Annual AACC Film

Forum: The August Wilson Center— Building on a Legacy

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

2 p.m.

This film documents the development of The August Wilson African American Cultural Center in Pittsburgh, PA. It includes interviews with the organizers who helped to create the center and with family, friends, and contemporaries who knew August Wilson and deeply understand the essence of his plays and his significance in Pittsburgh and the world. More than just the story of one center, LEGACY offers an example that emphasizes the importance of all such institutions to local and national culture and the uncertainties they face. This film screening will include a discussion moderated by playwright and screenwriter, Richard Wesley, in conversation with Billy Jackson, founder and principal of NOMMO Productions, and the film director of LEGACY. A lively performance of African drumming and dancing will accompany this event.

This event is sponsored by MAM’s African American Cultural Committee (AACC).

Building Montclair in Lego™

SUNDAY, MARCH 12: two sessions, 1–3 p.m. and 4–6 p.m.

Work with architect Stephen W. Schwartz of Building Blocks Workshops to visualize Montclair as you’ve never seen it before. With over 60,000 LEGO™ building blocks at your disposal, families will learn basic architectural principles to recreate specific buildings in Montclair, such as the Museum, the library, and heritage houses. Pick your favorite local structure to construct and work together to create a scale model. At the end of the session, each family will place their building on a large-scale map and view a recreation of our shared community.

Co-presented with Montclair History Center in conjunction with Building Blocks Workshops.

MAM Conversations: Meryl McMaster

THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 7–8 p.m.

Join us for a virtual conversation with artist Meryl McMaster to open her new exhibition at MAM (p. 7). The artist will discuss her new body of work “Stories of my Grandmothers | nôhkominak âcimowina,” which recognizes the resilience of her Métis and Plains Cree grandmothers amid colonial duress. She will also share her process for her site-specific photography as well as video, a new medium for McMaster at a time of experimentation in her career.