In the film, Arthur J. Clement, an architect, discusses his experiences at Camp Whispering Pines, Reedy Creek State Park. Reedy Creek is one of the segregated parks included in the documentary.
Reynolda will host the national premiere of “Landscapes of Exclusion,” a film produced by the Library of American Landscape History (LALH), on Saturday, March 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. This short documentary illuminates the seldom-discussed history of segregated state parks during the Jim Crow era. The event is free with museum admission.
Based on the award-winning book by William E. O’Brien, the documentary underscores the profound inequality that persisted for decades in the number, size and quality of state park spaces provided for Black visitors across the South. Even though it has largely faded from public awareness, the imprint of segregated design remains visible in many state parks.
“We are honored to be screening this important documentary,” said Phil Archer, Reynolda’s deputy director.“ The revealing commentary in the film raises questions about how everything in American history is complicated by racism and segregation, including our notions of wilderness, nature, silence and restorative spaces. I encourage all to join us for this thought-provoking screening and panel discussion.“
O’Brien, author of the book “Landscapes of Exclusion: State Parks and Jim Crow in the American South” (LALH, 2022); Arthur J. Clement, an architect who experienced one of the segregated state parks included in O’Brien’s book; and filmmaker Ian Forster will participate in a panel after the screening to discuss the many complexities inherent in these stories. Project partners will be joined by Winston-Salem preservationist and representative of the Friends of Odd Fellows Cemetery, Linda Dark.
A reception and book signing will take place after the panel. O’Brien’s book, “Landscapes of Exclusion: State Parks and Jim Crow in the American South,” will be available for sale at the event through local literary nonprofit Bookmarks.
Reynolda House Museum of American Art, located at 2250 Reynolda Road, is open to visitors Tuesday–Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1:30–4:30 p.m. Admission is charged, though several free admission categories apply. Free passes are also available at all branches of the Forsyth County Public Library.
Reynolda Gardens is open from dawn to dusk daily, free of charge. The Greenhouse is open Tuesday–Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reynolda Village merchants’ hours vary. No ticket is needed to shop at the Reynolda House Museum Store.
Currently on Exhibit is “Stephen Towns: Declaration & Resistance,” which examines the American dream through the lives of Black Americans from the late eighteenth century to the present time. Using labor as a backdrop, Stephen Towns highlights the role African Americans have played in building the economy, and explores how their resilience, resistance, and perseverance have challenged the United States to truly embrace the tenets of its Declaration of Independence. Towns has created paintings and story quilts that expand the historical narratives of enslaved and free people who toiled under the most extreme hardships, yet persevered through acts of rebellion, skillful guile, and self-willed determination. Within this arresting body of work, Towns also shows the beauty and love that Black people possess beyond the grips of white supremacy.
For more information about this exhibition, please visit reynolda.org/towns.