Black History Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans both nationally and locally. Historic Rosedale will be hosting African American community members and other historians who will discuss their journeys, accomplishments and other topics.
The exhibits Oasis Spaces: The Green Book Project, African American travel in NC 1933 - 1966 and The Great Escape: The Underground Railway will be open from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for viewing. The 1815 Rosedale house will also be open for FREE viewing in celebration of Black History Month. Free lectures and presentations will be as follows:
11:00 am: Hugh Dussek, Ph.D. Originally from London, England, Hugh Dussek has lived in Charlotte, North Carolina, for over twenty-five years. Hugh holds a doctoral degree in history from Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a history professor, and chair of the history department, at Central Piedmont in Charlotte, where he teaches courses on world civilizations, American history, the history of North Carolina, local history and mythology. Hugh also teaches history courses at Johnson C. Smith University. Hugh serves on the boards of the Charlotte Museum of History, Historic Rosedale, and the Historic Mapping Congress, and gives presentations in the community and on television about American, British and local history. Hugh’s presentation will focus on the history of blacksmithing at Rosedale, the story of how Rosedale built the blacksmith shop, and the history of metals around the world.
12:30 pm Nellie Ashford is a self-taught folk artist from Mecklenburg County. Her mixed media folk art depicts the experiences of Charlottes African American community during the era of Jim Crow in the southern United States. Growing up locally, Nellie attended a four-room segregated school house and late went on to earn bachelors’ degrees from Shaw University in psychology and social sciences. She participated in a 2004 juried art show for the Afro-American Cultural Center in Charlotte, for which she earned the curator's recognition award. In 2010, her show "Nellie's People" was featured at the Delta Arts Center, and in 2013, her work was displayed at the Gaston County Museum. The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts and Culture hosted her first major-museum, solo exhibit in 2016. According to the Gantt Center, the solo exhibit, titled "Nellie Ashford: Through My Eyes," communicates "cultural identity shared community values and aesthetics ."During the 2012 national election campaign, 11 of Nellie’s works were featured at the Democratic National Convention Committee headquarters in Charlotte.
1:30 pm Naomi Rankin and Marilyn Gore : Naomi Kaye Rankin owns Kreations by Kaye Kaye, a small in-home business. Naomi learned how to sew from her mother and Aunt while living in the sunny isles of the Bahamas. She began quilting about twenty five years ago. She designs sweatshirts, creates new quilts and repairs antique quilts. She also works with many other crafts and loves photography. Marilyn Gore has been sewing and quilting since the age of fourteen. Born and raised in the rural, farming community of Bolivia, NC, sewing and quilting were necessities. Marilyn’s first sewing experience was helping her mother make woven and tied floor rugs from feed sacks and tobacco twine. Her mother, Mattie Pearl, also taught Marilyn how to embroider and decorate homemade pillowcases.
2:30 Tamia Allen Williams: is a descendent of George Washington Caldwell, one of a long line of blacksmiths at Rosedale. She will be discussing the complexity of African American History and the hurt and hope it can bring to those affected by it, as well as the importance of its teaching.
ALL DAY: Blacksmith Demonstrations: The Rosedale Smithy will be open all day and offer demonstrations by the Rosedale Smithy Team. Head Blacksmith Jason Blanchett. Jason has a long history of teaching welding and blacksmithing in Charlotte, NC and Charleston, SC and is the owner of Iron Giant Fabrication. In addition, blacksmiths Martin Foil and John McPherson have many years of blacksmithing experience between.
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