OPENING – Saturday, June 7, 2025
Juneteenth commemorates the official emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery to those still enslaved in Galveston. This date is significant because it marked the end of slavery in the U.S., although the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued two years earlier.
Here are some key facts about Juneteenth:
- 1865:Union troops arrive in Galveston, Texas, and announce the freedom of enslaved people.
- Emancipation Proclamation:President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring slaves in Confederate states free.
- Texas:Enslaved people in Texas were not freed until after the Civil War ended and Union troops arrived in the state.
- Juneteenth Celebrations:Black Texans began celebrating Juneteenth the following year (1866). It became a State Holiday in 1980.
- Federal Holiday:Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
- Freedom Dayor Jubilee Day: Juneteenth is also known by other names like Freedom Day or Jubilee Day.
- Early Celebrations:Early Juneteenth celebrations often included parades, music, picnics, and religious services.
- Modern Celebrations:Modern Juneteenth celebrations often include lectures, exhibitions on African American culture, and community events.
ARTISTS FEATURED IN THE EXHIBIT
JANICE SIMS JOHNSON is an Atlanta native, a retired educator and library director who earned her doctorate from Vanderbilt University. Dr. Johnson began quilting in 2010 and has made over 200 quilts since that time. She loves to use bold multiple colors in her works and often combines embroidery with traditional blocksIn 2004 she formed the African American Sewcial Threaders Quilt Guild which has grown to a membership of 30. In February 2025, the Sewcial Threaders hosted two exhibits for Black History Month –Chesapeake Central Library and the MOCA in Virginia Beach.
MICHAEL LOGAN
Michael is a poduct of the Norfolk Public School system
RALPH C. THOMAS is an accomplished oil painter whose captivating folk art sty le delves into the right tapestry of black experiences. Raised in the vibrant neighborhood of “the South Side” in Durham, North Carolina, his artistic journey began at a young age when his mother gifted him a paint by numbers set. From that moment, Thomas’ passion for painting flourished and he honed his skills by creating everyday scenes in his community. While serving in the . S. Navy, Thomas discovered the market demand for his paintings, especially the creation of heartfelt family portraits. After 20 years of service, he returned to Norfolk, Va driven with the desire to depict the stories of his people. He started receiving commissions for painted portraits and received first place awards for his piece “65th Anniversary Through the Eyes of a Butterfly at the Virginia Beach Art Center.
DONALD G. WILSON was born in Danville, Virginia He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Norfolk State University He has been an educator in Portsmouth and in the Chesapeake School System. He is also a former professor at the Art Institute of Virginia Beach. He received his M.A. from Old Dominion University and Norfolk State University and his MFA in Visual Studies. His works have strong social and political commentary, layered with textural experimentation. He attempts to present his subjects regardless of their social status as having inner strength or pathos. Occasionally he uses the American flag as an element of commentary depicting injustice. Donald is a mix medium artist but is comfortable creating with any of the singular medium such as drawing, printing, or sculpture.
SYNTHIA ST. JAMES is a world renowned multicultural visual artist famous for her bold and bright paintings. .. she has been creating art over the world for the past 40 years. She is an award-winning author and/or illustrator of 17 children’s books. Her works are in museums, on book covers, commissioned pieces, and included in the works of major art collectors.
