The Souls Shot Portrait Project pairs fine artists with families and friends of victims of gun violence. The artists create portraits using diverse approaches and emphasize the individuality and uniqueness of the victims portrayed. The project began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 2016, and the resulting exhibitions have featured many talented artists throughout the years.
This three-session virtual course taught by Rick Geffken will cover the period of historic New Jersey slavery starting in the 1620s to the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865. Attendees will learn that New Jersey was the last northern state to agree to abolish slavery once and for all, after many furtive attempts. The course will highlight the enslavement of African Americans and Lenape Native Americans in Monmouth County. Runaway slave ads in newspapers, maps, and images of the enslaved and slaveholders will illustrate how endemic and important slavery was to the growth of the Garden State. Stories gathered from contemporary descendants of enslaved people will provide insight into a vital part of American history only now coming to public attention. Attendees will be introduced to the work of many scholars who have studied and published books on slavery in New Jersey.
The play is set in the backyard of two adjoining houses in the working class neighborhood of South Philadelphia. They are about to celebrate the 21st birthday of Francis Geminiani, a Harvard student, when two classmate friends from Harvard and Yale, Judith and Randy, show up unexpectedly. Since there isn’t a spare bedroom in either house they pitch a tent in the backyard. Francis’ classmates, the wealthy Judith seeks romance with Francis not realizing that her brother Randy is the object of Francis’ unexpressed affection. Each of the characters in the play are dysfunctional to some degree and their celebration of Francis’ birthday brings out the best of comedy and drama. The birthday party is a series of comic incidents that provide laughter and serious realizations that lead up to the final joyous ending. The crazy fast moving celebration leaves each character a bit wiser and happier having celebrated Francis’ 21st birthday.
