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Kent Washburn photo

YMI Cultural Center, in collaboration with Asheville Art Museum, Pack Memorial Library, Mission Hospital, UNC-Asheville, and the Asheville Housing Authority, announces an exhibit featuring the vintage photographs of celebrated photographers Anthony Lord, Andrea Clark, and Kent Washburn.

Their black and white images provide a vivid context for an examination of African American life in Asheville during the 1960s prior to urban renewal. Juxtaposed contemporary images by emerging photographer Jennifer Johnson will reveal how the landscape has changed or remained the same over the past 40 years.

Harry Harrison, YMI
Director, stated: “I’m excited about this exhibit because it’s a
discovery that will touch many lives — in Asheville and beyond. The
images will inspire conversations, not only during our formal
discussions, but also continuing in people’s homes — and that’s where
it matters.”

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Photos by Kent Washburn from the Asheville Art Museum’s collection.

Barry
Kampe of First Citizens Bank and Leadership Asheville gave support to
the exhibit. “We saw a fantastic opportunity to partner with several
great organizations to bring about some positive change for our
Asheville community, by revisiting local history through photographs
and stories of local artists and residents,” said Kampe.

“That’s
Me!” is intended to have broad appeal. It will inspire interactive
responses to a defining moment in Asheville’s collective history. From
street-scapes to candid recognizable snapshots, the photographs reveal
a strong, highly functioning African American business and residential
community.

The
exhibit will encourage dialogue between generations, through discussion
groups and conversations with some of Asheville’s esteemed elders. The
elders will help us connect the dots of a dynamic yet fractured past:
the legendary occasions, landmark sites, memorable neighborhoods,
buildings and homes, many of which no longer stand today. They will
enable community members to reflect and draw parallels between
Asheville then and Asheville now. Dates for these events will be
announced.