New Dunn Museum exhibit focuses on the Black experience
The Bess Bower Dunn Museum's first virtual exhibition is expanding, opening for in-person viewing on Saturday, July 3.
The "Our Voice is Black History: Past, Present, Future" exhibit will run through Oct. 24 at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville, operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves. The virtual exhibit will also continue through Oct. 24.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Dunn Museum and the College of Lake County's Black Student Union.
"The new in-person exhibition is an extension of the virtual exhibit," said Andrew Osborne, superintendent of educational facilities. "It examines and explores multigenerational stories and experiences through graphic design, poetry, writing, art, and video interviews that portray the voice of the African Americans' past and reality."
Dunn Museum staff approached CLC Multicultural Coordinator Beverly Phelps about the project idea last summer. She enlisted the help of students and faculty.
The team incorporated several aspects into the project. CLC held a student art contest in an effort to collect original pieces for the virtual exhibition and is creating a book with these elements.
CLC students, with the support of Dunn Museum staff, interviewed prominent Black leaders in the community to gain perspective. A professional videographer was hired to document the interviews and help turn them into polished products to go on display virtually.
"I am so proud of this project, and grateful for the partnership we formed with the professionals at the Dunn Museum," Phelps said, adding that she has never participated in this type of experience.
She said the students are looking forward to the in-person exhibition and seeing their artwork and interviews on display.
"The students were able to express themselves through their artwork," Phelps said.
Leaders and prominent community members were interviewed, including three mayors: Sam Cunningham of Waukegan, Leon Rockingham Jr. of North Chicago and Billy McKinney of Zion.
"The stories told were amazing," Phelps said. "They covered everything from the Civil Rights Movement to Black Lives Matter."
CLC student Jermaine Hilton, who is studying computer science and serves as president of the Black Male Xcellence club, took the lead in conducting the interviews.
"I learned how many different leaders before my time have been inspiring, working and teaching the Black youth, as well as everyone in our community," Hilton said. "They taught our history through different ways such as art, church, law and civil service. It was an eye-opener for me."
The in-person exhibit will also connect the students' work with events that took place in Lake County over the past year.
"Newspaper photographs and news stories about local marches, protests and other events will help provide context for their artwork," Osborne said.
Educational materials and programs are part of the exhibition as well.
"We will provide information that visitors can take home. It will address how to have conversations about race and equality," Osborne said.
"This will help amplify the voice of the students and connect the powerful message."
The exhibition and related programming are sponsored by the Preservation Foundation, the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves, with additional support provided by USG.
"The collaboration involved with this project has been beneficial," said Angelo Kyle, president of the Lake County Forest Preserves.
"I am proud of the partnership between our Dunn Museum staff and the students and faculty from CLC who have worked together to create this exciting virtual exhibition that was expanded to feature in-person viewing at the museum."
For admission, go online to LCFPD.org/MuseumTickets to purchase timed entry tickets in advance. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase in person. Only credit card payments are accepted.
• Kim Mikus is a communications specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves.