February is Black History / Black Futures Month. Here are some activities and thoughtful experiences happening in and around downtown Ithaca to honor and commemorate Black History / Black Futures Month.
ARTWORK & EXPERIENCES IN DOWNTOWN COMMEMORATING BLACK LIVES
Ten years after the original Underground Railroad mural displayed beneath the Aurora Street bridge on Green Street was painted, it is being revitalized by four local artists. Read about the stories of Justice Painted Into Ithaca Murals by By Grace Azaula — Contributing Writer for The Ithacan. Photo by Jill Ruthauser
Adrina Dietra collections
Adrina Graham, entrepreneur and designer, curates collections of wearable art — stylish and comfortable luxury lingerie which is available at her shop, Adrina Dietra.
Black Lives Matter Kiosk Mural
Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES & HISTORICAL EXHIBITS
Virtual Exhibit part of the Breaking Barriers exhibit happening at the History Center in Tompkins County.
MLK Freedom Walkway:
In 1960, Martin Luther King, Jr., first visited Ithaca as a guest of Cornell University, delivering a sermon to a standing-room-only crowd at Sage Chapel and answering questions afterward in the Memorial Room of Willard Straight Hall. In 1961, Dr. King returned to Ithaca to speak at a fundraiser at Bailey Hall that was sponsored by the Cornell Committee Against Segregation and the Ithaca Freedom Walk.
In 2009, 49 years after MLK Jr.'s second visit, the city of Ithaca Freedom Walkway Committee embarked on the development of a physical MLK Freedom Walkway in the city of Ithaca. The walkway is a physical trail celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. King in the context of Ithaca's African American history. It traces local events and people whose efforts mirror the national struggle for civil rights and social justice.
EVENTS
Gallery Night Ithaca
February Gallery Night will feature the latest works of local and regional artists, including exhibits from black artists. The Gallery Night Ithaca happening on Friday, February 3, 2023, 5-8 pm, will feature several exhibits.