Hello everyone, I’m hoping everyone in the sound of my words is healthy and happy. We hope that you are still wearing your mask and socially distancing when necessary. This week, I want to turn my attention to a special event coming up at the Arch Social Club on the corner of Pennsylvania and North Avenues— “The Historical Photograph Project Archive Launch,” an initiative of the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District, which is seeking to counter histories of disinvestment that has exacerbated the loss of cultural memory for communities in the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor of West Baltimore.
Everyone who knows me, knows for a fact that I am a believer in preserving our history in Baltimore so, check this out! The Historical Photography Project encourages photographers and residents living in West Baltimore to contribute photographs from their personal archives and to create new images that contextualize the history, present, and future of West Baltimore.
The organization seeks to re-imagine blighted historic sites along the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor in West Baltimore by designing and installing permanent photographic flagpole banners, developing an innovative, interactive, and accessible web-based archive and oral history tool for the capture and repository of Black cultural memory in West Baltimore, and rendering engaging educational tool kits for K-12 institutions, nonprofits and community members.
The Historical Photography Project Archive Launch Event will take place on Saturday, November 20, 2021 from noon until 2:30 p.m. at Arch Social Club located at 2426 Pennsylvania Avenue at the corner of North Avenue. This is a free event and gives members of the community an opportunity to bring photographs from their personal collections that tell the history of Pennsylvania Avenue, and share stories about living, working and or frequenting arts and entertainment venues on Pennsylvania Avenue or in West Baltimore.
The program will feature speakers, Charles Tilghman Jr., son of the famous owner of the Sphinx Club and his son Kendrick Tilghman, the grandson of the Sphinx Club founder Charles Tilghman; photographer Webster Phillips, the grandson and executor of the estate of I. Henry Phillips Sr., a notable photographer of African American arts, entertainment and culture and yours truly, Rosa “Rambling Rose” Pryor-Trusty, entertainment journalist, columnist, entertainment booking agent and promoter and author of two books. Looking forward to seeing you to wine and dine at Arch Social Club. For more information, call 510-228-2080 or 667-312-2099.
I’ve got to go now my friends, but remember if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol.com. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.