Special to The Dallas Examiner
The annual Christmas Music Under the Dome and Christmas Marketplace will celebrate Black artists and businesses Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the African American Museum, located at 3536 Grand Ave. in historic Fair Park. This event is free and open to the public.
The holiday extravaganza will feature vendors offering visitors a variety of unique “shop local” gifts – including handcrafted jewelry, accessories and more. There will also be performances by North Texas musicians. In addition, the Dallas Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority will showcase 16 authors doing book signings.
The day will begin with Family Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring workshops with local artists, feature films on African American folk artists and guided tours by Museum assistant curator Gerald Leavell and guest curator Philip E, Collins. There will also be a conversation with former students from The Hockaday School and St. Mark’s School of Texas, who participated in Mr. Imagination’s school residencies held several decades ago. And, inspired by the “Fire” exhibition, artist Vet of Artcycle Texas in East Dallas will present workshops where participants can create their own repurposed work of art from discarded items from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
At 1 p.m., in partnership with The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, guests can engage in a panel discussion on The Legacy of the 1968 Kerner Commission Report and hear from community leaders on the civil disorders that occurred in the U.S. from 1965-1967. Speakers will include James Hawthorne, chief of police for the Cedar Hill Independent School District; John Fullinwider, educator and community organizer; and Classi Nance, Dallas-based artist, photographer and organizer exploring untold histories of space, place and people of the region. Moderator will be Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, acting deputy director and chief operations officer for the African American Museum.
The event will also provide a last-chance opportunity to view Fire! The Resurrection of Mr. Imagination, an exhibition featuring approximately 80 works by the late artist known as Mr. Imagination. Open through Jan. 7, 2023, it will shed light on his career and triumph over destruction and the tragedy of fire, with works composed of the detritus of everyday life. Also on view is “Best in Show – Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition” featuring a selection of 24 works from a national biennial juried competition that launched in 1976. On Dec. 27, “Best in Show” will be updated to include the 2022 winner’s work of art.
For more information, visit htpps://www.aamdallas.org or call 214-565-9026 ext. 312.