By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–The North County African American Women’s Association, Oceanside Museum of Art, and Oceanside Public Library are joining forces to present a special Black History Month program on February 22.
The free event will take place from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Oceanside Museum of Art at 704 Pier View Way.
Attendees will have the opportunity to celebrate and uncover the untold stories of Black artists whose contributions have profoundly shaped mainstream culture—particularly in animation, film, theater, and music. The free event will feature a thought-provoking panel discussion, brief performances, and light refreshments.
Elaine Swann, founder of The Swann School of Protocol, an institution dedicated to enriching lives through etiquette and social courtesies, will serve as the program’s moderator.
Featured artists and speakers include:
Marshall Toomey: An animator, artist, and author, Toomey will share insights from his upcoming book and reflect on his journey in the animation industry and elsewhere. He will also read a short excerpt from his unpublished work, offering attendees a unique glimpse of his experiences. He is currently an exhibiting artist at Oceanside Museum of Art.
Laura Williams: Voice actor from The Lion King, a piano prodigy, and daughter of O’side community-renowned Arts Commissioner Karen Williams Graham. She will perform a song from The Lion King, sharing her background as the voice of young Nala and the impact it has had on her and her family’s lives.
Kevin “Blax” Burroughs: As the Artistic Director of Oceanside Theatre Company, Burroughs is an award-winning multi-hyphenate theater artist with expertise in directing, choreography, lighting design, and performance. As the youngest artistic director of a professional theater in San Diego County, Burroughs has worked with notable companies such as Moonlight Stage Productions, Cygnet Theatre, New Village Arts, and San Diego Musical Theatre. He will perform a song live during the event.
Attendees must register to attend the event.
For more information, visit Oceanside Public Library, www.oceansidelibrary.org, Oceanside Museum of Art, www.oma-online.org, or North County African American Women’s Association, www.ncaawa.org.
