Popping up in Richmond: "Portals," a Black history public art installation
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An Emancipation Day celebration in front of a shop at E. Main Street near 21st Street. Taken in 1888 or 1902. Image: Courtesy of The Valentine
Shockoe Bottom will be transformed into an immersive outdoor art gallery for the entire month of February.
Why it matters: The installation, entitled "Portals," features 20 large-scale photos of Black Richmonders from the early 1800s to the 1980s.
The big picture: The city parks department, in partnership with The Valentine and Black History museums, curated the exhibition from photos in their collections.
- Each photograph will also feature a QR code that goes to one of the museums' websites for additional details and historical context.
Zoom in: The images will be displayed in the windows of 20 Shockoe Bottom businesses, all on or near 17th Street Market.
- The exhibition opens Saturday at noon and the self-guided tour is free all month long.
What they're saying: "We hope 'Portals' will serve as a bridge from the past to the current transformation in Shockoe Bottom, commemorating this rich culture and history while inspiring conversations about the future," Saajida A. Chohan with the Black History Museum said in a statement.