A Celebration of Life in Durham鈥檚 West End Through Portraits of Its Elders
Duke-supported exhibit at community center is open by appointment from Oct. 28-Dec. 10
They grew up within blocks of Duke鈥檚 West Campus. Now, decades later, these long-time residents of Durham鈥檚 West End neighborhood have memories to share and lives to celebrate.
A new exhibit at the West End Community Foundation鈥檚 center in Lyon Park brings their faces and stories to life. Produced in partnership from Duke鈥檚 Office of Durham & Community Affairs and Duke Arts, 鈥淓lders of the West End鈥 combines stunning portraits with compelling narratives.
鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just a school, it was a family. It was neighbors helping each other, it was playing together, eating together, growing together.鈥
-- Elaine O鈥橬eal
Durham Mayor Elaine O鈥橬eal is photographed with her sisters Eunice and Eileen. Like others in the exhibit, all three attended the center when it was a school. Across from their portrait is one of their former classmates, Mayme Webb-Bledsoe, who has guided Duke鈥檚 partnerships with the West End and other neighborhoods for many years.
Others grew up to become educators or community leaders. Many lived more private lives. All saw the neighborhood thrive and face challenges.
鈥淲e have the same blood and same interest running in our veins because we were part of a village. 鈥 It is just special when I sing even the Lyon Park School song and all of us who went to school here know it and can sing it even today.鈥
-- Mayme Webb-Bledsoe
Durham photographer Jamaica Gilmer and designer Winnie Okwakol created the exhibit, which is free and open to the public , beginning Oct. 28.
They worked with center director Dosali Reed-Bandele and Jesse Huddleston 鈥10 of the Duke-Durham Neighborhood Partnership.
鈥淲e are so fortunate to partner with Dosali and Jamaica on this creative project,鈥 Huddleston said. 鈥淚t's a great example of what's possible when Duke leverages its resources to support the arts beyond campus and to help preserve Durham's history.鈥
鈥淭his portrait series pays homage to the wisdom and love found in the West End community,鈥 Gilmer said. 鈥滻 wanted to safely document the images and stories of Black elders as communities worldwide tried to hold onto hope.鈥
All portraits 漏 by Jamaica Gilmer. Historical photos as noted.
鈥淒uring the pandemic, I simply learned how to get along with me because at that time I lived alone. My nephew is with me now, but during the pandemic it was just me and my little dog Kuma.鈥
-- William Thomas Fletcher
鈥淟yon Park was a school where you had to be the best as whatever you are. Climb up at the top of the hill, show up in the valley, but be the best at whatever you are. And that was good.鈥
-- Sherman Hinson
鈥淚 thought I could do anything in the first through the fourth grade. 鈥 I probably didn鈥檛 even know the word 鈥榚mpowered鈥 at that time, but now that I look back on the experience, I realized it was empowering.鈥
-- Victoria Joiner Phillips (photo taken in fourth grade)