In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday, the California African American Museum (CAAM) will host a three-day weekend celebration in Exposition Park, January 19-21, 2013.   

This year, CAAM has several special tributes planned as 2013 marks the 50^th anniversary of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.  Event activities include live performances representative of the diverse cultures of Los Angeles, art workshops, film screenings, an art awards ceremony and much more. All events are free and open to the public. Some of the key highlights of the three-day celebration include: 

“Kingdom Day Parade” – Saturday, January 19, 2013, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CAAM will participate in the 28^th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. “Kingdom Day Parade.”  CAAM encourages the parade goers to give a loud CAAMinLA shout out or tweet #CAAMinLA #KingdomDayParade when you spot the car! 

Target Sundays at CAAM- One Dream, A National Influence, A World of People – Sunday, January 20, 2013, 1p.m. – 5p.m. live program (11am doors)

Co-hosted by actor Jeffery Anderson-Gunter and actress/director Hattie Winston, this MLK celebration will feature live multicultural performances by the Jung Im Lee Korean Dance Academy, one of the largest Korean dance studios in Southern California; belly dancers Veena & Neena; and Wangari, a band that authenticates African traditions.   Singer Jamar Rogers, who was a finalist on “The Voice,” will perform as well and 10 yr. old Anthony Gill will start off the festivities with an excerpt from one of Dr. King’s speeches. 

Cake for King – Monday, January 21, 2013, 11a.m. – 2p.m.

In honor of Dr. King’s birthday, CAAM will offer slices of birthday cake for as long as the tasty treat baked by Nooks and Grannies is all gone.  CAAM will also screen “King: Man of Peace in a Time of War,” while Babe and Art Evans hold storytelling in the gallery, reading “My Brother Martin” written by Christine King Farris, as well as a writing and journal-decorating workshop.   Speed painter, Zachary Brown, will also be on site impressing the attendees with his incredibly fast paintings of portraits of Dr. King.  Actor Gerald Rivers will be delivering re-enactments of Dr. King’s speeches from the main stage. 

The Dream@50 Awards Ceremony – Monday, January 21, 2013, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

K-12 students created artwork inspired by a word or phrase from Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream Speech,” with the artwork titled accordingly for the competition.  The national competition will 

hold its regional awards ceremony for Los Angeles at CAAM.  Judges include Abstract Artist

Mark Bradford; CAAM Curator Vida Brown; Los Angeles Times Chief Art Critic Christopher Knight;   

California Institute of the Arts President Steven D. Lavine; Artist and Arts Advocate Gayle Garner Roski; and Los Angeles County Museum of Art Curator Franklin Sirmans.  The ceremony will include live performances and four winners will be announced.  There will also be special guest appearances and presentations.  The winner and semi-finalists work will be on display at CAAM through March 3, 2013. 

The three-day weekend celebrations are free and open to the public.  Doors open Saturday at 10am and Sunday and Monday at 11a.m. and children’s workshops will be held each day beginning at 11a.m.  Artist and educator Teresa Tolliver will host the art workshop and is open to all ages.  Supplies are provided by CAAM. 

In addition, guests are encouraged to take advantage of the rich culture, history and ongoing exhibitions in the CAAM galleries.   For more information and a full schedule of the King celebration activities, visit www.caamuseum.org or call (213) 744-2024.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS IN THE CAAM GALLERIES:

Sampling the Microscopic Artwork of Willard Wigan – Opening January 18, 2013 – March 17, 2013 

Common Ground II: Shared Experiences (at Mercado La Paloma)  through February 28, 2013

Coloring America: Selections from the California African American Museum’s

Permanent History Collection through March 24, 2013 

Go Tell it on the Mountain through April 7, 2013 

African American Military Portraits from the American Civil War: Selected Images from the Library of Congress Collections through April 14, 2013 

Legacy of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Company:  More Than a Business through June 23, 2013

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

The California African American Museum (CAAM) researches, collects, preserves and interprets for public enrichment the history, art and culture of African Americans. Chartered by the California State Legislature in 1977, CAAM is a state supported institution and a partner with the 501(c)(3) non- profit organization Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. In addition to its permanent collection of over 3,000 objects of art, artifacts and historical documents, CAAM also houses a research library containing more than 20,000 volumes, employs and trains high school students through its Young Docents program, and hosts in-house curated exhibitions and traveling exhibitions on a regular basis.  The museum also tours CAAM exhibitions throughout California and the nation.

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