A dual exhibit opening Jan. 14 in the Nott Memorial explores the
American slave experience.
- Twelve Years a Slave: The Kidnapping, Enslavement & Rescue of Solomon Northup.
Photographs, prints, documents and artifacts retell the story of Solomon Northup, a
resident of Saratoga Springs, who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery.
- Powre Above Powres: Passing Freedom. Installation exhibit by Terry Adkins, which
features a series of sculptures and drawings inspired by the story of Solomon Northup and
attuned to the architecture and geometry of Union's Nott Memorial.
The exhibit opens Thursday, Jan. 14, at 4:30 p.m. in the Nott Memorial with a slide
lecture and reception with artist Terry Adkins. A reception and gallery talk by Sue Eakin,
co-editor of the 1968 book Twelve Years a Slave is set for Thursday, Jan. 21, at
7:30 p.m. The exhibits run through March 14.
Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 5
p.m.; Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
A number of events to be presented throughout the exhibit will be detailed in future
editions of the Chronicle. The complete listing follows:
ALL EVENTS AT THE NOTT MEMORIAL ON UNION'S CAMPUS UNLESS OTHERWISE
NOTED. EVENTS ARE FREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
- Gallery talk and reception with Terry Adkins: Slide lecture and opening reception
for Powre Above Powres-Passing Freedom.
Thursday, Feb. 4 (rescheduled from Jan. 14)
4:30 – 7p.m.
- The Narrative of Solomon Northup: Gallery talk and opening reception for Twelve
Years A Slave – The Kidnapping, Enslavement and Rescue of Solomon Northup. Dr. Sue
Eakin, co-editor of the 1968 biography Twelve Years A Slave, will give a
walk-through of the exhibition.
Thursday, January 21
7:30 p.m.
- The Kidnapping of Free Blacks: Panel discussion of the issue of kidnapping free
blacks prior to the Civil War.
Friday, January 29
7:30 p.m.
- The Role of History in Contemporary Art: Panel discussion with regional
African-American artists.
Thursday, February 4
7:30 p.m.
- The Art of Liberation Lost and Found: Lecture by Union Africana Studies Department
Professor A.T. Miller.
Wednesday, February 10
7:30 p.m.
- “The Blacks Are Supreme”?: African-American Workers and Southern Visitors in
Antebellum Saratoga Springs: Lecture by Jon Sterngass, History Department, Union
College.
Monday, February 15
7:30 p.m.
- Poetry Reading: Princeton University Professor and Pulitzer Prize winning poet Yusef
Komunyakaa will present a work written specifically for the exhibition.
Thursday, February 18
7:30 p.m.
- The Literature of Slavery – Narrative, Biomythology, and Fiction: Lecture by
Carolyn Mitchell, Women's Studies Department, Union College.
Tuesday, February 23
7:30 p.m.
- Daughters of the Dust (1992, 113 minutes, unrated): Film written and directed by
Julie Dash, followed by panel discussion led by Edward Pavlic, Africana Studies
Department, Union College.
Sunday, February 28
Olin Center Lecture Hall, Room 115
7:30 p.m.
- Solomon Northup and the Meaning of Freedom: Lecture by Joseph Logston, co-editor of
the 1968 edition of Twelve Years A Slave.
Tuesday, March 2
7:30 p.m.
- Passing Freedom: Performance/concert with Terry Adkins and Union College students
and faculty using four 18 foot-long brass horn sculptures created by Terry Adkins.
Thursday, March 11
7:30 p.m.