‘Ancestral Whispers’
June 9, 2-5 p.m., at Lefferts Historic House, 452 Flatbush Avenue, Prospect Park, Brooklyn; prospectpark.org.
House museums often celebrate the prosperous and illustrious families who used to occupy their rooms. But since 2021, the 18th-century Lefferts Historic House, in the Children’s Corner of Prospect Park, has been exploring the lives of its previously unacknowledged inhabitants: enslaved people.
That initiative, ReImagine Lefferts, now has its first resident artist: Adama Delphine Fawundu. On Sunday, the house will welcome families to the opening of Fawundu’s show “Ancestral Whispers,” which consists of 31 vertical nylon banners, each 11 feet long. Hanging from the house’s porch, these fabric panels display digital imagery of waterways, Yoruban cultural motifs, tobacco leaves and documents related to the 25 enslaved individuals whose histories the project has so far unearthed.
Children attending the free festivities — registration is encouraged but not required — can meet Fawundu and go on a scavenger hunt for patterns found in her art. They can also print West African symbols, do art activities based on the house’s history and play the ancient strategy board game oware (also known as mancala).
An outdoor barbecue-style reception will feature music by D.J. Spinna. Indoors, young visitors can learn more about formerly enslaved residents like Nero (1794-1865), who eventually attained his freedom and whose son died fighting in the Civil War. LAUREL GRAEBER
