Proudly We Serve:

Our African American Military Experience,

from the Civil War Forward

exhibit honors African Americans’ war-time contributions

The Center for Community Arts (CCA) and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts (MAC) present the exhibit, “Proudly We Serve: Our African American Military Experience, from the Civil War Forward,” Jan. 21 through April 13 at the Carriage House Gallery on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. This exhibit highlights—in photographs and artifacts—the war-time contributions made by members of the African American community.

There will be vibrant images and historical artifacts of African Americans who proudly served the United States of America on display. The exhibit will feature local individuals such as Sergeant John Nash, for whom the Center for Community Arts Archives are named; Corporal David Farmer, who after his military service, went on to become the Franklin Street School custodian, and Corporal Thomas Cox, who led his men with distinction during the battles of World War I.

The exhibit will include Sergeant John Nash’s small metal equipment box used when climbing utility polls to work on the electrical wires, his jacket and medals as well as Mr. Farmer’s rifle that he later made into a lamp, his wooden civil defense hat, pewter dog tags, his medals, and photos of his companions in WWI. There will be uniforms worn by African American soldiers from the U.S. Civil War forward, and American flags from different historical periods that will also be on display. The uniforms and flags span the period from the 1860s to the present, and reflect changes to the military, and the nation.

Experience the history of the struggle for equality through this exhibit. Learn about the hardships African Americans endured, and the accomplishments for which they earned high praise. Become familiar with African American soldiers like: Lucian Simmons, James Washington, and Sergeant Isaac Harris, who faced discrimination and racial segregation during World War II. See the servicemen and women, who served after the desegregation of the U.S. military, soldiers like: Derrick Jensen, who served in the Vietnam era, Sergeant Mark Brooks, who served in Gulf War I, and Airman 1st Class Shontay Arrington who is currently serving. There will be hands-on interactive displays including among others, John Nash’s World War II photo album and personal accounts as Master Sergeant of a signal battalion following the Battle of the Bulge in Europe.

The public is invited to join members of the Center for Community Arts and the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts for the exhibit’s opening reception at 4 p.m., Monday, Jan. 21, at the Carriage House Gallery. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

Local WWII veterans including James Washington, Lucian Simmons, Cora Molson, Mildred Moore, Joseph Hicks who served during the Cold War Era, and Derrick Jensen who served during the Vietnam Era will take part in a panel discussion on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Carriage House Gallery. Admission to the discussion is free.

Admission to the ongoing exhibit is $2 for adults, $1 for children (ages 3-12), or free with any tour of the Physick Estate. Gallery dates and times vary through April 13; call for hours.

These events are co-sponsored by CCA and MAC. The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Cape May’s heritage. MAC also fosters the performing arts. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at http://www.capemaymac.org/.

Center for Community Arts is a multicultural educational non-profit organization whose arts and humanities programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for the rich diversity of our world. The Center’s Community History Program is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating Cape May’s African American heritage through exhibits, tours, and its John and Janet Nash African American History Archive. The Center is currently rehabilitating the Franklin Street School, a Cape May African American Historic Site, to house a community cultural center, and operates WCFA-LP 101.5 FM, a community radio station. For further information, call 609-884-7525 or access CCA’s web site at http://www.centerforcommunityarts.org/.

For information about restaurants, accommodations and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508.

WEAVE YOUR OWN – The Center for Community Arts offers beginning and advanced basket weaving and weaving with yarn among many other art classes in February. Others start in March, and April. Pictured are Stina Ferguson, Nancy Benson and Bobbie Del Prete with their creations. Call 884-7525 for a brochure. (Photo: Laurie Schiffelbein)

CCA WINTER ART CLASSES: REGISTER NOW!

The Center for Community Arts (CCA), in partnership with the Nature Center of Cape May, offers an exciting range of opportunities to explore your creative self. No experience is needed, and supplies are included. Most of the classes are in groups of three two-hour sessions over the course of a month, with new offerings February through April. Fees are low, with sliding scale discounts for seniors, active military, those on fixed incomes, seniors and CCA members.

Whether you enjoy weaving, textiles, fine arts, functional art such as jewelry design or yoga, CCA has something to entice the body, mind, and spirit. Some are designed for parents and children; most are aimed at adults. All classes (unless otherwise noted) are held at the Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave, Cape May. Six hours of instruction start at $75 and are discounted as low as $35.

Pre-registration is required and classes fill up quickly. Stop by the Center for Community Arts office at 712 Lafayette Street, Cape May to pick up a registration form or call the Center at 609-884-7525 and one will be mailed.

February classes include: Yoga, Basic Basket Weaving (pictured), Creative Basket Weaving, Weaving with Yarn; Sterling Silver Jewelry Design, Pottery, Glass Painting, Valentine Collage Workshop and Fancy Cookie Art Workshop; Fabric Dolls, Floor Cloth Painting, Learning to Knit; Watercolor Painting, Drawing Portraits, and Fire, Earth & Water. Learning to Knit and Fancy Cookie Art are also offered for parent and child.

These Center for Community Arts programs are made possible in part by grants from the Lower Cape Alliance, Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and many generous businesses and individuals.

Center for Community Arts is a multicultural educational nonprofit organization whose arts and humanities programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for the rich diversity of our world. CCA’s programs serve year-round residents, including low-income families and seniors, as well as visitors to the area. Its artist-in-residence programs employ artists to help engage the community’s collective imagination for community healing, problem solving and visioning. CCA’s arts programs serve ages 6-96 in Cape May, Wildwood and Lower Township. Its Community History Program is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating Cape May’s African American heritage through exhibits, tours, and its John and Janet Nash African American History Archive. The Center is currently rehabilitating the Franklin Street School, a Cape May African American Historic Site, to house a community cultural center. For further information, call (609) 884-7525 or access CCA’s web site at http://www.centerforcommunityarts.org/.

Click here to view the brochure:
Adults%20Brochure%20WINTER%20SPRING%202008.pdf


Click here to open and print the 8.5" x 11" registration form with teacher bios on back:
CCA%20Winter%20Spring%20Registration%20Form.pdf

We are working on getting the brochure online. Please call 884-7525 or send your mailing address to info@centerforcommunityarts.org and and we'll mail you one.

YAP - YOUTH ARTS IN THREE TOWNS

The Center for Community Arts free Saturday night Youth Arts Program (YAP) returns January 19, 2008 in Cape May, Wildwood and Lower Township with a series of art projects for middle school students that share the theme of self exploration. Led by local artists Janet Payne, Amanda Vernon and Cheryl Crews, YAP offers professional-quality instruction and materials, along with a light supper, to students in grades 5 – 8. Advance registration is not required, but a parent/guardian permission slip must be signed the first time a youth attends.

Students may attend one, several or all 14 Saturdays through April. New participants can join in any weekend. The program runs 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. most Saturdays, with one day trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art on March 29 and no program March 22. YAP culminates with the Dolores Cheney Youth Arts Fair on May 3.

Participants choose from three locations: Cape May, Lyle Hall at the Cape May United Methodist Church (enter from ACME parking lot), Wildwood at Cape Assist, 3819 New Jersey Avenue Lower Township, and the Millman Center at 209 Bayshore Rd, Villas.

No experience is needed, so come hang out with friends, make new ones, and explore your creativity!

Activities include creating a dream journal (1/19), a silhouette (1/26), a self-portrait (2/2), and a print with your name (2/9). And that’s just the first month!

This program is made possible in part by funds from the Lower Cape Alliance, Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, and many generous businesses and individuals.

Consistent YAP participants are eligible for scholarships to CCA’s Summer Youth Arts Camp, a weekly art camp beginning in July.

The Center for Community Arts (CCA) is a multicultural educational non-profit organization whose arts and humanities programs foster creativity, community building, and appreciation for the rich diversity of our world. CCA offers art classes for adults as well as children and youth. Its Community History Program is dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating Cape May’s African American heritage through exhibits, tours, and its John and Janet Nash African American History Archive. The Center is currently rehabilitating the Franklin Street School, a Cape May African American Historic Site, to house a community cultural center, and operates WCFA-LP 101.5 FM, a community radio station with jazz and more. For further information, call 609-884-7525 or access CCA’s web site at http://www.centerforcommunityarts.org/.

For more information contact the Center for Community Arts at (609) 884-7525 or visit our website at http://www.centerforcommunityarts.org/.

Participants in the Center for Community Arts (CCA) Saturday night Youth Arts Program (YAP) will create self-portraits using printmaking techniques this winter-spring in keeping with the theme, “Explore Yourself Through Art,” in Wildwood, Lower Township and Cape May. Pictured are images created by Jenna Long, Wildwood, age 12, during the summer version of the program. Call CCA for details (609) 884-7525. (Photo: Blair Seitz)