive director.
The five exhibitors include Victoria Burnett, who is associated with the Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ Arts Teach program and specializes in rich storytelling. Burnett will present stories that honor and showcase the contributions of African Americans and their culture.
Artist Marva Whitehead will have a diverse exhibition of her artwork, which includes mixed media, sculpting and quilts.
Quilt fiber artist Sandra Johnson will have a variety of her hand-stitched, multicolored quilts on display.
Johnson’s core materials for quilting are thread and cloth. “However, she often employs recycled denim, yarns, dyed fabrics and stamps to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary,” Cabrera said.
Minister, author and museum vendor DelShanna Moore will discuss topics such as ministry. Her book “Journey From Salvation to Worship Workbook” will be available for sale.
Pencil artist Clarence Pointer, whose artwork has been displayed in many popular places, including the Hollywood restaurant Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles, will present an exhibit of his pencil drawings.
Community resource booths and local vendors will be in attendance, and food and beverages will be available for purchase from the Santa Ana restaurant Andre’s Southern Kitchen.
Live gospel, jazz and blues music will be showcased.
Cabrera said guests also can take in a historical photograph exhibit that chronicles the lives of the local African American community, with some photos dating to the 1940s. The photos will be on display at the museum through the end of February.
“This is a fun, educational experience to learn about the African American history, culture and contributions to the community,” Cabrera said. “It is an opportunity to teach, teach, and honor what the community has done for Orange County.”
Contact the writer: jmoe@ocregister.com
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
