In honor of Black History Month, Victor Valley Museum (VVM) is proud to announce two special programs designed to celebrate, educate, and inspire the high desert community. This month, the museum will offer two engaging public programs that share the contributions and triumphs that have helped shape the African American experience.
1. African Textile Stamping Workshop
Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us to learn about the symbology of Sankofa, an expression of Twi language from Ghana. These workshops are hosted by Theresa Polley-Shellcroft and T. Faye Griffin and inspired by Deborah McDuff William’s exhibit, Stolen Identities: River Routes to Freedom. Both sessions, one offered from 11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. and the second one from 12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m., will cover fabric and paper stamping. Materials and aprons will be provided.
2. Artist Talk with Deborah McDuff Williams
Date: Saturday, Feb. 22
Time: Noon to 2 p.m.
Meet the artist and creator of the exhibit, Stolen Identities: River Routes to Freedom. Our guest artist Deborah McDuff Williams will discuss the inspiration behind her visual journalism of African heritage art pieces and share the unique meaningful, and unifying themes of her work. Deborah uses wood, fabrics, textiles, and cloth decorations on her works to symbolize the marriage between African and American tradition.
Not able to visit the museum for these workshops? Stop by during regular business hours instead and see some of the fascinating exhibitions currently on display, including Stolen Identities: River Routes to Freedom, an exhibit of 3-dimensional, mixed media figures which tell the story of how some enslaved Africans in the American south were able to escape to freedom.
San Bernardino County Museum’s (SBCM) digital channel, SBCM Connect, offers an insight into the history of Murray’s Dude Ranch and its importance as the first Black-owned dude ranch, hosting A-List celebrities while also serving as one of the only integrated vacation destinations in the nation.
Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military or senior), $7 (student), and $5 (child ages 6 to 12). Children five and under and museum members are admitted free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to people with disabilities. For more information, visit museum.sbcounty.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
Victor Valley Museum’s exhibits of regional, cultural and natural history and the Museum’s other exciting events and programs reflect the effort by the Board of Supervisors to achieve the Countywide Vision by celebrating arts, culture and education in the county, creating quality of life for residents and visitors.
