[Durham INC] Durham Unveils Parrish St. Sculptures Oct. 16

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov <mailto:Amy.Blalock at durhamnc.gov> 

 

For Immediate Release:  October 6, 2009

 

Durham Unveils Parrish Street Sculptures October 16

Final Three Permanent Sculptures to Honor the Legacy of Durham's
Historic Black Wall Street

 

Durham, N.C. - Another set of commemorative pieces honoring Durham's
rich African American history will be unveiled next week and the entire
community is invited to participate.

 

The Parrish Street Advocacy Group and the City of Durham will unveil the
remaining three of six historical markers commemorating the rich history
of Parrish Street on Friday, October 16, 2009, from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The event will take place in downtown Durham on East Parrish and Church
Streets.  The first three markers were placed on West Parrish Street in
October 2008.

 

The unveiling will feature stories and history by local leaders and
those with strong historical ties to Parrish Street.  This event is free
and open to the public and refreshments will be provided.

 

According to Parrish Street Project Coordinator Reginald Jones with the
City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, these permanent
sculptures will continue to honor a distinguished legacy of economic
achievement and opportunity that was only available to African Americans
living in Durham in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  "Success stories
from the Black Wall Street era continue to this day, with accounts of
prosperity that were unheard of for African Americans not living in
Durham at that time.  In fact, several original African-American
institutions have been in operation for over 100 years in this community
and are still making a difference."

 

Working through Liberty Arts, Inc., artists Alvin Frega, Jorge Gonzales,
and Libby Lynn have been working on this next series of
pedestrian-scale, free-standing markers that will be sculptural in form
and include text and symbols to educate passer-bys about the history of
African-American contributions to the Durham community.  

 

The sculptures are comprised of significant materials from Durham's
tobacco, retail, manufacturing, and transportation industries, as well
as materials such as bronze, concrete, limestone, aluminum, glass, and
steel.  Through materials and design, the artists are commemorating the
following, historically significant themes: A Legacy of Community and
Institutional Connections; Financial and Professional Impact in Durham;
and Empowering and Diverse Opportunities.

 

The City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development has received
approximately $350,000 from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development, with assistance from U.S. Representative David E. Price, to
support the Parrish Street Project. 

 

More information about this project and Black Wall Street's history can
be found at www.parrishstreet.org <http://www.parrishstreet.org/> .
Interested residents may also contact Reginald Jones at (919) 560-4965,
extension 15207 or by e-mail at Reginald.Jones at durhamnc.gov for more
information

 

About the Parrish Street Project

The Parrish Street Project is an initiative of the Durham City Council
to commemorate the nationally significant history of Parrish Street,
also known as "Black Wall Street," and spur economic revitalization for
this downtown Durham corridor.  This initiative is being coordinated by
the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development and a group of
Durham leaders, activists, businesses, and citizens representing some of
the most influential organizations and interests in the Bull City.
Together they are engaged in a mission to attract new investment and
pursue national heritage area status from the United States Congress. To
learn more, visit www.parrishstreet.org <http://www.parrishstreet.org/>
.

 

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