ABB & IAA Event | Juneteenth! Celebrating Portland’s African Heritage and Creative Resistance

A Guided Tour of Portland’s African Heritage & Woodblock Printing Workshop

Atlantic Black Box and Indigo Arts Alliance invite you to engage with memory, art, and place through the latest offering in our ReMapping New England series: Portland’s African Heritage Tour and Block Printing Workshop.

In celebration of Juneteenth, participants will be guided on a 90-minute walk through the city’s Old Port neighborhood, led by ABB Education Coordinator Seth Goldstein. The tour, which allows participants to read the built environment through the lens of Portland’s racial history, will conclude at Congress Square. Here, participants will have the chance to create their own woodblock prints from the Portland Freedom Trail Markers designed by artist Daniel Minter. The woodblock markers can be matched with corresponding text to foster a dialogue between participants and the layered history of Portland. The woodblocks can also be collaged with other images to create more complex narratives about our nation’s history. All materials will be provided.

Event details:

Tour: 12:15 pm to 1:45 pm | Meet at the globe sculpture situated at the intersection of Commercial and Franklin Streets in the Old Port

Workshop: 2:00-3:00 pm | Tour will conclude and workshop will begin at Congress Square Park, where participants will engage in an art activity led by Indigo Arts Alliance. 

Cost: $15 per ticket. Discounts for students and seniors.

This tour is considered a low-exertion-level activity, with 90 minutes of moderately paced walking throughout downtown Portland. We suggest wearing breathable clothing and comfortable shoes; don’t forget a water bottle to stay hydrated. Ages 6+. Please call (952) 393-7745 for any questions or concerns.