CamillaWilliamsExhibitionJanuary12toMay24,2020

DuetotheCOVID-19quarantinetheMuseumandCamillaExhibitionwasclosedonMarch20,2020andwillreopentothepublicontherecommendationoftheVirginiaStateGovernor.

The DanvilleMuseum of Fine Arts and History (DMFAH) would like to announce theCamilla Williams Exhibition, made possible through a generousMake More HappengrantfromtheDanvilleRegionalFoundation;aHelenS.andCharlesG.PattersongrantfromSunTrustandaseedgrantfromVirginiaHumanities.Theexhibitioncanbeviewedin the DMFAH's Schoolfield and Jennings galleries. Through the exhibition of CamillaWilliams,theDMFAHpromoteshistoryandart intheDanRiverRegionand integratesawarenessofhistory,culture,andcommunity.TheCamillaWilliamsExhibitionhighlightstherelationshipofthefamedNewYorkoperadivaandherhometown,Danville,whileexploring the difficult path to fame in a racially divided South during the civil rightsmovement. TheDanvilleMuseumof Fine Arts andHistory believes conversations ondiversityand inclusion lieat theheartofDanvilleMuseumexhibitionexperience.ThisexhibitionaimstonotonlyrevealCamillaWilliams’lifeandtimeinahistoricalcontext,but also to inspire neighborhoods and community residents to dream big, pursueexcellence, and cultivate positive creative change. The museum also aspires to buildstrong community relationships around the narratives of Camilla Williams’ life inDanville, and her professional engagement as an opera singer on the internationalstage. Her compassionate mentorship of her students at Indiana University and herinspirationallifeasanAfricanAmericanoperasingerduringthecivilrightserawillalsobe celebrated. The Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History serves as a center forcultural activities in theDanville andPittsylvaniaCounty regionwhiledrawing visitorsfromtheentireDanRiverRegionandbeyond.TheMuseumisa501(c)(3)organization.

About CamillaWilliams: Born inDanville,Virginia, in1919,CamillaWilliamsbecamethefirstAfricanAmericansopranotoappearwithamajorAmericanoperacompany,theNewYorkCityCenterOpera,withher1946debutinthetitleroleofMadameButterfly.CamillaWilliams gifted the DanvilleMuseumwith her personal effects, knowing thattheycouldhavethepotentialtoimpactourcommunity.TheDanvilleMuseumofFineArts&HistoryplanstoofferanexhibitfeaturingCamillaWilliams’relationshipwithherhometown,withtheNewYorkoperaworldandwithherstudentsatIndianaUniversity.TheexhibitionwillbeonviewfromJanuary12–May24,2020,andnarratesthestoryofa girl born in Danville whose voice was heard around the world. This vibrant, boldexhibitholdsparticipatoryandcommunityengagementfeaturesthatdrawtheaudienceinto the life and times of CamillaWilliams,when the doors around her held “WhitesOnly”signs.NotonlywasCamillaWilliamsabletoovercometheracialbarriersthatheldher opportunities in check, but she also became a hope for others through the CivilRightsmovement.TheexhibitionalsoisacelebrationofCamillaWilliams’100thbirthdayand includes a variety of programs and performances starting in June of 2019 at theMuseumandinoff-sitelocationsthroughoutthecommunity.

CamillaWilliamsCollectionCuratorandExhibitionManager:KateMcDannold

UniversityofNorthCarolinaatGreensboroMuseumStudiesFellow2019-2020

KateMcDannoldisexcitedtoworkwiththeDanvilleMuseumofFineArtsandHistoryfor theCamillaWilliams project,especially since it furthersher interest in celebratingoverlookedorunderrepresentedhistoricalperspectives.McDannoldreceivedherBAinHistory and Public History Certificate from Western Carolina University, and she iscurrentlyinhersecondyearofUNC-Greensboro’sMuseumStudiesMAprogram.McDannoldispassionateaboutcreatinginclusiveandinteractivemuseumexhibitswithunique sensory components. After her work with UNCG’s installation of Patient NoMore, anexhibitexploringdisabilityactivism in theUnitedStates, she isawareof theimportanceofaccessibilityand inclusion forpeopleofall abilities. Shehopes tobringthis perspective to the creation of the Camilla Williams exhibit. McDannold looksforwardtoshowcasingWilliams’lifeandachievementstothepublicattheDMFAH.CamillaWilliamsCuratorialCatalogueessay:MichelleTalibahwillbecontributingthecuratorialstatement-availableinthegalleryandtheexhibitioncatalogue.

Michelle Talibah brings a unique perspective to the CamillaWilliams exhibition. As apainter,publicartist,educatorandcuratorsheisabletoinvestigatethemanyfacetsofCamillaWilliams’lifeasprofessionalsinger,wifeofacivilrightsactivist,andmentoraswellasteacheratIndianaUniversity.

AsfoundingdirectorandcuratorofNewDoorCreativeGallery in2004,nowlocatedinBaltimore’sStationNorthArtsDistrictin2006inBaltimore,Maryland,MichelleTalibahoffers space to professional and emerging visual artists who explorean aestheticinformedbyculture,communityengagementandequity.In2009,NewDoorCreativepresentedDivas,bythe lateartistMorganMonceaux.Hischaracter series devoted to cultural, social and political luminaries; meticulouslyresearchedandexplored,investigatetopicssuchas:“ThePresidents”,aportraitofeveryUnited States president (from George Washington to Barack Obama, and their FirstLadies); “The Royals”, a portrait series of international royalty; “Jazz Innovators”, aseries depictingmusicians from the tradition of Jazz and Blues, andDivas.Divas, is aportrait series comprising over 30 African-American opera vocalists, many obscuredwithin the history of opera and theater. The Diva series beganwith the depiction ofrenownedsopranoCamillaWilliamsperformingPuccini’sMadameButterfly.DivaswasalsoexhibitedatBaltimore’sCreativeAlliance(AmalieRothschildGallery)in2010.

FredMotley:DanvilleCommunityEngagementExhibitionFormatsforCamillaWilliams.

Teaming up with Cedric Hairston, the Supervisor of Specialty Curricula Areas forPittsylvania County Schools in Virginia, to navigate the local Danville public schoolcommunity, the localchurchcommunities,aswellasAverettandDanvilleCommunityCollege, FredMotleydrawsonanaudience thatneeds tobecomeconnected to theirownstories.Motleyisnostrangertospeaking,singinganddancingatfestivals,boastingaresumeof30years'experienceasa"moderndaygriot."

FredMotleyhas“talked”tohislocalcommunitythroughstories,theatricalandmusicalperformances for a long time. Reporter Vicky Morrison writes in an article for theRegisterandBee in2015about theannualStorytellingFestivalhostedbytheDanvilleMuseumofFineArtsandHistoryeveryfirstweekendofFebruary.ShestatesthatFredMotleykeepstheStorytellingeventsustainablethroughthequalityandaccessibilityoftheprogrammingforall-whilealsopreservingstoriesandtraditionsintheheartsandmindsofanaudience.TherichhistoryoftheDanRiverRegionisaliveandwellthroughthecommunityengagementprogrammingFredMotleyhasconstructedfortheCamillaWilliams exhibition since June of 2019 to the opening of the exhibition in January of2020. He also conducts the Storytelling Festival at the Danville Museum of Art inFebruaryof2020.

“Everythingthatyouhear,see,touch,andtaste,revealsastory.Itintroducesthoseobserving,totheanatomyofthestoryandthemessageinthestoriesandthentranslatesthatmessagefromthepagetothestageusingactingtechniques”(FredMotley)

2019-2020ProgrammingdatesforCamillaWilliamsExhibitionThe,communityengagementprogrammingleadinguptotheexhibitioninstallationdatesinJanuaryareincluded(ProgrammingfacilitatedbyFredMotley,theCCECC,DanvilleConcertAssociationandCedricHairston.AllvenuesarelocatedinthecityofDanvilleVA):

· Sunday,June30,2019:“Let’stalkAboutCamillaWilliamsandDanville”,3pmuntil4:30pm.SpecialguestJeanVernon–EastNewHopeBaptistChurchPraiseDanceTeam.

· Wednesday,July17,2019:FilmScreening–“Aida’sBrothersandSisters:BlackVoicesinOperaandConcert.”11:30am,DanvilleMuseumOfFineArtandHistory.

· Saturday,August3,2019:“ArtandMusic”chaoticPopUp.2pmuntil6pm.Crema&Vine/1009MainStreet.

· Thursday,August15,2019:“LetstalkaboutCamillaWilliamsandDanville.”MixandMingle–6pmuntil7:30pm.AKASororityHouse/320HolbrookSt.

· Saturday,August24th&Sunday,August25th.“CamillaWilliamsandHerDanvilleRoots”-History&ArtPopUp.11am–2pmand1:30pm–3:30pm.CalvaryBaptistChurch/218HolbrookStreet.

· Tuesday,September10,2019:FilmScreening–“Aida’sBrothersandSisters:BlackVoicesinOperaandConcert.”5:30pmuntil7:30pm.BlountChapel/AverettUniversity/420WestMainStreet

· SundaySeptember29,2019:“AProgramofSpiritualsandHymns”ClarissaFeatKnight,VoightHairston,DarylMcLean,GWHChorus.2pm-3:30pm.HighStreetBaptistChurch/630HighStreet

· Thursday,October10,2019:FilmScreening:“Aida’sBrothersandSisters:BlackVoicesinOperaandConcert.”11:00amscreeninganda5:00pmscreening.RubyBArchiePublicLibrary/511PattonStreet

· Thursday,October17,2019:“AneveningofConcertMusicFeaturingSopranoDr.LouiseToppin”(7pm-9pm).HighStreetBaptistChurch/630HighStreet.

· Friday,October18,2019:MixandMingle,5:30pm–7:00pm.TheHistoricNorthTheater/629NorthMainStreet

· SaturdayOctober19,2019:MixandMingle,1:00pm–4:00pm.CamillaWilliamsBiographyBookreadingbyChelseaHillas(AverettIntern)TheHistoricNorthTheater/629NorthMainStreet

· Saturday,November9,2019:Gospel,Concert,BroadwayandR&B.JohnM.LangstonAuditorium/228ClevelandStreet

· InstallationWeek:Monday,January6–12,2020.· OpeningReception:Sunday,January12,2020.2:00-4:30pm

· StorytellingFestival,February,2020(FredMotley,MonicaMotleyandKarenWilliamson)

· January16th2020from6-7pmattheRubyBArchieLibrary:AVirtualConversationwithDr.StephanieShonekanandFredMotley.MostoftheNarrativethatrunsthroughtheDMFAHexhibitionCamillaWilliamsisderivedfromabiographywrittenbyCamillaWilliamsandDr.StephanieShonekan.TheBookiscurrentlyoutofprint.https://www.amazon.com/Camilla-Williams-African-American-Classical/dp/0773414835

·

PartnerandSponsororganizations:KeypartnersalreadyinvolvedinsmallassociatedcommunityeventsattheDanvilleMuseum(livemusic/filmscreenings/theater/bookreadings/refreshments/paneldiscussionsandotheraspectsinvolved):AlphaKappaAlphaSorority,CalvaryBaptistChurch,LangstonHighAlumniGroup,HighStreetBaptistChurch,andOperaEbony.DMFAHpartnersincludeDanvilleArtLeague,LittleTheaterofDanville,SmokestackTheatreCompany,DanvilleandPittsylvaniaCountypublicschoolsystems,privateandparochialschools,homeschoolgroups,HeadStart,DanvilleRubyBArchiePublicLibrary,DanvilleCommunityCollege,AverettUniversity,DanvilleHistoricalSociety,theLanghorneHouse,HistoryUnited,CityofDanvillePublicWorks,GardenClubofDanville,andOldWestEndAssociation.TheMuseumthankstheVirginiaHumanitiesforawardingaDiscretionaryGranttosupporttheearlyplanningprocess,andthe DanvilleRegionalFoundation’s“MakeMoreHappen”grantforcoveringtheexpensesoftheprojectdevelopmentandinstallationcostsfortheCamillaWilliamsExhibition.WewouldliketothankBenRippeforrestorationoftheCamillaWilliamsfurgarmentsandforprovidingadditionalfashionaccessoriesandmannequins.ThankyoutoIndianaUniversityforfacilitatingtheCamillaWilliamsCollectiontransfertoDMFAH.TheMuseumwouldliketothankallDMFAHvolunteersandallsponsorsfortheirsupport. Sponsors

• TheHelenS.andCharlesG.Patterson,Jr.CharitableFoundationTrust• BenRippe,Rippe’sApparelFursandShoes,Danville,VA• TheSchoolfieldMuseum,Danville,VA• KellyCunningham,BestOfMyAbility(B.O.M.A),DanvilleFashionWeek,Danville,VA• DRF,MakeMoreHappenCommunityGrant,Danville,VA• AverettUniversity,InternChelseaHillas,DanvilleVA+CCECCprogramming• CenterforCommunityEngagementandCareerCompetitiveness(CCECC)• UniversityofNorthCarolinaatUNCG,Greensboro,NC.MuseumStudiesFellowKate

McDannold• DanvilleConcertAssociation(LouiseToppinPerformance:Mrs.CamillaWilliams100th

CommemorationCommittee)

• HistoricHighStreetBaptistChurchLoansIndianaUniversity,AfricanAmericanArtsInstitute,OfficeoftheVicepresidentforDiversity,EquityandMulticulturalAffairs,275NJordanAve,Bloomington,IN,VirginiaMuseumofNaturalHistory,21StarlingAve,Martinsville,VA.Design,RepairsandConservation

• LouiseMartling,GraphicDesignerandExhibitionSupport,EleventhHourDesign• HollisStauber,ConservationworkonCamillaWilliamsbust,WaterbasedBurnedUmber

onplaster,October2019.• SonyaWolen,LastinterviewwithCamillaWilliams• PatsiCompton,SonyaWolen,SherryGott,ChelseaHillas,FredMotley,C.B.Maddox,

WennHarold(ExhibitionTeam)• LaToyaWilliams,RepairstoKimonos,CostumepreparationandDressingMannequins• BenRippe,ConditioningofCamillaWilliamsFurrs.

CommunityEngagement

• FredMotley:DirectorStorytellingFestival(February2020)aswellasdirectorofcommunityengagementeventsthatleduptotheexhibition.

• MonicaMotley:DirectoroftheMotleyConsultingGroup(TMCG),aconsultingfirmthatusespractice-basedresearchandinclusion,equityanddiversitymethodstohelpcommunityactivists,organizationsandacademicinstitutionsmorestrategicallyaddresscommunitydisparitiesandhealthinequities.

• CedricHairston,facilitatedprogramminginpublicschools,churchesandcommunitycenters.

• KellyCunningham,communityengagementthroughB.O.M.A.DirectorofDanvilleFashionWeek.

Formoreinformationcall:434-793-5644Ore-mail:info@danvillemuseum.org

www.danvillemuseum.orgTheCamillaWilliamsexhibitionisonviewintheDMFAH’sJenningsandSchoolfieldGalleriesand

iswheelchairaccessible