Art Exhibit Celebrating Juneteenth

The NRCA Rotunda Gallery (515 North Avenue, New Rochelle)  presents the exhibit Juneteenth – A Narrative of Freedom, part of a city-wide celebration  Juneteenth – Passion and Perseverance organized by The Lincoln Park Conservancy, Inc. with support from the City of New Rochelle. The exhibition commemorates Juneteenth, the African American holiday that marks the end of slavery in Texas on June 19, 1865. The date’s importance derives from the fact that slavery had been abolished in the United States since 1863 with the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, but Confederate states, like Texas, refused to acknowledge the law of the land. Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Liberation Day was first celebrated in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1866, one year after the enslaved were liberated.  Historically the festivities were family-centered affairs that included cookouts, family reunions, historical plays, musical performances and exhibitions.

Juneteenth- A Narrative of Freedom celebrates freedom delayed in a divided country – the North and the South – similar to the fracture we are currently experiencing. The theme is not solely about injustice, but also about looking forward to a future of possibilities. This exhibit will be both an in-person and virtual exhibit.