Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 22, 1994 TAG: 9402230002
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: REBEKAH WOODIE SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
``We were in the midst of hosting the African American Museum Association Conference,'' said Melody Stovall, the Harrison's executive director.
Then, on the heels of the national program, the new curator ``had to pick up the pieces'' of Roanoke's annual Henry Street Festival, said Stovall.
The Harrison's former curator, Melissa Prunty, had done the initial planning for the festival. Cherry, who was new to Roanoke and not long out of college, was required to complete the planning.
Today, nearly six months later, have things slowed down some for the new curator? ``Well, let's put it this way. I have learned to juggle each job,'' said Cherry, 26.
``Nothing rattles her,'' said Stovall. ``She can handle anything.''
Cherry is in charge of the history exhibits. She maintains the research floor, finds traveling art exhibitions and seeks out the work of emerging artists for the museum. She records the registration of each piece of inventory, conducts tours and plans school and community programs.
``I put up the pictures, do the research, write up the history. My job is very detailed,'' said Cherry. ``I am still trying to learn my files and all the things in my accessions room.''
Stovall believes that Cherry will be effective in obtaining art work for exhibition and in increasing the museum collections. ``She is extremely interested in what is in our collection, and she is working hard to have information organized and cross referenced.''
``I make sure the exhibits are what the community needs to know - make sure all the information is complete so that the viewer can understand it,'' said Cherry. ``I want everyone who comes in to leave with something, leave with a little bit more knowledge.''
She says she works hard to preserve and promulgate the number of contributions of blacks to the Roanoke Valley.
Nearly every day, someone from the community comes in with a contribution for the museum. ``These people have information and need to tell it to someone,'' said Cherry.
Once, she said, a patron wanted to donate a number of African drums, but the museum could not accept the gift. ``We had to turn them down. It was hard, but [the drums] were infested with bugs. We knew the rest of our collection would not be safe,'' said Cherry.
But mostly she takes in just about everything, including letters, photos or memorabilia of different kinds. ``It's up to the people to keep the history alive by giving it to us so we can put it up for exhibition.''
Donors bring in their pieces of history because they have no use for them in their closets or attics. ``We are making sure it doesn't turn to dust,'' said Cherry.
On days when Cherry really needs to be working on an exhibit or perhaps writing essays for pieces in the museum's historical collections, someone will come in with an attic full of memorabilia and a hankering to talk about each letter, note, receipt and all the stories that go along with someone's life or work.
``She has a lot of patience,'' said Stovall, who marvels at Cherry's desire to learn all she can about Roanoke and its history.
``What makes me care about Roanoke's history is that the foundations of history were made by African Americans in many cities,'' said Cherry. ``My interest is in African American history in total.''
The museum has a particular need for new information on Henry Street, which was once the center of black stores, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs in Roanoke. Cherry said that the museum will take any photographs, memorabilia or any information of places of business or people who lived or worked on Henry Street.
``History was made here in the Gainsboro area. And even though the opportunity arose for black businesses to leave [Henry Street], knowing the history is still important,'' said Cherry.
\ When Cherry graduated from the University of North Carolina in Greensboro with a degree in art history, she went home to Freeport, Long Island, to teach art and music. When she began teaching African American studies, she realized that the contributions of blacks had not been a part of her college curriculum.
``I have a desire to know about these people who were left out of history,'' said Cherry. ``I believe if I know how and why my ancestors existed, I'll know more about myself. I'll be a better person.''
She began to find out about artists such as Henry O'Tanner, who painted oil landscapes and portraits in the 1800s. Or Romara Bearden, a watercolorist who worked in cubism in the 1940s. Or Allen Stringfellow, who worked as a contemporary college artist.
``I didn't know about these master artists or how they fit into an era of art. I studied all the eras of art history, but these artists were left out,'' said Cherry.
Cherry believes that young people need to learn everything that happened in history and how it relates to them. ``Something needs to be done to preserve what you have memories of and feel has a culture that needs to be preserved,'' said Cherry. ``It's just not a melting pot; it's a salad bowl.''
Cherry says she sees much work in front of her. ``I am faced every day with my history - to find, preserve, analyze my history.'' She tells students who tour the museum: ``Go and listen to older relatives. Listen to their history because that tells you who you are.''
Rebekah Woodie is a Roanoke Valley free-lance writer and teacher.
by CNB