Black History Bicentennial Mural
About the Mural
Following the Ann Arbor District Library's Call for Artists in 2024, AADL installed its Black History Bicentennial mural on the south side of Library Lane. The community-based project is the culmination of nearly a year of work between AADL staff, the local arts community, and a community review panel featuring Jamall Bufford and Marianetta Porter. Artistic Coordinator Avery Williamson helped lead the project and contributed art for one of the eight panels, which includes work from seven other artists reinterpreting images they selected from the AADL Archives: T'onna Clemons, Scott Wesson Everett, Cheyenne Fletcher, Takeisha Jefferson, Lauren Mills, Rachel Elise Thomas, and Ricky Weaver. Two additional panels were selected for permanent display at the AADL Archives by Asha Jordan and Gyona Rice.
About the Photos
As the creative coordinator for this project, Avery Williamson curated over 50 images from the AADL archives and invited the artists to select a single photograph to reinterpret and make their own. The images chosen were of life in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti from the 1850s to the present. Avery wanted this selection to represent the fullness of life: graduations, protests, parades, theater performances, church services and sporting events. Artists chose images that resonated with them for a diverse set of reasons. Some photographs reminded them of their own experiences or those of their relatives. For other artists, the images spoke to themes they explore in their work outside of this mural – music, dance and childhood. Throughout the process the artists explored their experiences and relationships to this city and region, and the power of art to shape the narrative of a place. In the eight images displayed at the Downtown branch, and the two on the wall of the paper vault at the Archives building, artists elevated joy, play and community. It is our hope that these artists and their work can help us better know the Black history of this region and formulate questions to guide us towards the future we want to live in.
Panels & Artists
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Avery Williamson Ypsilanti, MI |
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Dunbar Center Girls, August 1936 Childhood is childhood regardless of race or color and these youngsters raise their voices in joyful harmony at Dunbar Community center. In 1923, the Reverend R.M. Gilbert, pastor of the Second Baptist Church of Ann Arbor, Michigan, spearheaded the effort that led to the establishment of the Dunbar Community Center. The original intent of the Center was to provide housing for Black laborers working on area roads and University of Michigan building projects. The Center's first building, located at 209-11 North Fourth Avenue, was used primarily for sleeping quarters, but there were also a few areas set aside for club meetings and social events. Gradually the purpose of the Center changed from one of providing temporary housing to that of being a place where Ann Arbor's Black population could gather for social, recreational, and civic activities. In 1926, a new administrator, Mrs. Savonia L. Carson, was appointed Executive Secretary and the Center moved to 1009 East Catherine where it remained until 1937. - Ann Arbor Community Center Records, Bentley Historical Library
What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Joy, embrace, collective" -Avery Williamson |
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Rachel Elise Thomas Detroit, MI
Having a background working with children greatly inspired and influenced this collage. I wanted to emphasize the joy, excitement, and spontaneity of learning and working together. Although this is considered a digital collage, I used crayon and watercolor paint to redesign the students' shirts, giving them a vibrant new appearance that reflects the theme of being in a band. Adding sheet music was a fun element that brought the piece together. The crayon resist paintings and sheet music were scanned, digitized, and assembled in Photoshop." |
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Ann Arbor Community Center band members rehearse for public concert, June 1961 Rousing Rehearsal: Ann Arbor Community Center band members rehearse for a public concert to be presented at 7:30pm Friday on the patio at the center, 625 N. Main St. Dawson Burt directs the band. Rehearsing are (left to right) Mike Dale, Herbert Ellis, Bruce North, Allan Lutz and Jo Ann Baker.
What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Harmony, collaboration, vibrancy" -Rachel Elise Thomas |
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Scott Wesson Everett Detroit, MI
The piece combines my love for music and portraits, using vibrant colors and dynamic lines to capture the “shapes of sounds” these young men create. Inspired by artists who play with movement and vibrancy, like Romare Bearden, I wanted to bring a sense of rhythm and pulse to the composition. In the background, I incorporated the West Park Band Shell, the historic space where these young men once performed, linking the art with the place and the voices that animated it." |
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Ypsilanti Quartet, August 1955 This Ypsilanti quartet will be one of the featured attractions at the talent show at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the West Park band shell. The singers (left to right) are Waverly Chauncey, William Rhan, Albert Roper and Kenny Robinson.
What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Togetherness, Leadership, Joy" -Scott Everett |
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T'onna Clemons Ann Arbor, MI T’onna Clemons is an Ann Arbor based artist specializing in murals, paintings, comic art, videography and design, and president of Youth Art Gallery (Michigan). Finding inspiration in kids and youth, T’onna’s work aims to inspire viewers.
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Children Along The Ypsilanti Christmas Parade Route, December 1954 What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Polaroids, vintage, kids" -T'onna Clemens |
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Lauren McHale Mills Ypsilanti, MI Lauren McHale Mills is a Graduate of Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan. She is based in Ypsilanti and is a freelance artist pursuing her master’s degree. Lauren’s work is narrative driven and ethnographic in nature, while also centering on the history, culture, and literary legacy of Black Americans. This Mazda is a Lemon was my attempt at giving a new life to an archival image that was already powerful on its own. Figuring out the best approach was difficult for me at first, for that very reason. In the planning phases of this piece, I was definitely inspired by Mickalene Thomas' use of mixed media, and Titus Kaphar's use of cut-outs. For this piece, I was striving for balance, but also for a colorful and lively feeling. Earlier this year, I began cutting silhouettes out of wood, to use as the foreground of my portraits. I decided to use this technique here, not only to achieve that palpable dimensional feeling you see here, but also to physically separate the past and the present. Another thing I'd like to point out, is that the car was "painted" with cut paper. This technique is a very exciting first for me, that I will likely continue in the future! The only paint that was used, was acrylic for my uncle's portrait, and latex for the blueish/gray background."
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Paul Wasson Drives a "Lemon" Mazda in Ypsilanti, August 1975 What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Pimp-liscious, laidback, comical" -Lauren McHale Mills |
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Takeisha Jefferson Detroit, MI Takeisha Jefferson is a full-time exhibiting artist and international portrait photographer from Ypsilanti, Michigan. She studied Fine Arts and is a proud, disabled Air Force veteran. Her main medium is photography printed on archival paper, and she is inspired by some of the earliest forms of photography, whose unique and timeless qualities are reflected in her work. My piece was influenced by artists such as Lina Iris Viktor, who often uses gold halos to elevate Black figures, and Harmonia Rosales, known for reimagining classic themes with Black representation. I chose vibrant colors to honor the richness of Black heritage, and the gold halos symbolize reverence and divine dignity for the women in this portrait. The figures are members of my own family, which speaks to the theme of generational connection, and I included my elementary school music teacher at the piano as a tribute to her influence on my early love for music." |
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Dunbar Civic Center Quintet, May 1944 The Dunbar Civic Center Quintet, which will broadcast over WJR between 9:15 and 9:45 tomorrow morning and sing for the Center Celebration at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, is shown practicing for their performances. They are, left to right, Colene Bacon, Edith McFadden, Arlena Scott, Theodosia Lee, and Hortense Bacon. Mrs. Virginia Lee Ellis, director, is at the piano.
What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Legacy, Heritage and Luminary" -Takeisha Jefferson |
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Ricky Weaver Detroit, MI Ricky Weaver is a photography based Artist born and raised in Ypsilanti. Her object-oriented work challenges the viewer’s understanding of space and time and gives space for picturing images that extends beyond the photograph. Her work questions how body, hymn, scripture, and the everyday appear as image and how that image functions as both archive and vessel. Arthur Jaffa's cinematography in Julie Dash's Daughters of the Dust inspired the overall aesthetic appearance of the image. I wanted to reference this important conversation migration as most folks I know had grandparents that migrated here from the south. I wanted to reinforce the idea of generational connection between us as a community no matter where we are, there is something that ties us together." |
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Dancers Strike a Pose at the African American Downtown Festival, June 1998 What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Black, girls, share" -Ricky Weaver |
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Cheyenne Fletcher Ypsilanti, MI Cheyenne Fletcher is an Ann Arbor based artist. Informed by their work as a Library Technician at Ann Arbor District Library, Cheyenne’s art is narrative driven, drawing on their own experiences to inform their characters and establish stories. I am typically inspired by the color palettes of Kerry James Marshall, Ayako Rokkaku, Faith Ringgold, and Hideyuki Tanaka. I wanted to keep the dancer's original leotards in my piece, so I lifted those from the photo. I'm a big fan of highly saturated colors, so I think keeping those black leotards in allowed me to stay faithful to the original photograph while still adding in an interesting element (i.e. texture). For the background, I layered in string as I often do with my pieces. I also took a picture of my friend's braids to layer onto the curtains of my piece. I'm ultimately interested in physical and cultural forms of connection." |
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Phil Stamps, Ann Arbor Recreation Department, Teaching African American Dance at Jones School, 1968 What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Motion, follow, youth" -Cheyenne Fletcher |
Other Works
Artists Asha Jordan and Gyona Rice contributed works that were selected for permanent installation on the wall of the paper vault at the AADL Archives building.
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Asha Jordan System 80 through the lens Ann Arbor, MI Instagram: @jordan.nik.art Asha Jordan is an Ann Arbor native whose family roots to the area date back five generations. She is a freelance artist who finds opportunities to create representation in her home city. "My favorite place to go in Ann Arbor was the library. I felt safe to be myself and free to be black. The computers and reading programs we had on them felt like a virtual adventure where my imagination took over. I see these little girls reading on this old school reading device and could only imagine how cool they thought it was back then. When I was 11 years old drawing the power puff girls, my art teacher seen me drawing and said "You're going to be a famous artist one day." I have been pursuing my career ever since. I took it so serious that I joined the arts league of Michigan at age 12 and did the Ann Arbor art fair every year up until I was 17. I also studied with college students at the age of 15 to perfect my craft. From age 12 I had my mentors Hubert Massey and Henry Heading as my inspiration and teachers to become the artist I am today." |
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Reading Lab at Perry School, Ypsilanti, January 1976 What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Black Girl Joy" -Asha Jordan |
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Gyona Rice Handcrafted in Pride Westland, MI https://gyonarice.my.canva.site/portfolio-artwork Instagram: @gyonarice Gyona Rice is a graphic designer and multidisciplinary artist who is passionate about creating innovative designs that bring ideas to life. She enjoys working in different artistic mediums, and each piece is deeply personal and rooted in her family’s history and the experiences of Black women. "As a multimedia artist and printmaker, I explore Black identity and heritage through the innovative use of materials. This piece, inspired by a photograph of two young brothers in a parade, serves as a heartfelt tribute to the Black community that once flourished in Ann Arbor. The artwork delves into themes of patriotism, childhood, and Black pride, using fabric and paper to recreate the paper-decorated float from the photograph. By incorporating American flag patterns and denim, I highlight the community’s contributions and sense of belonging. The mixed media approach—blending rich textures with delicate details—invites viewers to connect with the vibrant spirit of this community and reflect on its enduring legacy and impact. What drew me to the archive photograph for this project was my realization that, despite living in Michigan my entire life, I never recognized Ann Arbor as a significant Black community. Learning about its history touched my heart and highlighted how a city can erase its past. This discovery inspires much of my art, as I strive to tell the stories of unheard or underrepresented voices. I felt that my artistic skills would be a perfect way to honor these narratives and showcase that they, too, were a part of this community. This piece is a recreation of a photograph of two young brothers on a parade float, beautifully decorated with paper made by the women in their community. Inspired by the incredible work of artists like Judy Bowman, Bisa Butler, and Deborah Roberts—who use paper and fabric to explore Black identity. I wanted to honor the creativity and love those women put into creating the paper parade float. To symbolize American pride and the patriotism of this Black family, I chose materials like denim and fabrics with American flag patterns, both of which are prominent in American culture. By simplifying the boys' features, I aimed to make their figures stand out as powerful symbols of resilience and patriotism, even in a world that may not have fully embraced them. The layers of fabric and paper not only bring the boys' float to life but also celebrate the joy and determination of Black families who proudly embraced their country while continuing to claim their rightful place within it. This artwork serves as a vibrant reminder of their legacy and the enduring spirit that lives on today, inviting you to reflect on the rich history and contributions of the Black community that used to live in Ann Arbor." |
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Eldridge & Zonnechris Askew In The Bethel A.M.E. Nursery School Parade, August 19, 1949
RIDE IN PARADE: Eldridge Askew, 3, and his little brother, Zonnechris, 22 months old, rode in a paper-decorated wagon yesterday in the parade that climaxed summer activities at the Bethel A.M.E. nursery school. A plan to continue to the nursery school through the winter is now being discussed.
What 3 words come to mind when you look at your chosen archival image? "Joy, Heritage, and Resilience" -Gyona Rice |
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Subjects
Visual art
Ann Arbor 200