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Juneteenth: A Day of Recognition, Restoration, and Celebration


The City of Albany, Mr C's, Lizzy's Cajun Cafe, and Abrams Claghorn present

Juneteenth: A Day of Recognition, Restoration, and Celebration

A Day Long event on Saturday, June 19, 2021

featuring
live music, a dance workshop, a crafts fair, an art and a reception,

all free and open to the public

plus tasty food at Solano Avenue restaurants

In the first event of its kind on Solano Avenue, Albany Mayor Ge’Nell Gary has announced Juneteenth: A Day of Recognition, Restoration, and Celebration with a schedule of free events on Saturday, June 19.

The all-day event will take place at the intersection of Masonic and Solano, where there will be free music, art and dance for the community. An exhibition ”The Colors of Juneteenth '' anchors the day at the Abrams Claghorn Gallery, which is also presenting a crafts fair featuring 20 booths of jewelry, ceramics, original art, and more. At 11 am, a streetside stage next to Mr. C’s Cajun Restaurant begins with a free movement class with Blair Norman presented by The Dance Floor; followed by remarks by attorney Michael K Martin on the significance of Juneteenth. Skip The Needle will rock the street at 12:30pm. Switching stages to 1251 Solano, jazz singer Tiffany Austin and her trio perform at 2pm, followed by The Stratospheres at 3:30pm. Attendees are all invited to drop by the artist reception at the Abrams Claghorn Gallery between 3-6pm. The full schedule is below

   

This special event is spearheaded by Mayor Gary, aligned with Solano Avenue businesses, because marking Juneteenth is important in order “to preserve historical events related to the emancipation of those Black individuals who have been enslaved. The City of Albany is sharing this event as a sounding board towards capitalizing on the concepts of diversity and inclusion. This is the first step to measure unity.”

 

A wide range of businesses and artists have united to make this a special occasion: Lizzy's Cajun Cafe, Mr. C’s For Hair, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, The Dance Floor,  and the Law Offices of Michael K. Martin. The City of Albany gives thanks to the Solano Avenue Association, City of Albany, Mr. C, Lizzy’s Cajun Café, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Mayor Ge’Nell Gary, Sam Ash Music, Orlonda Uffre, and Laura Abrams.

Schedule of Events:

All events are free and open to the public.

Masonic Ave will be closed to thru traffic from 9:00am-4:00pm between Solano and Marin

 

June 1-30. Abrams Claghorn Gallery, 1251 Solano Avenue

Hours: Tue-Thu, 10:00am-3:00pm and Fri-Sun, 10:00am-5:00pm

Orlando Uffre curated the exhibition Colors of Juneteenth, featuring the work of Hilda Robinson, Renata Gray, Orin Carpenter, Vaughn Filmore and Orlonda Uffre.

The artworks represent the Black Gaze of the African Diaspora artist, through visual interpretations of history, culture, and experience.

 

Sat, June 19

11:00 am, Corner Stage at Masonic and Solano Avenues

Free dance event with Blair Norman of The Dance Floor, a dance studio owned by Gitanjali Morris opening soon at 1501B Solano Avenue.

 

12:00pm

Michael K Martin provides a welcome and remarks about the significance of Juneteenth: A Day of Recognition, Restoration, and Celebration

 

12:30pm, Corner Stage at Masonic and Solano

Skip the Needle

A band of four professional women rockers, each a bandleader in her own right.: Shelley Doty and Katie Cash on guitar, Kofy Brown on drums, and Vicki Randle on bass rock out with an undeniable intensity. Shelley Doty says, “Everyone deserves to be heard, and strong women playing strong music is what we are about.”

 

2:00pm, Crafts Fair Stage, 1251 Solano

Acclaimed Bay Area based vocalist, lyricist, and songwriter Tiffany Austin performs with her jazz trio. The singer, who put aside her Berkeley Law degree for music explains, “I always come back to soul. We must live with soulful connection to ourselves and our history.”

 

3:30-5:00pm, Crafts Fair Stage, 1251 Solano

The Stratospheres

The Stratospheres are Stephanie Siehr and Liz Stuart, performing songs that explore the timely and timeless matters of heat waves and train tracks, laundromats and love. The band’s sound mixes pared-down twang and proto-punk, Lucinda Williams meets Lou Reed. 

 

3:00-6:00 pm, Abrams Claghorn Gallery

Reception for the Artists of The Colors of Juneteenth curated by Orlanda Uffre. The exhibition runs for the month of June at Abrams Claghorn Gallery, open 10:00am-3:00pm Tue-Thu and 10:00am-5:00pm, Fri-Sun.