THE
WRIGHTTIMES
January 2015
New Exhibitions feature
contemporary sculpture,
Detroit history and the story
of museum founder
Dr. Charles Wright
- page 3
2015 Highlights including
major programs, special
events, and activities for
the entire family
Profiles in Giving features
Ernest McClenney and
ReSeatables, a donation of
beauty, comfort, and creativity
- pages 4 - 5
- page 6
DLECTRICITY
Letter from the President
50 years. One half-century. That is the length of time from the initial
founding of the International Afro-American Museum until today,
initiated by Detroit obstetrician Dr. Charles H. Wright and a racially
integrated group of citizens concerned about preserving the history and
inspiring the aspirations of a people.
50 years. One half-century. Selma. The Voting Rights Act. The
assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. The election
of Coleman Young. The release of Nelson Mandela and the end of
Apartheid. Our first African American President of these United States
of America, Barack Obama.
50 Years. One half-century. The International Afro-American Museum
at 1549 West Grand Boulevard. The IAM traveling museum. The
Museum of African American History at 301 Frederick Douglass
Avenue. The groundbreaking at 315 East Warren Avenue. The
renaming of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American
History.
50 years. One half-century. Of learning, of exploration, of edification,
of pride, of celebration, of community. For the community, with the
community, and by the community. Thank you for being an integral
part of the first 50 years of The Wright Museum.
Let the Celebration Begin
In honor of our 50th anniversary, we are pleased to present our 2015
calendar featuring vibrant photography, information on upcoming
museum programs and events, quotes from community leaders, and
important dates in African American history. These commemorative
keepsakes are available for purchase in the museum store, or as a
courtesy copy when making a donation. To learn more, call (313) 4945800 or speak with a guest services associate on your next visit.
This anniversary is a milestone for the museum, its supporters, the
City of Detroit and the entire metropolitan region. Our celebration
will continue throughout 2015, with many highlights along the way.
There has never been a better time to visit, or to join us as a member,
donor, or volunteer. Our vision is of a world in which the adversity
and achievement of African American history inspire everyone toward
greater understanding, acceptance, and unity.
African American history is American history,
and we all share its stories. This museum
belongs to each and every one of us.
Come be a part of it!
Juanita Moore,
President & CEO
315 East Warren Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
p.(313) 494-5800 • f.(313) 494-5855
The Wright Museum® • TheWright.org
NEW EXHIBITIONS
Shadow Matter: The Rhythm of Structure – Afro Futurism to Afro Surrealism
High John the Conqueror, 49x20x20in, marble, 2009
This one-man show features works by New York sculptor and Inkster,
Michigan-native M. Scott Johnson. Scott’s education as a sculptor began in
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, where he studied traditional and contemporary stone
sculpting under the tutelage of the local artists who occupied the endless
alleyways of the city, and apprenticed with master sculptor, national hero
and elder statesman of Zimbabwe stone sculpture Nicholas Mukomberanwa
(1940 - 2002). Driven to comprehend new relationships between rhythm
and line in the African Diaspora, Scott’s work has also been strongly
influenced by African American techno music, Ndyuka and Saramaka
graphic art forms, Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi, and Makonde
sculpture. Johnson’s work has been exhibited in galleries across the United
States and internationally including the National Gallery of Zimbabwe,
Harvard University, and The New York Botanical Gardens. His sculptures
are in numerous private and public collections, most notably those of
the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Hampton
University Museum.
The Mind of Benjamin Banneker, 26x12x6in, marble, 2004
January 19 - August 30, 2015
The Nataki Way: 35th Anniversary of the Nataki Talibah
Schoolhouse of Detroit
Now through April 19, 2015
Carmen and George N’Namdi founded the Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit (NTSD) as a private
school in 1978 to honor the memory of their fourteen-month-old daughter, Nataki Talibah N’Namdi,
who died in 1974. In 1995, the Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit was chartered as a public school
under Central Michigan University. The school now enrolls over 430 students. After 35 years of hard
work, the NTSD continues to uplift students from diverse backgrounds
and help them identify the varying roles each of us must play to make the
world a better place for everyone.
The Wright Man: His Life and Legacy
February 5, 2015 - January 3, 2016
This special anniversary exhibition features the
history of Charles H. Wright, M.D. (1918 – 2002),
founder of the Charles H. Wright Museum of African
American History. It surveys his early life in Dothan,
Alabama, his college years, his activism, and the path
that led to the founding of the museum.
All exhibitions are free with museum admission.
Profiles
in
Giving
ReSeatables: A Donation of Beauty & Comfort
Ernest McClenney, a retired Chrysler production control
analyst, U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran, and Coast Guard
auxiliary volunteer, grew up in Detroit and was busy working
and raising a family during the growth of the Charles H. Wright
Museum of African American History. After years of working in
the Detroit auto industry, McClenney was inspired to unleash
his own creative abilities. As a second career and passion project,
he established ReSeatables, a company that repurposes salvaged
automobile seats to craft functional art and furniture.
“I’ve always been passionate about cars and impressed with the
amount of engineering technology that goes into the comfort
and quality of automotive car seats,” McClenney said.
ReSeatables are custom-made recliners, sofas and loveseats
crafted from repurposed car seats that are “re-seated” into oneof-a-kind pieces of functional art. As beautiful as they are, they
are even more comfortable – and as durable furnishings, they
are meant to be used, in the home or office. Each ReSeatable is
a unique conversation piece. From the company’s start just a
few short years ago, ReSeatables have been featured in The
Detroit News, Homestyle Magazine, the Woodward Dream
Cruise, the Henry Ford Innovative Institute, and the Detroit
Historical Museum.
In October of 2014, McClenney made a donation of two
ReSeatables featuring a 1990 blue Lincoln town car loveseat
and matching chair to The Wright Museum.
McClenney has 16 grandchildren with whom he visits the
museum frequently, wanting them to embrace their history,
while in turn, realizing their own potential.
I wanted to
“share
this art and
craftsmanship
with The Wright
to further help
spread the message
of creativity”
“[Reseatables are]
functional art with a
purpose to remind us,
as Detroiters, that we
were built to last,” he said.
“There’s always hope.”
Although this donation
came in a unique form,
McClenney’s was given in
the same spirit as those of
The Wright’s many donors, who provide much-needed gifts of
time, talent, and treasure. It is this spirit of giving that motivates
donors like McClenney to contribute to The Wright Museum,
and to its home, Detroit. Gifts such as these enable the museum
to continuously work towards fulfilling its mission of opening
minds and changing lives.
“As an African American, it is my duty and privilege to share
my gift and creativity with a museum that has already shared
and done so much for my community,” McClenney said. “It’s
a place that shares that sense of pride and unity within the
African American community and beyond, and will always have
my support.”
“I wanted to share this art and craftsmanship with The Wright
to further help spread the message of creativity,” he said,
“especially for our young black children in Detroit.”
The matching Reseatable loveseat (left) and chair (not pictured) referenced
in this article will be auctioned at the 2015 Wright Gala this October. Proceeds
will benefit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.
To learn more about ReSeatables visit www.re-seatables.com.
Museum Donors During the Period October 1 - December 15, 2014
The museum would like to extend its sincere appreciation to those donors who have made gifts to support our exhibits, programming and special events. Listed here are the names of contributors who made gifts of $500 or more. Every attempt has been made
to list donors accurately; if there are errors or omissions, please call (313) 494-5872 so we may correct them. Thank you!
$250,000 +
W. K. Kellogg Foundation
$50,000 +
Ford Motor Company Fund
Ilitch Charities
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
$25,000 +
Fred A. and Barbara M. Erb
Family Foundation
John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation
Quicken Loans
$10,000 +
Bank of America
B. W. Limited
Mrs. Serena & Mr. Kieth Cockrell
Ms. Jo Coleman
General Motors Foundation
Masco Corporation
St. John Providence Health System
Dr. Louis Radden
Mrs. Suzanne Shank-Werdlow &
Mr. Sean Werdlow
Wal-Mart / Sam’s Club
The Women’s Committee of
The Wright Museum
$5,000 +
Mrs. Alma L. Greer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Ms. Myrna Colley-Lee
Delphi Foundation, Inc.
DTE Energy Foundation
Fifth Third Bank
Dr. Linda & Mr. Roderick Gillum
Greektown Casino LLC
James Group International Inc.
Mrs. Maureen & Mr. Roy Roberts
Ms. Nettie Seabrooks
Ms. Joni Thrower
William and Marion Jones Fund
$2,500 +
City of Detroit Employees
Mrs. Rhonda D. Welburn
Karmanos Institute
AVL Powertrain Engineering
Conway Mackenzie
Mrs. Robin & Mr. Myzell Sowell
Mr. John Bernard
Clark Hill PLC
Ms. Barbara J. Mahone
The Skillman Foundation
Mr. S. Gary Spicer
$1,000 +
Mrs. Patricia & Mr. Joseph Amine
Mrs. & Mr. George Barnes
Ms. Danitra Barnett
Mrs. Yvette &
The Honorable Dave Bing
Black Family Development, Inc.
Bridgewater Interiors, LLC
Mrs. Geraldine Ford-Brown &
Mr. Robert D. Brown
Comer Holdings, LLC
Ms. Diane Crawford
Mrs. Brenda & Mr. Matthew Davis
Mrs. Linda Forte &
Mr. Tyrone Davenport
East Forest Art Project Investors LLC
Ms. Elaine Chapman-Epps &
Mr. Sam B. Epps
Mrs. Jamie & Mr. James Farmer
Ms. Christine Gavin-Patterson
Mrs. Patricia & Mr. Donald Goodwin
Mr. Melvin Hollowell
Mr. Gregory Jackson
Mrs. Kendra & Mr. Dennis Johnson
Ms. Stephanie Jones
Kelley Cawthorne
Ms. Florine Mark
Michigan First Credit
Union Foundation
Dr. Charles Mitchell
Mrs. Veronica R. Murff
Mrs. Jacque Nickerson
Dr. Sherida & Dr. Taft Parsons
Dr. L. Kimberly Peoples
Mr. Errol Peschel
Mrs. Sandy & Mr. Eric Peterson
Dr. Glenda Price
Real Times Media, Inc.
Dr. Kandis & Dr. Emanuel Rivers
Mr. Barry Sanders
Ms. Ruth Shuford
Mr. Anthony Soave
Mrs. Kimberly & Mr. Shawn Stafford
Mrs. Marla & Mr. James Thrower
Mrs. Doris Keith Waddell
Wayne State University
Mr. Ruben Wilson
$500 +
Mrs. Julie A. & Mr. David Adams
Ms. Audrey Ambrose-Squires
Ms. Felecia J. Baker
Ms. Roslyn & Mr. Mark Baughman
Mrs. Lauren & Dr. Brandon Barton
Mr. Barry Bess
Ms. Alexis Bourkoulas
Mrs. Elizabeth & Mr. William Brooks
Ms. Denise Brooks-Williams
Mrs. Charli & Mr. Ted Canaday
Ms. Sandra & Mr. Lloyd Clemons
Mrs. LaNesha &
Mr. Anthony Debardelaben
The Detroit Drifters, Inc. Detroit Chapter
Ms. Alexis Dishman
Mrs. Melody K. &
Dr. Leonard Douglas
Mrs. Rhoda Henderson Fields &
Mr. Albert Fields
Dr. Dexter Fields
Mr. John Fleming
Mr. Ernest Holland
Dr. Sherryl D. &
Mr. N J. Scott Hinton
Jasco International LLC
Dr. Aleatha & Dr. George Kimbrough
Dr. Mildred C. Matlock
McDonald’s Corporation
Mr. Roderick McNeal
Mrs. Karen & Dr. Phares Noel
Mrs. Karen Batchelor Perkins &
Mr. Bill Perkins
Mrs. Doris & Mr. Walter Rhea
Mrs. Gwendolyn Rhodes
Ms. Sharron Rose
Ms. Gail Ross
Mr. Audley Kano Smith & Family
Mr. Tululope Sonuyi
Ms. Terri Rouse-Shelton
Mr. Gerard Sloan
Mr. Edward Welburn
Mr. Charlie J. Williams
Senator Coleman A. Young II
THE KRESGE FOUNDATION
This newsletter and museum programming are made possible by the generous support of our community partners. Thank you!
JOIN US! To become a member, make a donation or volunteer, please call (313) 494-5800 or visit TheWright.org.
NON-PROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Membership Department
315 East Warren Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1443
PAID
DETROIT, MI 48201
PERMIT NO. 3832
UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
15th annual MLK Day Commemorative Breakfast: Monday, January 19 at 8 am
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration: Monday, January 19 from 9 am - 6 pm
And Still We Rise: Our Journey Through African American History and Culture
Ongoing
Inspiring Minds: African Americans in Science and Technology
Ongoing
Shadow Matter: The Rhythm of Structure – Afro Futurism to Afro Surrealism
January 19 - August 30, 2015
The Nataki Way: 35th Anniversary of the Nataki Talibah Schoolhouse of Detroit
Now - April 19, 2015
The Wright Man: His Life and Legacy
February 5, 2015 - January 3, 2016
Membership (313) 494-5872 • Group Tours (313) 494-5808 • Facility Rental (313) 494-5801 • The Wright Museum® • TheWright.org
Photograph by Carol Friedman