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February 28, 2021

The Talbot Spy

The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community

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Arts Arts Portal Lead Spy Highlights Spy Top Story

Founding Black Families of Maryland celebrated at the Water’s Edge Museum

February 1, 2021 by Dave Wheelan

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It is hard to believe that it has already been five years since the Ruth Starr Rose exhibition toured from Baltimore’s Reginald F.Lewis Museum to the Waterfowl Building in downtown Easton. Thanks to noted philanthropists Eddie and Sylvia Brown, who funded the original exhibition curated by Dr. Barbara Paca, and Dock Street Foundation, who sponsored the tour to Easton, it will always be a happy memory. For it was an extraordinary moment in time when the Eastern Shore was united in remembering this artist, and more importantly, the respectful portrayals of the community of people whom she painted.

From the Bayside H.O.Y.A.S. in Kent County, to busloads of public school students in Talbot County, the Mid-Shore came in droves to admire and honor beautifully crafted oil portraits, lithographs, and drawings of people now recognized by Dr. Barbara Paca as representing members of the Founding Black Families of Maryland.

The paintings portray individuals who are imbued with a sense of calm nobility. They know who they are. Names such as Copper, Curtis, DeShields, and Moaney have Eastern Shore roots extending over three centuries, so it was little wonder to art historian Paca that they too, represent founders of America. It is interesting to note that she is a direct descendant of Declaration of Independence signer William Paca.

And now, after touring throughout the State of Maryland, and thanks to Paca’s stewardship and the first rate team serving on the Advisory Committee, the artwork and literature featuring the Founding Black Families has a permanent home with the creation of the Water’s Edge Museum in historic Oxford.

The members serving on the Water’s Edge Museum Advisory Committee represent Maryland’s diversity and extreme talent–and include First Lady Yumi Hogan, Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, Comptroller Peter Franchot, Secretary of State John C. Wobensmith, Maryland State Senators Adelaide Eckardt and Will Smith, attorney Camille Fesche, Speaker Adrienne Jones, Chief Legislative Officer Keiffer Mitchell, Secretary of Environment Ben Grumbles, Chesapeake Bay President Will Baker, singers Kentavius Jones and John Wesley Wright, Commissioner Dominique Sessa, the Spy, educators, students, museum consultants, and most importantly to Paca, members of the Curtis, Deshields, Moaney and other founding families of African descent.

The Water’s Edge Museum is opening (virtually) for the first time this Monday, and the Spy had the chance to get an early preview of this unique new cultural asset for the Mid-Shore. The Spy’s timing worked out well: Both Maryland’s Secretary of State Wobensmith, who was one of the first to support this amazing project, and Jeffrey Moaney, a direct descendant of several of the men, women, and children celebrated in fine oil portraits, were in the gallery, along with the Water’s Edge founder Dr. Paca, allowing us to gain a special perspective on this extraordinary collection.

The Advisory Committee believes that the most important audience Water’s Edge Museum hopes to reach are school children they believe will benefit from knowing there is a museum that embraces history, culture, art, social and environmental justice, and the rich diversity that makes Maryland a special place.

During the pandemic, the Water’s Edge Museum shall be experienced solely only on a virtual basis.

This video is approximately four minutes in length. For more information about the Water’s Edge Museum please go here.

Filed Under: Arts Portal Lead, Spy Highlights, Spy Top Story

About Dave Wheelan

Thank you, Jim by Bob Moores Spy COVID-19 Daily Update Feb. 1

Letters to Editor

  1. Brenda Knowles says

    February 1, 2021 at 11:02 AM

    I am so thrilled to read this. The exhibition was wonderful and there were lovely people there who had so much knowledge to share about the families in the paintings and the history. Some of the things I had known and had forgotten. Such wonderful local history that we ignore. I accompanied friends to Salisbury when it was there so they could see it. Fortunately I purchased the book and can still enjoy!

    • Dr. Barbara Paca, O.B.E. says

      February 2, 2021 at 5:39 AM

      It was an act of extreme generosity for Eddie and Sylvia Brown to fund the first exhibition. “Birthed” at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, the exhibition toured to the amazing Banneker-Douglass Museum, Easton’s Armory, St. John’s College, Salisbury University,and St. Michaels Maritime Museum. As with Water’s Edge Advisory Committee, the team featured extreme talent, and it was an honor to collaborate with designer Mary Shanahan, writer Dr. Nina Khrushcheva, conservator Kenneth M. Milton, creative consultant Likisha Griffin, and editor Kelly Nosari.
      Over the years, the focus appropriately evolves to a celebration of the incredible community portrayed by the artist: in daily life, spirituality, and achievement as Founding Black Families of America.

  2. christina mills says

    February 1, 2021 at 1:41 PM

    Wonderful news. Loved the exhibit at the Waterfowl Building and happy that it will be in Oxford.
    We know the area of Copperville, as it is near our church in Tunis Mills, which does outreach in the area.

    • Dr. Barbara Paca, O.B.E. says

      February 2, 2021 at 5:28 AM

      All Love

  3. Ruth Starr Rose Committee - Dock Street Foundation says

    February 1, 2021 at 7:16 PM

    We are so pleased to learn that Ruth Starr Rose’s work has found a permanent home in Oxford and look forward to visiting the Waters Edge Museum as soon as it is open beyond virtually. The exhibit at the Waterfowl Building in 2016, attended by several thousand visitors, brought to light the beauty and dignity of some of America’s founding families as depicted in paintings and lithographs by Ruth Starr Rose, a resident of Talbot County. Now thousands more for years to follow will have an opportunity to appreciate the work and gain a greater awareness and understanding of our valued history.

    Thank you to Barbara Paca, her family and friends, the advisory committee and to the founding family descendants noted in the article. Along with many others, we also do wish Miss Frances Curtis was still with us to celebrate this opening. We look forward to a safer time and the easing of restrictions soon so we can visit the museum. In the meantime, virtual visits will suffice.

    • Tilghman Logan says

      February 2, 2021 at 2:05 PM

      The happiest moments in my life have been shared with Mrs. Frances Curtis. Together we toured the Underground Railroad, and enjoyed visiting museums. From the one-room schoolhouse in Pocomoke City to the humble Webb Cabin in Caroline County, we had fun, but she was quietly puzzled as to the absence of such a museum in (wealthy) Talbot County. The Water’s Edge Museum is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Frances Curtis, her mighty ancestors, and her proud descendants whom I regard as my family.

  4. Janet says

    February 2, 2021 at 1:24 PM

    Lovely to have visited on holiday, from Scotland and now visiting virtually.

  5. Janet says

    February 2, 2021 at 1:30 PM

    Really interesting and honest portrayal of folk at work .

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