Lefferts Historic House presents ‘In the Face of History Freedom Cape’ workshop, Sept. 29

Prospect Park Alliance Artist in Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu and the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute at Lefferts Historic House will come together to create and showcase superhero capes inspired by the legacy of Shirley Chisholm and Fawundu’s performance piece, “In the Face of History Freedom Cape.”

According to Lauren Robinson, the empowering and upliftment event, scheduled for Sept.29, will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Lefferts Historical House in Prospect Park. RSVP at prospectpark.org/freedom-cape.

The show will celebrate the 100-year legacy of Shirley Chisholm, the Brooklyn trailblazer who became the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Chisholm was a beacon of perseverance and dedication in Brooklyn and far beyond. As a leader and an advocate for residents of Brooklyn and the country at large, Chisholm made a profound impact fighting for equality for all.

Fawundu’s 2020 performance piece, “In the Face of History Freedom Cape,” which was partly filmed at Lefferts, centers, rethinks, reimagines, and reveals Black women’s role in the nation and worldwide.

The cape is crafted from historical documents printed on fabric, with the head of a Black woman transposed on each document. It is symbolic of the continued struggle for Black women to be treated fairly as citizens of the nation and features Brooklyn trailblazer and changemaker Shirley Chisholm.

The “Freedom Cape” and Fawundu’s site-specific installation, “Ancestral Whispers,” are on view at Lefferts Historic House through Dec. 1.

“Art is a powerful tool for social justice and a dialogue about legacy, agency, and creativity. I hope all will join us to honor Brooklyn trailblazer Shirley Chisholm’s legacy and get inspired by our Artist-in-Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu’s impactful work, which celebrates the heroism of Black women and leverages the power of art to heal deep-seated wounds from our nation’s past,” said Prospect Park Alliance President Morgan Monaco.

“As the first Black woman to lead the Prospect Park Alliance, I am truly honored to celebrate Chisholm’s lasting impact. In addition to celebrating Chisholm on Sept. 29, we look forward to proudly hosting the first monument in her honor at the Parkside and Ocean entrance, serving as a beacon to all in the Black and Caribbean American communities that Prospect Park is a place where they are welcomed, seen, and represented,” said Monaco.

“When the Alliance reached out, it was so special because we were both on a specific trajectory. My whole existence is based in this neighborhood. The smell of the grass when it rains in the park means so much to me…I have such a history here,” shared Artist-in-Residence Adama Delphine Fawundu on the significance of her work in the heart of Brooklyn’s Backyard. “It felt very much like a 360-degree event to connect with Prospect Park Alliance,” added Fawundu.

“Shirley Chisholm’s legacy is indeed a powerful testament to courage and vision. Chisholm’s motto, “Unbought and Unbossed,” continues to inspire many to stand up for their beliefs and work towards positive change in their communities,” said Barbara Bullard, CEO and President of the Shirley Chisholm Cultural Institute.

“Her work in education, child welfare, and her advocacy for the underserved have left an indelible mark on American society. In these times, embracing her spirit of heroism and courage can indeed help us become superheroes in our own right, making a difference in our communities just as she did”, said Bullard.

In the Face of History Freedom Cape Fashion Workshop is part of ReImagine Lefferts, an initiative to re-envision the mission and programming of the Lefferts Historic House museum, an 18th-century Flatbush farmhouse and New York City landmark, to focus its interpretation and programming on exploring the lives, resistance and resilience of the Indigenous people of Lenapehoking, whose unceded ancestral lands the park and house rests upon, and the Africans enslaved by the Lefferts family.

RSVP to join the Fashion Workshop: prospectpark.org/freedom-cape.

Adama Delphine Fawundu is a photographer and visual artist of Mende, Krim, Bamileke, and Bubi descent. Her distinct visual language, centered around themes of indigenization and ancestral memory, enriches and expands the visual art canon. Fawundu co-published the critically acclaimed book MFON: Women Photographers of the African Diaspora and is an Assistant Professor of Visual Art at Columbia University.