AND WE WENT: 60 YEARS AFTER THE BATON ROUGE SWIM-IN
Curated by Jonell Logan
July 5 - 27, 2023
open to the public, free of charge (Tue-Sun, 12-6pm)
THE PARTNERS BEHIND ‘AND WE WENT’
And We Went: 60 Years After the Baton Rouge Swim-In was only made possible thanks by individuals and organizations coming together to work towards a shared idea. In ways big and small, so many have had a hand in making this exhibition possible and we want to take a moment to tell you more about them:
The recreation and parks commission for east baton rouge parish (BREC)
BREC is the agency that connects people to parks and nature in East Baton Rouge Parish with a system that has more than 170 parks including a unique mix of facilities, which mirror the history and rich natural resources in south Louisiana. This includes a state-of-the-art observatory, swamp nature center located in the urban core, equestrian park, Zoo, performing arts theatre, arboretum, botanical garden, a water park with the only surfing simulator in the state, golf courses throughout the parish and an expansive 30,000-foot concrete extreme sports park. Throughout its history, BREC has taken seriously its responsibility to improve the health, safety, environment and quality of life for all citizens. Since 2004, BREC has constructed community parks, dog parks, a family-sized Aquatics Center, a growing trails system, fishing ponds, larger playgrounds and procured two mobile recreation units to serve play deserts in the area.
BREC Superintendent Corey Wilson:
"BREC has over 75 years of history serving the recreational needs of the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish, and the reality is that there is lots of wonderful history but some not so wonderful. [The Baton Rouge Swim-In] is one of those times in history that BREC looks back on and has truly aspired to learn and grow from. We honor these brave activists. It is through brave activists and citizens who truly care about the quality of life of their communities that transformation happens. We are currently working on BREC's next 10-year strategic master plan, and are proud to say that a major focus of that plan will be providing more equitable access to quality parks and programs to all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish."
BREC is one of the few parks and recreation agencies in the country to win the prestigious Gold Medal Award three times. BREC won this award, given for excellence in parks and recreation administration, in 1975,1991, and 2022. BREC has also been a national finalist for this award more than 13 other times. BREC is also one of a handful of agencies across the country that have been accredited. Learn more about BREC
DIALOGUE ON RACE LOUISIANA
Dialogue On Race Louisiana (“DORLA”) is dedicated to the elimination of racism through education, action, and transformation.
The model for this program was created more than 20 years ago by DORLA’s Founder and President/CEO, Maxine Crump. She worked with community organizations and individuals to develop a structured program of six two-hour weekly sessions based on scholarly reading materials. This program is led by a team of trained facilitators of diverse ethnicities. From the program’s inception, Maxine Crump has remained involved in a leadership role at all levels, including training facilitators.
DORLA Founder Maxine Crump: “I had long heard that “education was the key.” I learned it had to be the right key to open a conversation where people’s voices could be heard in a way that could lead to beneficial change. I saw that the key needed to fit the need, the society and be available to anyone who wanted to enter that conversation. I found that people do want to talk about race; they need a way of talking. The Dialogue on Race Series offers a way of talking.”
The Dialogue on Race Series consists of conversations that are structured, backed, formatted, and facilitated to set an environment for open, honest conversation. The format guides participants through a series of questions that helps them explore their initial thoughts using the factual materials that follow the race throughline. This helps them unpack their flawed understanding, gain clarity, and gain language and tools for talking about race. Learn more about Dialogue on Race Louisiana
Other organizations that have helped make And We Went possible:
AND WE WENT is made possible by:
UPCOMING EVENTS
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts. This program is also funded under a grant from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of either the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is also supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
To learn more about Baton Rouge Gallery and its exhibitions or programming, call 225.383.1470