In an effort to complement the College of William and Mary’s year-long commemoration of the 50th anniversary of residential African-Americans students, the Muscarelle Museum of Art is hosting a pair of unique events.
On Sunday, pianist Christine Niehaus will present ragtime compositions, and fellow pianist Liam Farrell will perform jazz. Niehaus’ experience includes performances at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian and in various countries across the world. An aspiring law student graduating later this year, Farrell directs the student-run Wham Bam Big Band.
The concert complements the museum’s current Building on the Legacy exhibition, which features more than 30 paintings, drawings, writings and sculptures created by black artists.
Dr. Michael L. Blakey, a National Endowment for the Humanities Professor at the William and Mary in the Department of Anthropology and American Studies, will also present a lecture on his research into race, biology and public policy Nov. 16. His work with a trio of projects — Remembering Slavery, Resistance and Freedom Project and the New York African Burial Ground Project — offers a unique perspective.
He will also discuss the legacy and impact of Karen Ely, Lynn Briley and Janet Brown, the college’s first three African-American residential students who made history in 1967.
Christine Niehaus and Liam Farrell perform at 2 p.m. Sunday. Dr. Blakey’s “Commemoration and Remembering: Building on the Legacy” lecture kicks off at 6 p.m. Nov. 16; the museum is also streaming it on Facebook Live. Both events included with museum admission.
