Name: Gordon Parks Celebration
Start: 2024-10-04T09:00:00-06:00
End: 2024-10-04T22:00:00-06:00
Location: Fort Scott

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2024 Annual Gordon Parks Celebration

Thursday, October 3 – Saturday, October 5

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3

8:00 AM – 8:50 AM – Join us for our kick off event during the weekly Chamber Coffee of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. 2108 Horton St, Fort Scott, KS. We will announce the winners of the photography and poetry contest and give the highlights of the upcoming weekend. Coffee and light refreshments available.

9:25 AM – 11:30 AM – Showing of the Criterion Collection film The Learning Tree in FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE. 2108 Horton St.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Lunch and Learn “Filmmaking with Gordon Parks: Solomon Northup’s Odyssey” 2108 Horton St. RSVP

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM – “Showing of the film, Solomon Northup’s Odyssey” with an introduction by Choice of Weapons Honorees, Art Evans and Fred Watkins in the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center/Auditorium. FREE. 2108 Horton St.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations. 2108 Horton St. RSVP

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. — “Capturing the Decisive Moment” Jason Miccolo Johnson, former Professor in the Journalism and Mass Communications Department at Savannah State University will share his expertise and experience in working in photography and capturing the true essence of the shot. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – “A Conversation with Choice of Weapon Honorees.” The 2024 “Choice of Weapons Award” honorees, Kokayi Ampah, Art Evans and Fred Watkins. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

11:15 AM – 12:10 PM – Screening of the Documentary, I Needed Paris – This film follows the journey of a small group of photography students from the Gordon Parks Academy in Wichita, KS, through Paris, France, in late May 2024, traversing the same streets and neighborhoods as Gordon Parks when he worked in the Paris bureau of Life magazine in the early 1950s. These students along with other photographers will take a deep dive into Gordon’s world of fashions, portraits, street photography, music and poetry. They will also incorporate some fashion images using the same type of camera Gordon used – twin lens reflex film cameras. Produced and directed by Michael Cheers. Associate Professor, Photojournalism, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University. Cinematographer/Editor, B. Kameron Lawson. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM – Lunch and Learn Event “Gordon Parks Elementary School INSPIRE” – Learn about the Gordon Parks Elementary School in Kansas City, MO – 2108 Horton St. RSVP

1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Screening of the Documentary Gordon Parks’ American Gothic: Liberating the Voices and Visions of a New Generation – This short documentary features a visit to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts to explore Gordon Parks’ iconic American Gothic collection centered on Ella Watson. This collection was created while Parks was on an apprenticeship with the Farm Security Administration and first met Ella Watkins, who cleaned the government buildings in Washington, D.C. Produced by Don’t Believe the Hype, a program of Twin Cities Public Television/PBS and SoulTouch Productions and introduced by Robin Hickman Winfield, Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – “The Footsteps of Gordon Parks” – Join us for this conversation with Robin Hickman-Winfield, Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks and Choice of Weapons Honoree, Kokayi Ampah, as they share their journey following the legacy of Gordon Parks while growing up in St. Paul, MN. Gordon Parks lived in St. Paul as a young man and is also where he started his career in photography. This conversation will also lead up to the showing of film Tale of Two Cities, directed by Kokayi Ampah. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

2:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Showing of the film Tale of Two Cities – Directed and produced by Kokayi Ampah. Introduced by Robin Hickman Winfield, Executive Producer of SoulTouch Productions and great-niece of Gordon Parks and Kokayi Ampah, Choice of Weapons Honoree, in FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

8:00 PM – “Celebration Dance Party” – Dance the night away to some of the great R&B grooves by the Full Flava Kings Band. Liberty Theater, 113 S Main St. RSVP

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – This open mic is for any poets, rappers, musicians, or artists of all ages to read their work. Bring your friends, your poetry, your instruments, your beats, your inspirations, your creativity, and your talent! No sign-up necessary.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Join us for a panel discussion with photographers who worked and learned from Gordon Parks and who hope that his influence is reflected in their work. Discussion topics will include Gordon’s techniques for example his use of lighting, but also broader ideas such as Gordon Parks’ depth, inspiration, and impact. This discussion will be moderated by John Mason, Associate Professor, University of Virginia Department of History. Featured panelists will be Fred Watkins, Choice of Weapons Honoree, Michael Cheers, Associate Professor, Photojournalism, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, San Jose State University, Jason Miccolo Johnson, former Professor in the Journalism and Mass Communications Department at Savannah State University Photographer, and Veretta Cobler, Photographer. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.

12:15 PM – 1:15 PM – Lunch and Learn Event “History of the Fort Scott Wayman Chapel A.M.E. African Methodist Episcopal Church” – Join us as we take a journey through time to learn about the Wayman Chapel AME Church. We encourage former church members or folks that attended the church to share their experiences, stories and more. There will be a group photo of the former church members or folks who attended the Wayman Chapel AME Church. FREE “BBQ by the Patio”. (Visitors may bring their own lunch.) Drinks will be provided. There is no cost for the lunch, but registration for the BBQ is required either online https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, by phone or by mail by Fri, Oct. 4. Donations are certainly appreciated. FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center. FREE.

1:30 PM – 3:30 PM – Showing of the film, Leadbelly, with an introduction by Choice of Weapons Honorees Kokayi Ampah and Art Evans. In the FSCC Ellis Fine Arts Center Theater. FREE.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Guided Trolley Tour of Gordon Parks’ Fort Scott & The Learning Tree Film Scene Locations.

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM – “Celebration Tribute Dinner” (Social Hour starts at 6:00 p.m.) – Join us for an evening of celebration including dinner, music, and tribute to past honorees and to Gordon Parks. The evening will be highlighted by the presentation of the 2024 “Gordon Parks Choice of Weapons Award” to Kokayi Ampah, Art Evans, and Fred Watkins. The moderator will be Oscar Winning Filmmaker and 2016 Choice of Weapons Honoree, Kevin Willmott. There will also be a presentation of the 2024 “Gordon Parks Learning Tree Award” to Arnold Schofield. This event will be held at the River Room. 3 W. Oak St. All seats reserved. Fee: $35.00. Tickets available online at https://www.gordonparkscenter.org/events, or by phone or mail. (Reserve by Wed, Oct. 2).

More details at: https://www.gordonparkscenter.org