Anderson@Large

Harriet Tubman Statue Update

A year ago, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney planned to award a $500,000 no-bid commission for a permanent Harriet Tubman statue to a white artist, Wesley Wofford, who has never won a public commission for a Tubman statue. After sustained agitation, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy (OACCE) reversed course and issued an Open Call. Wofford was among the 50 artists who responded to the Open Call. The five semi-finalists were announced on March 31, 2023. Wofford didn’t make the cut. He’s now batting 0 for 24 public commissions for Harriet Tubman statues.

All of the semi-finalists—Vinnie Bagwell, Richard Blake, Tanda Francis, Alvin Pettit and Basil Watson—are Black. The public is invited to attend a virtual public input meeting with the artists.

The Zoom webinar will provide an opportunity for the artists “to hear directly from the public before they create initial design proposals for the Harriet Tubman statue. The winning proposal will become a statue that will be located on the northeast apron of City Hall and the first statue of a Black female historical figure in the City’s public art collection. OACCE encourages all Philadelphians to be a part of this historic public art commission for the City by attending this public meeting and making your voice heard.”

The public input meeting will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023 at 5:30pm ET. RSVP for the Zoom webinar here.

2023 National Recording Registry

The Library of Congress has announced the 2023 National Recording Registry, an annual list of audio recordings that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.”

The Registry was established by the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 which created the National Recording Preservation Board whose members are appointed by the Librarian of Congress. The Registry includes a wide variety of recordings that are deemed significant to the nation’s audio heritage. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said:

The National Recording Registry preserves our history through recorded sound and reflects our nation’s diverse culture. The national library is proud to help ensure these recordings are preserved for generations to come, and we welcome the public’s input on what songs, speeches, podcasts or recorded sounds we should preserve next.

The 2023 list includes “St. Louis Blues” by W.C. Handy’s Memphis Blues Band.

One of my all-time favorites, Koko Taylor’s “Wang Dang Doodle,” is on the list.

Fletcher Henderson’s “Sugar Foot Stomp” and Wynton Marsalis’ “Black Codes (From the Underground)” were added to the Registry.

The complete National Recording Registry Listing is available here.

Jazz Appreciation Month 2023

April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM), a time to increase awareness and appreciation for jazz as a uniquely American art form that is rooted in the Black experience. JAM was first celebrated in 2001. This year’s poster, “Jazzed about Art,” features Miles Davis.

Davis’ 1959 album, “Kind of Blue,” was one of the four albums that changed jazz forever.

“Kind of Blue” is the best-selling jazz album of all time. It has sold over five million copies. Several of the songs from the album, including “So What,” have become jazz standards.

Philly Celebrates Jazz is Philadelphia’s annual celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month.

The full calendar of events is available here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)

On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told Black people:

We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Less than 24 hours later, the “King of Love” was assassinated as he stood on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.