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“A Light So Powerful” Unveiled at Reception Celebrating Art & Legacy of Nelson Mandela

  • Andrea Osborne
  • January 28, 2008
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“A Light So Powerful” Unveiled at Reception Celebrating Art & Legacy of Nelson Mandela

Mandela's Freedom
The African American Dance Ensemble & Collage Dance Company depict the triumph of Nelson Mandela as he is released from prison.

In a moving display of the synergy between dance and art, American Tobacco unveiled its new installment of the artwork of legendary South African leader Nelson Mandela.   At a VIP reception on Thursday, January 24, 2008, about one year after the opening of the first series of Mandela prints, guests were awed by the power of simple drawings washed in color.

“Nelson Mandela:  A Light So Powerful” brings the struggle of South Africa against apartheid and for freedom and equality to life with five of Mandela’s limited edition lithographs.  Depictions of scenes from Robben Island, the pieces are displayed in “wire walls,” depicting both his incarceration and his triumph.  The exhibit also includes five 1994 election posters, a miner’s helmet painted in protest and a historic photo capturing Mandela casting his own vote in April 1994. 

Dancers
The dancers show the celebratory spirit that exploded throughout the world when Mandela was freed.


See More of the Reception & Performance

slidesView the SLIDESHOW

Capitol Broadcasting Company, American Tobacco, FOX 50 and GlaxoSmithKline joined forces to bring these works to the citizens of the Triangle.

The 7:00pm reception in American Tobacco’s Bay 7 delighted guests with a unique buffet from Symposium while actors silently depicted Nelson Mandela and an Ancestral Spirit in Mandela’s cell on Robben Island.  Then a slate of speakers shared their knowledge and experiences of Nelson Mandela and South Africa.

“Seeing that man of courage was one of the most thrilling…moving…of my life, before last year,” said GSK’s Lynn Henderson.  She reminisced about the 2007 Mandela exhibit unveiling at American Tobacco saying that, “the audiences’ collective gasp of awe was unlike any other.  It was a truly extraordinary moment.”

Dr. Karin Shapiro of Duke University drew a picture in words, giving attendees a historical backdrop of the times when Mandela was released from prison and South Africans got to participate in their first democratic election in 1994.

Shapiro said that 20 million people voted in that election, well over 90% of those eligible.  The figures understate the diversity brought about, and the diversity of voters was nothing less than astonishing, she said.

“South Africa came to the election with a sense of relief and gratitude,” said Shapiro.

“Thank you for helping me get my freedom.”
– South African voter to peace monitor Dollie Burwell

Dollie BurwellDollie Burwell (left) helped monitor the voting in South Africa during the historic 1994 elections.  She told the story of one man who came sliding into the polling place, unable to walk.  When he took his ballet to the booth, he laid it on the floor.  She immediately recognized his plight and ran to tape flipbook paper around the bottom of the booth.  He filled out his ballot in secret and when he emerged told her, “Thank you for helping me get my freedom.”

American Tobacco found its own surprise connection to Mandela through American Tobacco Administrative Asst Kimberly Burwell.  Her mother, Dollie Burwell, was the lone North Carolinian chosen to go to South Africa as observer from the National Council of Churches to monitor the elections. 

“Words cannot express that awesome experience,” Dollie Burwell said as she described her work as a peace monitor.  She went to South Africa with a contingent of 360 people, only 20 of which were from the U.S.  She was assigned to the region of Natal and actually loaned some of the election posters she collected after the vote to the American Tobacco exhibit.

The evening climaxed with an inspired performance by members of the African American Dance Ensemble and the Collage Dance Company.  “A Light So Powerful” drew a moving picture of Mandela’s struggle in prison, his release, and the jubilation of the South African people as they elected him leader.

“The four corners of the world became the four corners of his cell,” read the narrator.  “These are not his crossroads, this is just his Promised Land intersection.”

Nelson Mandela performance
“I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.”
– Nelson Mandela quoted in the “A Light So Powerful” performance

“Nelson Mandela:  A Light So Powerful” will be on display in the Strickland Building lobby on the American Tobacco campus in downtown Raleigh from January 25 to April 30th.  The lobby is open from 9:00am – 6:00pm every day of the week.  Groups of 25 of more must register online.

“I’m blown away,” said CBC VP of Community Relations & American Tobacco GM Pope after the spoken presentations and the dance performance, “and I’m so delighted you could be here to share it with me.”

The audience’s standing ovation and the embraces African American Dance Ensemble Director Chuck Davis led the crowd to give one another proved that all in attendance were touched and changed as well.

Isicathulo
Dancers from the Collage Dance Company depict the Isicathulo style of dance created in the mines of South Africa to demonstrate the fight against apartheid.
Musician
Musicians provide a backdrop of traditional African music during the reception.
Holding hands
Audience members hold hands and later embrace as African American Dance Ensemble director Chuck Davis leads them in an exercise of unity.

Stay Tuned
Nelson Mandela:  A Light So PowerfulCapcom will unveil photos and more details of the actual “Nelson Mandela:  A Light So Powerful” art and history exhibit on Tuesday, January 29th.  The reception for the exhibit opening was so powerful, we wanted to honor it by extensive coverage in this story and slideshow.  The art itself deserves special attention, so we will honor it with a separate story and slideshow tomorrow.

Helpful Links:

  • American Tobacco website
  • “Nelson Mandela: A Light So Powerful” details
  • Capcom stories about the 2007 Nelson Mandela art exhibit “Spirit of Freedom:
    • “Spirit of Freedom” Exhibit Celebrates Work & MIssion of Nelson Mandela
    • Exhibit of Mandela Sketches Opens at American Tobacco

 

 

POSTED: January 28, 2008

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“Nelson Mandela: A Light So Powerful” Opening Reception

CBC, American Tobacco, FOX 50 & GlaxoSmithKline unveiled a new art & history exhibit, Nelson Mandela: A Light So Powerful, at a reception on Thursday, January 24, 2008.
Guests make their way through the scrumptious and unique buffet created by Symposium for the event.
Musicians from the John Brown Quintet & Boxwood Ensemble provide a musical backdrop for the reception.
Parents brought some of the smallest reception attendees to expose them to a moving & visual history lesson on Nelson Mandela.
ATC’s Paul Pope (r to l) checks over a few last minute details with event coordinators Marion Youngblood and Cindy Sink.
WRAL-FM’s Ardie Gregory (right) catches up with former WRAL-TV employee Cindy Sink.
During the reception part of the event, actors silently portrayed the struggle of Nelson Mandela in his jail cell on Robben Island.
Attendees enjoy the buffet while awaiting the beginning of the program.
Many guests wear beautiful African robes to honor Nelson Mandela and their African-American heritage.
WRAL-TV’s Phyllis Parish (r to l) and her sister Trisha visit with former WRAL-TV employee Christian McIllwain, who was there to capture the event on film.
Guests read about Mandela’s experiences as they pour over the Playbill for the evening’s program.
GlaxoSmithKline’s Lynn Henderson spoke of her awe at seeing Nelson Mandela in person in New York, and of her awe at seeing the artwork unveiled at last year’s art reception.
Duke Professor and South African history expert Dr. Karin Sharpiro speaks of her experiences in the county as the actors continue to portray Mandela’s struggles in prison.
Dollie Burwell shares her experiences as on of the peace monitors for the first South African elections. She was the one North Carolinian chosen to be part of the group of 360 people from all over the world to go to South Africa to monitor the historic elections.
Mandela struggles to break free while his Ancestral Spirit stands by him.
Dancers enter as jubilant workers after Mandela’s release.
Nelson Mandela is freed from prison and inspires the people of South Africa.
Dancers from the Collage Dance Company perform isicathulo, also known as gumboot dancing, which was born in the South African gold mines.
Mandela enters the scene after being newly freed.
Members of the African American Dance Ensemble perform a dance from the Mande culture for Mandela in the dance-drama.
This member of the African American Dance Ensemble jumps jubilantly in her dance for the freed Mandela.
Audience members stand as the South African National Anthem is sung.
Xhosa warriors proudly carry Mandela to celebrate his freedom and hold him up as a leader.
Chuck Davis, director of the African American Dance Ensemble, addresses the crowd.
Attendees hold hands as Chuck Davis invites them to join together in celebration.
Chuck Davis gets the audience involved in a call & response.
FOX 50’s Sylvia Lanier (left) and WRAL-TV’s Dr. Allen Mask share a “real” hug as Chuck Davis instructs the audience to embrace each other in celebration.
FOX 50’s Gayle Hardy designed all of the graphic pieces for the Mandela reception and exhibit.
GSK’s Lynn Henderson (left) & FOX 50’s Sylvia Lanier encourage guests to go view the artwork in the Strickland Building Lobby after the program.
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