HEP Magazine - Volume 3 by David Katzenstein

HEP 2 021 THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE PROJECT. VOLUME 3 JUNE

WE ARE THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE PROJECT. OUR GOAL is to create visual and narrative content that supports the mission of organizations, institutions, and individuals who work to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

5 PILGRIMAGE 12 SHIFTING ASSUMPTIONS 20 EXPANDING EDUCATION 28 ACCESS + IDENTITY 38 COMMUNITY 46 THE DELTA + SACRED LANDSCAPES 54 A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

All photography © David Katzenstein All editorial content by Gay Feldman

PILGRIMAGE Pilgrimage is a central theme in David Katzenstein’s work. In 2017 the artist set off to discover a new story, one that speaks of the quiet moments of fragmented memory resonating with reverence and reflection, absence and loss, floating above hope and reality. Arriving at the National Civil Rights Museum at The Lorraine Motel, Katzenstein came upon a hallowed place where families, individuals, friends, and strangers come to experience their personal relationship within the collective narrative, the shared human experience. Traveling locally and from all corners of the globe, the contemporary Civil Rights pilgrim comes face to face with learned history; shifting assumptions about personal and collective identity, responsibility and accountability, the modern pilgrim simultaneously pays tribute to the legacy of the courageous citizens who laid the foundation for today’s human rights campaigns. The power of documentary photography is rooted in the authenticity of time and place. The Lorraine Motel Marquis continues to serve as a beacon, welcoming visitors from around the world. Iconic and symbolic, it anchors our experience within time and memory as we confront our shared cultural history. 5

SHIFTING

pilgrimage pil·grim·age | /ˈpilɡrəmij/ noun mission, trip, journey, excursion to a shrine or sacred place verb to go on a pilgrimage 12

ASSUMPTIONS

assumption əˈsəm(p)SH(ə)n/ noun A notion that is accepted as true or certain to happen. A belief or expectation, a speculation or hypothesis that is formed through real time experiences within the home, the community, and society. The action of taking or beginning to take power or responsibility. 13

The National Civil Rights Museum welcomes thousands of visitors a year each carrying an identity influenced by self and society. They bring their assumptions about the Civil Rights Movement. The courtyard is the first place where they confront those assumptions and begin to reconcile them with an alternate perspective of history. What has influenced your understanding of history? What did you assume about the museum before you arrived?

“As I walked up on the museum and saw its physical presence and location, it felt almost surreal. For starters, it’s so much smaller than it lives in my mind because of its significance…. Sometimes I think that many of us have no idea what our parents who came up in the South really had to deal with, especially in the ’50s and ’60s.”

- Panama Jackson 17

EXPANDING

expand ex·pand |/ikˈspand/ verb to become larger or more extensive to develop, to open, to give a fuller version or account of

EDUCATION

education ed·u·ca·tion | /ejəˈkāSH(ə)n/ noun the process of facilitating knowledge, learning, enlightenment acquisition of skills, values, beliefs, and habits. verb give intellectual, moral, and social instructions to someone 21

“An educated populace is the bas an informed and educated citize 22

sis of our democratic institutions... enry is necessary to our society”

- Brown v. Board of Ed 23

Education was a fundamental value of the Civil Rights Movement. Learning takes place in a variety of settings, especially outside the classroom. Great education provides us the opportunity to explore the unexpected.

How does where we learn impact how we learn?

ACCESS +

access ac·cess | \ ˈak-ˌses also ik-ˈses\ noun permission, liberty, or ability to enter, approach, or pass to and from a place or to communicate with a person or experience; the freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something verb to be able to use, enter, or get near ( something) 28

+ IDENTIT Y

identity iden·ti·ty | \ ī-ˈden-tə-tē, ə-, -ˈde-nə-\ noun the relation established by psychological identification the condition of being the same with something described or asserted 29

Education and equity open the possibilities for all people. The Civil Rights Movement pursued the goal of equitable access for all, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ability or limitations. At the museum, all people come together to encounter this story in an environment that embraces their unique voices, identities, and individualities from all parts of the world. 33

COMMUNITY:

communitas com·mu·ni·tas | \ kə-ˈmyü-nə-tās noun a community; a body of people acting collectively; social activity; fellowship a body of persons or nations having a common social, economic, and political interests 38

THE BOND OF FELLOW TRAVELERS

Social media provides a freedom of exchange surmounting barriers of time, place, and language. Discourse blossoms as access to information is shared, inspiring young and old alike to experience the energy of community in real time. Traveling from all corners of the world, today’s pilgrims arrive with a deeper understanding of the impact of community within the larger context of human rights issues. Standing on equal ground, fellow travelers arrive in the courtyard, and share their experience with one another in real time. Contemplation, conversation, and communication take place within the landscape of the museum. Old friends and new acquaintances, distant travelers and local activists come together to discover and unpack history. Framing experience within the landscape David Katzenstein’s lens focuses on moments of introspection and individual expression within a larger context. Strong vertical accents of bright color pepper the picture plane, helping our eye navigate the pictorial space, bringing our attention to the multicultural gathering outside The Lorraine Motel. 42

“When people collectively come together and strategize and plan, working together and acting together, they create a power that they can effectively use in their situation to effect change.” - Rev. Dr. James Lawson, Jr.

THE DELTA LANDS

place \ plās \ noun a particular region, center of population, or location; a distinct condition, position, or state of mind / an appropriate moment or point verb to identify by connecting with an associated context / to try to establish a connection for 46

+ SACRED SCAPES

delta del·ta | \ ˈdel-tə \ noun A delta is an area of low, flat land shaped like a triangle, where a river splits and spreads out into several branches before entering the sea. 47

“The function of art is to do more than to tell it like it is - it’s to imagine what is possible.”

- bell hooks

Our cultural heritage starts with constructing a meaningful and accurate history that transcends politics. To experience a place is to experience history. The role of the museum in identity work is one with authentication and reinforcement, guiding participants toward a greater understanding of self. The lower Mississippi Delta holds a symbolic place within Civil Rights history. The power of self-discovery and expression rising from the birthplace of the Blues and Rock n Roll, Memphis is the symbolic home of the generation that pushed the barriers of race and class wide open, galvanizing a global call to social justice and action. 52

A DAY OF REM

commemorate com·mem·o·rate | \ kə-ˈme-mə-ˌrāt \ transitive verb to call to remembrance to mark by ceremony, observance; to serve as a memorial of

MEMBRANCE

A bell chimed across the crowded courtyard culminating the museum’s 50th anniversary commemoration. Hundreds of visitors as well as national and international media collectively observed the moment of silence. In the days leading up to April 4, individuals, families, school groups, labor unions, fraternities, sororities, and social justice organizations journeyed to the National Civil Rights Museum to pay their respects and learn about the movement as well as King’s final days. Politicians, ministers, scholars, Civil Rights Movement veterans, and activists gathered in the courtyard as reflections, music, dance, and dramatic performances were shared. Healing and inspiration drifted through the air. The melodic choir of 50 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities ushered in the fateful hour. Then silence as the bell that once hung high above the Sanitation Workers as they gathered at Clayborne Temple began to toll. As the bell tolling echoed through the air, it was joined by bells across the city, nation and the world. From the courtyard to St. Mary’s Episcopal to the National Cathedral in Washington, DC to the Vatican to Hindu Temples in India, the stoic reminder of King’s death circled the globe retuning to the courtyard. Slowly the notes of Al Green’s rendition of Precious Lord, Dr. King’s favorite hymn, Interrupted the silence. It is finished.

- Dr. Noelle Trent

Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education

Where do we go from here? 58

“The civil rights movement opened new doors for African Americans, for women, for citizens with disabilities, and LGBT and all people to make their claims to full citizenship, to ensure genuine access to opportunity, and to equality.” - President Barack Obama September 2018

“There’s no more important, essential part of understanding American history than understanding our struggle with race. Memphis was at the center of that.” - John C Lewis February 2018

PRESS ‘Outside the Lorraine’ Photography Exhibition Opens at National Civil Rights Museum Memphis, TN, April 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, April 10, the National Civil Rights Museum opens the fine art photography exhibition, Outside the Lorraine: A Photographic Journey to a Sacred Place featuring the work of David Katzenstein. The yearlong exhibition highlights the museum as mecca for peacemakers, a place of memory and connection during the museum’s 30th anniversary. The collection of over 90 photos in Outside the Lorraine helps visitors identify with social issues by using fine art photography to connect to the historic place, Dr. King, movement makers, and one another. Viewers are invited to see the sparkle that lies within each print that shimmers, vibrates, and introduces people to a richer experience with fine art photography by making each piece relatable. “Outside the Lorraine offers the rare opportunity for our visitors to see themselves reflected in the artwork of one of our exhibitions,” said Dr. Noelle Trent, the museum’s Director of Interpretation, Collections and Education. “The exhibition is a ‘thank you’ to our visitors who have loving supported the museum over the last 30 years and emphasizes the beautiful array of humanity that energizes the courtyard and museum. As the world slowly reopens, we hope this exhibition reminds our audience how much they mean to us,” Trent said. The idea began in 2017 when the Katzenstein returned to the museum with his family. He noticed how people were spending a lot of time in the courtyard before ever entering the museum. He spent 20 minutes capturing images and observing how, in this sacred place, families, individuals, friends, and strangers experienced personal relationship within the collective narrative – a shared human experience of deep loss, grief, triumph, hope, and change. He introduced his project to the exhibit designer and curator, Gay Feldman. The courtyard is the first stop museum visitors confront assumptions about the Civil Rights Movement. The photographs in this exhibit convey unspoken messages that inform and influence how people understand today’s world. A picture is worth a thousand words. According to Feldman, there are six pillars in interpreting the exhibition. • Outside the Lorraine helps to redefine assumptions about history and identity within the legacy of Dr. King and the Movement. The knowledge guests have before they arrive and how they come out of the experience is subject to change, whether new or different than before. • The collection is accessible. It steers viewers toward pride, empowerment, and joy in coming together. In some ways, the photography is up close and personal. The work draws a direct line for viewers to personally identify with what was then and what is now. • The exhibition expands education, demonstrating that where a person learns impacts how they learn. Seeing oneself in the photographs helps people identify, connect, and remember on a deeper level. No matter how much one already knows about the Movement, each person is enlightened with a fuller, more personal, account when they leave. • The exhibition describes community as people traveling from all over the world with different reasons for coming to the site to share fundamental beliefs of the Movement and what is experienced with today’s civil and human rights issues. There is a layering of families, travelers, students, and educators coming together, strangers and friends taking selfies of themselves, while commemorating their experiences in the moment. The exhibition highlights the diverse audience the museum attracts. 72

• The land or historic location is a central theme in the photographs. There is a visceral reaction detected in the photo subjects as they commune in a space that once served as a safe haven for Black travelers during segregation and now converted into a site of conscience serving as a legacy of memory, a beacon of hope, and a call to action for social change. • The photographs commemorate the legacy of Dr. King in shared moments of remembrance, deep mourning, celebration, and exchange, especially during the MLK50 commemoration in 2018. The captured moments in time weave connections that speak to emotion, impact, and transformation. Katzenstein has traveled extensively throughout the world creating narrative imagery for fine art exhibitions, global corporate giants and philanthropic organizations. Steeped in the tradition established by documentary and reportage photographers such as Cartier-Bresson and Josef Koudelka, he imbues all his work with emotional engagement and a deep respect for humanity. Spontaneous, authentic, and bold, his lens captures the essence of each moment providing the viewer with an intimate view of the world around us. Feldman has been involved in commercial and fine art photography for over three decades. Her formal background as an art historian and experience working alongside some of the most recognizable names in design and creative direction, have allowed her to guide and nurture the careers for a notable coterie of creatives. In 2015, she began a new chapter in her life devoted towards creating content in support of mission-based organizations. Her dedication to education and public access to the arts has supported independent schools, community-based initiatives, and other nonprofit entities. A recent graduate of Bank Street College of Education (M.S. Ed Museum Education), Feldman continues to combine passion for the arts with her entrepreneurial acumen on a daily basis through curriculum development, curation and exhibition design. The Outside the Lorraine exhibition is on display at the museum until April 4, 2022. It is included with museum admission. Media personnel are invited to an exhibit preview on Friday, April 9, at 10:30 am. Katzenstein and Feldman will be available for interviews. For more information, visit civilrightsmuseum.org. About the National Civil Rights Museum The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, located at the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, gives a comprehensive overview of the American Civil Rights Movement from slavery to the present. Since the Museum opened in 1991, millions of visitors from around the world have come, including more than 90,000 student visits annually. The Museum is steadfast in its mission to chronicle the American civil rights movement and tell the story of the ongoing struggle for human rights. It educates and serves as a catalyst to inspire action to create positive social change. The Museum is recognized as a 2019 National Medal Award recipient by the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the top national honor for museums and libraries. It is a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top 5% U.S. Museum, USA Today’s Top 10 Best American Iconic Attractions; Top 10 Best Historical Spots in the U.S. by TLC’s Family Travel; Must See by the Age of 15 by Budget Travel and Kids; Top 10, American Treasures by USA Today; and Best Memphis Attraction by The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Business Journal.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Please join us in celebrating the opening of our first exhibition: OUTSIDE THE LORRAINE MOTEL: A Photographic Journey To A Sacred Place. Many thanks to our incredible partners at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis for their trust and partnership. We are continually inspired by their generosity and joy.

THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE PROJECT: Our Story Creative collaboration begins with generosity. From our first meeting in 2014, we knew that we were destined to work together. Redefining life goals, and some awesome life events we began creating narrative stories to shine a light on the beauty of our shared human experience. With a central focus on education, service, and access, our vision has helped raise awareness for mission based organizations in the USA and abroad. MISSION STATEMENT: Our goal is to create visual and narrative content that supports the mission of organizations, institutions, and individuals who work to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities. To learn more about THEP, please visit our site: www.thehumanexperienceproject.net

THEP Magazine Contributors GAY FELDMAN M.S. Ed: Co-Founder + Executive Director A native New Yorker, Gay Feldman has been involved in commercial and fine art photography for over three decades. Her formal training as an art historian and experience working alongside some of the most influential designers and creative directors in fashion and advertising allowed her to guide and nurture the careers of visual artists and influencers. In 2015 Gay set off on a new path aligning her energy and passion in support of mission based organizations while completing her graduate studies in Museum Education at Bank Street College of Education. Gay continues to combine her passion for the arts and education on a daily basis. As a museum educator and curator Gay finds joy in creating experiences and curriculum grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for students of all ages and abilities.

DAVID KATZENSTEIN: Co-Founder + Photography New York fine arts photographer David Katzenstein has traveled throughout the world on his lifelong artistic journey as a visual chronicler of humanity. Using subject, light, and composition to create visual dynamism, he sets the stage for the viewer to be in the moment with him. His goal is to allow viewers to experience a scene through his eyes—as if they were standing there beside him. Steeped in the tradition of documentary photography, Katzenstein imbues his work with immediacy, emotional engagement, and a deep respect for his subjects. Out of his fascination with ritual, over the years Katzenstein has photographed pilgrimage as practiced in different cultures. While visiting Memphis in the spring of 2017, he was inspired to expand on this theme by embarking on the project OUTSIDE THE LORRAINE MOTEL: Journey to a Sacred Place. The artist was introduced to the Mid-South region in the late 1980s while on assignment for Rolling Stone, documenting the roots of the blues in rural communities of Mississippi and Arkansas. An archive of online exhibitions and projects can be viewed at www.davidkatzenstein.com. www.thehumanexperienceproject.net Instagram: thehumanexperienceproject gay@thehumanexperienceproject.net Graphic Design + Print Production: Amadeo Lasansky / amadeo75.com

www.thehumanexperienceproject.net Instagram: thehumanexperienceproject gay@thehumanexperienceproject.net