Marin City 80 is a year-long celebration of Black history in Marin City since its founding in 1942 as a diverse community of shipyard workers. So far this year, there have been art installations, an album of songs about Marin City and the Marinship shipyard, and a new cookbook with recipes by Marin City grandmothers, Grandmothers Feed Us Love.
The biggest Marin City 80 events are coming in August and September:
– A California Story: 1942-1962. On display at the Bartolini Gallery at Marin Center from Aug. 20 to Nov. 1, this free exhibit will feature memorabilia from Black shipyard workers, along with contemporary art, artifacts in various mediums, a virtual reality experience, and never-seen-before photographs.
– A Housing Story: 1942-1962. This exhibit on the first and third floors of the Marin Civic Center from Aug. 20 to Nov. 1 will tell a narrative of housing discrimination, land grabs, predatory developers, and the continual fight for housing rights and equality in Marin City.
– The Spirit of Joseph James. This multimedia show at the Showcase Theater at Marin Center will feature actors and singers celebrating the life of Mr. Joseph James, a shipyard worker and world-class singer whose stand against a segregated union led to a landmark ruling by the California Supreme Court. Performances will take place at 2 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28. Tickets are $20 each.
– Blues and Soul Party in the Park. The official celebration of Marin City 80 will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5 in the 100 block of Drake Avenue. Featured will be live music, local artists and vendors, a car show, youth activities, food stations, and visits by local, county, and state officials. The event will also mark the launch of the Marin City Historical and Preservation Society and the release of the #MarinCity80 commemorative book.
For more information email felecia@marincity80.com.
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