Re-energizing the Legacy of Frederick Douglass
Re-Energizing the Legacy of Frederick Douglassis a public art project, exhibition and community-wide reflection commemorating the 200th anniversary of his birth; designed to bring vitality to downtown Rochester by placing a series of life-size statues of Frederick Douglass at downtown locations that are relevant to his life in Rochester. A mobile friendly web site will provide interpretive information including a walking/driving tour map, biographical information, timeline, and excerpts from his speeches; an educational curriculum will be prepared and shared with schools throughout the region; and the web site and social media will cross-promote other events sponsored by museums, arts organizations, schools, colleges and other partner organizations. Rochester Contemporary Art Center (RoCo) will present a curated exhibit featuring new works by regional artists that reflect on the legacy of Douglass, how Douglass has been memorialized and how his legacy and image continues to live. A coordinated marketing and outreach plan will promote the monuments, the RoCo exhibit, and other events sponsored by museums, arts organizations, schools and colleges. Rochester Community Media Center is the lead agency andCarvinEison is the project director.RoCo, Bleu Cease, Executive Director, is the lead partner. Christine Christopher is the project manager and an historian (TBA) will be retained as an advisor and content contributor.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
For 25 years, Frederick Douglass lived in Rochester, where he undertook his most important work.This project is centered and grounded in locating statues that commemorate and interpret Frederick Douglass’ contributions to our city in the historical context via a walking tour and companion web site, and in so doing, becomes the “launching pad” for a community-wide recognition of this tremendous man.
Through our efforts and those of our partners, the initiative will demonstrate that the Douglass legacy is a living legacy. Many of our partners have planned companion events and programming – some at no cost – that will celebrate the Douglass legacy. Whether it is a play at Geva, a “What Would Fred Do” community dialogue along the lines of RCTV and RoCo’s previous and successful dialogue series collaboration titled “Question Bridge,” a new performance by Garth Fagan Dance, a dedicated program at the Rochester Museum and Science Center or youth events sponsored by the City of Rochester or the Rochester City School District, – this project will spark themed projects for the duration of the celebration year and become the organizing/coordinating hub for a myriad of events that will include the talents of a diverse group of artists from many disciplines. The project will draw people – and hopefully students from around the region who take advantage of the planned curriculum -- to the City to experience the events as well as the walking tour.
CarvinEison, Project Director and General Manager of RCTV, and Bleu Cease, Executive Director of RoCo have been in discussions for over a year about the anniversary of Douglass' birth, and the potential of a public art exhibit that is inspired by the historic Frederick Douglass monument, created by Sidney W. Edwards in the late 1890s, now located in Highland Park and scheduled to be moved to the corner of South Avenue and Robinson Drive in the spring. RCTV and RoCo reached out to other institutions, including Geva, Garth Fagan Dance, Rochester Museum and Science Center, University of Rochester, Rochester City School District, Highland Park Conservancy, City of Rochester, the Susan B. Anthony House, Writers and Books, Monroe County Legislators and descendants of the Douglass family. All of these partners agree on the importance of a visible and community-wide response to the Douglass bicentennial, and the value of continued collaboration to make it a success.
All aspects of the project (public art installation, RoCo exhibit, web site/walking tour, curriculum, community events collaborations) will be integrated to bring the work and philosophy of Frederick Douglass into the public sphere.RCTV has identified a sculptor who will produce eight life models of the statue, for this phase of the project. These will be placed in downtown Rochester at locations most significant in Douglass’ life (including his newspaper office on Main Street, the churches where he spoke, the lower falls of the Genesee River where he helped people to escape from slavery).
Monroe County hosts the Douglass statue in Highland Park. The County is a partner in the project and anxious to cooperate however they can. Together, Monroe County and the City of Rochester will declare 2018 "The Year of Douglass."
The City of Rochester has made a commitment to assist RCTV to obtain a special event permit for installation of monuments. For any statues located on private property, we will obtain written permission. Some statues will be installed on public rights of way (park, sidewalks, tree lawn) with permission. Appropriate insurance coverage will be obtained.
We anticipate that the number and variety of projects will not only complement each other, but will generate important community discussion about the Douglass legacy and his contributions not only to our city, but to our nation.
CarvinEison
Associate Professor,
Dept. of Communication
224 Holmes Hall
The College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, New York 14420
585.395.5676