Programs in conjunction with the America I AM exhibit…
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is an iconic figure who became the face of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1950s & 60s. Celebrate Dr. King’s birthday with several free activities at Union Station Saturday, Jan. 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
From 10-11:30 a.m. in the concourse of the America I Am exhibit, learn poetry writing techniques and create poetry writing inspired by Dr. King’s legacy and the America I Am exhibit from nationally recognized performance poet and American Jazz Museum Poet-in-Residence Glenn North.
From noon-1:30 p.m. in the concourse of the America I Am exhibit, explore how to take inspiration and dreams and turn them into creative pieces of art from local acclaimed artist and children’s book illustrator Shane Evans.
At 2 p.m., in the Rail Experience exhibit, explore the stunning history of the Pullman Company and its porters from rail historian Pete Hansen.
Also, check out the free We Are Kansas City exhibition highlighting the African American Imprint in Kansas City and the America I Am: The African American Imprint exhibit, which features several artifacts highlighting Dr. King’s struggle for Civil Rights. One of the featured artifacts is the jail cell door key from his Birmingham jail. His “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” was penned from this cell.
Space is limited for the activities. Register online at www.kansascitymuseum.org/mlk.html
About Our Presenters:
Glenn North: Glenn North is a nationally recognized performance poet whose original spoken word tracks are featured on CDs including Out of the Comfort Zone by the Jazz Disciples, Release by the Phantom, and The Experience by Tru Sol. North’s work has been commissioned by entities including Points of Light Foundation, the Norman Lear Center, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and Kansas City Public Library. He has been a featured poet at events hosted by MTV Rock the Vote, NAACP Black History Month, and KC Repertory Theatre in conjunction with the world premiere of Clay. North is currently poet in residence and education specialist at the American Jazz Museum, Kansas City. He studied English at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, earned his BLS from Rockhurst University, and is currently pursuing his MFA in Creative Writing at UMKC.
Shane Evans: Shane W. Evans is a multi-talented artist and visionary who combines his world travels with his art to influence creative expression in others. Evans studied at Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts and graduated in 1993 and began traveling the world. In addition to contract work in illustration, graphic design and web design for major companies, Evans has conceptualized and illustrated numerous children’s books. Many of the books have been featured in the media such as “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” “The Today Show,” “NBA Inside Stuff,” “Reading Rainbow” and “Late Show with David Letterman.” Shane has received much acclaim within the children’s literary field for his work on children’s books such as “Osceola,” “The Way The Door Closes,” “Shaq and the Beanstalk” and “Take It To The Hoop Magic Johnson.” His accolades range from being honored by First Lady Laura Bush at the 2002 National Book Festival, The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and The OrbisPictus Award for Outstanding Non- Fiction for Children.
Pete Hansen: Peter A. Hansen is the editor of Railroad History, the scholarly journal of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society, and he is also a correspondent for Trains, an industry publication. He is a contributor to the Encyclopedia of North American Railroads, published by Indiana University Press, and guest curator to several historical museums nationwide. He is co-curator of a Jim Crow coach for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African-American History, and he is collaborating with the Smithsonian’s emeritus transportation curator on a book to be published next year.
