Historical Society's latest project in University Circle will rotate subjects every two years
Dr. Julian M. Earls stands next to his panel on the new African American Art/History Walk at the Western Reserve Historical Society. (Photograph by Mychal Lilly.)
Saturday, October 21, 2023 was a gloriously important day, marking the dedication of the Western Reserve Historical Society’s African American Art / History Walk.
Located on East 108 Street between Magnolia Drive and East Boulevard, the newly installed public art project features portraits of six prominent African American Clevelanders: Robert P. Madison, Julian M. Earls, Zelma Watson George, A. Grace Lee Mims, Dolores White, and Donald White. The portraits by artist-educator Jerome White each contain QR codes that link viewers to online biographical sketches and digital oral histories of these Cleveland notables.
The project, which required the approval of the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, signals the start of a new chapter in the Society’s history that will include new installations of original art in this public space approximately every two years.
The idea for an African American history-inspired public art project originated with Patrice Hamiter, who served as the African American History archivist at WRHS from the end of 2019 through February 2023. Hamiter facilitated discussions involving members of the WRHS leadership team and Emily Appelbaum of Ingenuity Cleveland. Appelbaum had worked with a diverse group of local artists to create the Voices of Cleveland public art initiative in the immediate wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd. After experiencing several COVID-19-related delays in 2021 and 2022, DavidPatrick Ryan of WRHS joined me in working with Appelbaum and artist Jerome White to complete the first installation of the African American Art/History Walk.
(left to right) Emily Appelbaum, Jerome White, Regennia N. Williams, and DavidPatrick Ryan are pictured inside the Western Reserve Historical Society’s Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum following the official dedication of the African American Art/History Walk. (Photograph by Mychal Lilly.)
Ryan graduated in May 2023 from Case Western Reserve University with a BA in history and art history. Over the last few months, we worked together on the “Sisters” exhibition, which includes portraits of women religious by Herbert Ascherman, Jr. and successfully opened on Thursday, October 19. Ryan’s used his ceremonial remarks to recall how “during the early days of COVID-19, with the momentum of the Black Lives Matter Movement in mind, museums and other institutions were thinking of ways to move their services and their mission outside the physical walls of their space, so that people could enjoy the programs within the confines of COVID.”
Ryan went on to describe those featured in the African American Art/History Walk as “powerful forces in music, culture, science, architecture, and politics.” He also acknowledged Dr. Julian Earls, who was able to attend the dedication. Earls and Madison, who turned 100 earlier this year, are still civically active. Dolores White died earlier this year, predeceased by her late husband Donald, George and Mims.
Ryan, who had a hand in choosing the project’s title, shared his thoughts on the title’s significance during the ceremony. “We intend for the project to have bit of a rotating function in the years to come, and we plan to keep updating the project with new work by other artists. I’d also like to point out the importance of the word ‘walk.’ When you go to the space, you will notice that it is not the only piece of art on East 108 th street. But it’s rather connecting space that is already used for art, beginning at Mount Zion Congregational Church where there is dedicated gallery space.”
“Moving down the street from Mt. Zion, you’ll see a mural by Virgie Ezelle Patton. Just past Jerome White’s portraits, there is also a statue of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones at the corner of East Boulevard and East 108 Street. These spaces are now all connected with art that is related to African American history and Cleveland, and it’s great to see that there is a ton of foot traffic on that walk every day.”
Appelbaum said “Ingenuity Cleveland is tremendously honored to have been able to do this work, as we have been part of a concerted effort to produce more work by Black artists across the city of Cleveland. That project that was sparked in the wake of George Floyd’s murder came together with many history makers here in Cleveland.” According to Appelbaum, early supporters of the Voices of Cleveland public art project to amplify black voices included Land Studio and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.
Appelbaum then added, “It’s been three years, and we’ve produced more than 36 large-scale temporary, permanent, and semi-permanent works across the city to date, as well as a large rotating gallery of work that has continued to enliven public spaces. We’ve been so honored to work with artists like the amazingly talented artist, illustrator, and educator Jerome White, who has a beautiful practice that involves history.”
In his concluding remarks, White thanked the Western Reserve Historical Society and Emily Appelbaum for the opportunity to share his work and his vision through the East 108th street project — and four or five others that have involved work with Voices of Cleveland.
White described his digital work for the 2023 project as “just another medium,” since he also produces works using oils and acrylics, and he has completed various mural projects. Examples of his work can also be seen at League Park in Cleveland’s Hough Community. A veteran teacher with 30 years of classroom experience, White currently works at Monticello Middle School in Cleveland Heights.
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*For more information on this project and other African American History Initiatives at the Western Reserve Historical Society, email the writer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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