GETTYSBURG – The annual celebration in recognition of Black History Month at the Gettysburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, will feature a presentation on African music and culture by jazz musician and percussionist Babatunde Lea.
The celebration is scheduled Thursday, Feb. 3, in the Robert C. Hoffman Community Room at the HACC Campus, 731 Old Harrisburg Road.
Lea will make his first presentation from 10:15-11 a.m., with a repeat performance from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. A tasting buffet lunch of African foods will be available between performances from 11-11:30 a.m.
Lea’s presentations and the buffet are free and open to the community, but RSVPs are required for the lunch to jlknouse@hacc.edu or 337-3855 x 3036.
Featured in the gallery hallway at the campus are portraits and stories of African women by Adams County artist Caroline Jones. The exhibit is in conjunction with her current project “Nguvu,” which is Swahili for “strength.”
“Can art relieve suffering?” asks the artist. “My greatest wish is to find a way to help others through art.”
“With the gracious permission of many wonderful photographers,” Jones says, “I’ve used their photos of women who faced obstacles of all kinds as my reference. These portraits are for sale and I will donate 5 percent of the sale price to the organization associated with each photographer.” Jones’ work will be on exhibit at HACC through March 4.
Babatunde Lea's appearance at HACC is supported in part by the Adams County Arts Council's STAR Grant Program which is funded by the Adams County Commissioners and the Boroughof Gettysburg.