Everyday in the District of Columbia, 76 calls are made to the police for help with domestic disputes and violence. The mural will raise awareness about domestic violence in our city, and spread a message of hope and healing.
DASH (District Alliance for Safe Housing) is excited to partner with artist Joel Bergner to create a mural that honors survivors of domestic violence and tells their stories of victory over violence.
Island of the Spirits (A Ilha dos Espiritos) (2010, 63 min), by Licinio Azevedo – tells the eventful history of the “Island of Mozambique.”A small island, a great history.
"Long before giving its name to the country, the Island of Mozambique had a fundamental role in the Indian Ocean over the centuries. Anchor point for caravels, meeting point for pirates, it is a melting pot of races. It raises its walls in the middle of the sea. Its winding streets, full of life reveal small palaces, churches and white houses. Its inhabitants are eccentric characters, proud of the island’s past history. As we wander through the streets we meet an historian, a maritime archeologist, a fisherman, the “doorman” of the island, a dancer, and many spirits…"
After the screening, there will be a discussion led by Harriet McGuire, a former Public Affairs Officer with the U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique. She’ll discuss some of the ongoing projects for the Ilha de Mocambique – including a marine archaeology project.
BloomScreen Indie Film Night – is a weekly series of independent and foreign films, accompanied by discussions with filmmakers and other experts. Our goal is to provide a unique experience that a local Cineplex cannot – an opportunity for discussion that allows a better understanding of issues affecting our communities and our world. If you are interested in helping out in any way, they are also looking for volunteers to help out, email jonathan@bloombars.com if you are interested in supporting BloomScreen.
Did you know that the Bird House isn’t the only place to find birds at the Zoo?
The grounds of the National Zoo attract a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species throughout the year. Bird House keeper, Debi Talbott will host a monthly bird walk on Zoo grounds one Saturday morning a month. So if you’re new to birding or already an expert join us to learn more about the fascinating world of birds!
Interested participants should meet Debra at the front entrance to the Bird House exhibit at 9 a.m. and should bring binoculars and a field guide if they have them. Additionally, participants should prepare for the weather as the walk will last one hour.
The sculpture was commissioned by activist Vincent DeForest in 1968 to become the centerpiece of an historical mural celebrating the African American struggle for civil rights; the hand and mural together were intended to be part of the Poor People’s Campaign that year. DeForest was a leader in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and wanted to use art as a means to tell the story of African American history.
The mural was composed of panels representing aspects of civil rights struggles, and was erected as part of “Resurrection City” here in Washington. Coming first in May 1968, over 7,000 protesters were living on the Mall when the police tore down the encampment on June 19 and removed everything – including the murals – from the area. The Hand had not yet been installed.
All materials from “Resurrection City” had been hauled to Ft. Belvoir and DeForest managed to rescue the panels and store them safely. These panels are now hanging inside HSW as part of the exhibition Riots are the Language of the Unheard which focuses on events of 1968 here in Washington. DeForest kept The Hand for decades at his home. When he and his family left Washington in the 1990s, DeForest moved The Hand to an alley garden near his former home in Takoma, DC.
In preparation for the 1968-focused exhibition, HSW Executive Director Sandy Bellamy contacted DeForest because she knew he had later worked for the National Park Service and had focused on the preservation of African American landmarks. When she learned that The Hand and the murals were still in Washington she sought permission to include them in the exhibition. The Hand was overgrown and rarely seen in its alley home, now in front of HSW, it is admired every day.
