Juneteenth

Juneteenth Arts Celebration is a two-day event that brings together four non-profit organizations to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. This FREE event celebrates the African American community and offers the public access to local artists, food, dance, music, and other festivities at major cultural venues in Morristown and Morris Township. Partner organizations for this event are Art in the Atrium (ATA), Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morris Arts, and the Morris Museum.

Juneteenth, traditionally observed on June 19, commemorates Black liberation from the institution of slavery that took place at the end of the Civil War when President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became the law in all states. The day also highlights the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Black Community. June 19, 1865 was the day word reached the enslaved in Galveston, Texas, though this proclamation actually ended slavery on paper two years earlier on January 1, 1863.

The arts celebration begins at the Atrium Gallery with a public reception of W.O.W.: Women’s Outstanding Works on Thursday, June 13. ATA’s first all-women exhibit curated by Onnie Strother and Bisa Wendy Washington will feature master artist Nette Forné Thomas and showcase the work of 70 Black and Afro-Latina women artists. Atlantic Health System is the event sponsor, Peapack-Gladstone Bank and Valley Bank are VIP Patrons of the Art in the Atrium event.

The party continues at the Morris Museum on Friday, June 14 for a celebratory event that features a performance by the Unity Steppers and local Spoken Word Poets. Installed concurrently at Art in the Atrium’s W.O.W. exhibition and at the Morris Museum, the monumental mural, Wearer of All Socks, by Samantha Modder celebrates a larger-than-life black fairytale heroine. This free event will have delicious catering by Dominiques Dishes, an open bar, and music from DJ Rich. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is a sponsor for the Morris Museum event.

Thank you to all event sponsors:

Art in the Atrium Public Reception of W.O.W.: Women’s Outstanding Works
Thursday, June 13, 6:30 to 9 PM
Morris County Administration and Records Building
10 Court Street, Morristown, NJ 07960

Morris Museum’s Celebration
Friday, June 14, 6 to 9 PM
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960

Image Caption: Nette Forné Thomas, Liberty Flourishes When Wisdom Prevails, Photo courtesy the artist. The Steppers, Photo by Dawnpoint Studios. Elizabeth Catlett, Young Douglass, Linocut, 16.5×13.5 in