By: Danny May
History buffs, music lovers, and art enthusiasts get ready; Owensboro Remembers will be an event like our community has never seen! What began as an Owensboro Symphony Orchestra idea has grown and evolved into a collaborative effort between the Symphony, RiverPark Center, Museum of Science & History, Museum of Fine Arts, Daviess County Public Library, and Brescia University, spanning three days of music, exhibits, movies, and lectures to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Never before have all these entities worked together this closely to present one large event like this.
“It truly has taken on a life of its own,” says OSO Director Karen M. Porter, “and we hope this becomes an annual event that is unique to Owensboro. Bringing together community events is my passion. I love seeing things come together.” Owensboro Remembers truly has!
Dr. Jim Naas, a Civil War re-enactor from Owensboro, is the one who originally presented the idea to somehow acknowledge the sesquicentennial to Porter, who recognized that the OSO had already scheduled a Civil War themed show for February 2013. The show is entitled “Two Brothers: American History Comes Alive through Music” and it will premier Saturday night, February 8, as the main event for the entire weekend. With that in place, the brainstorming began and a committee was formed to discuss adding a wide range of events and activities that are both educational and entertaining. It was an easy sell to the community, and the pieces started falling quickly into place.
“We knew immediately that we wanted to pull the John Hampton Smith House (at the Museum of Fine Art) in because it is from the same time period,” Porter said. “They were excited to come on board, and now they are featuring several photography exhibits and may add more.”
Once Leslie Byrne McCarty and Jim Blanton caught wind of it, they made plans for the library to be involved and now they’ve got an entire weekend of activities and displays planned as well.
“Then the issue became… well, we want these groups to be involved, but there’s not a budget for this because it’s never been done,” Porter explained. “So that meant they basically had to find their own sponsors or underwrite their individual events themselves.”
Apparently that wasn’t a problem. The event only snowballed from there. Brescia University stepped to the plate as a sponsor and added a lecture to the bill. The Convention and Visitors Bureau recognized the tourism potential and they came on as a sponsor as well. Then Mayor Payne liked the collaboration he was seeing and asked how the city could contribute also.
“Jim Naas really pulled some important pieces together too,” Porter continued. “It was his connections through the re-enactor groups that we were able to invite our impersonators.” Consequently, President and Mrs. Lincoln, President and Mrs. Jefferson Davis, and Frederick Douglas will be on hand at several of the events throughout the weekend to answer questions and add another level of authenticity and excitement. One of their appearances will be at the RiverPark Center’s “Arts Teach Kids” program on Friday morning, where close to 2,000 students will get the chance to hear a portion of the symphony’s Two Brothers show and have a meet-and-greet with re-enactors and impersonators in the lobby.
With all these entities involved, there is already quite a buzz brewing about this event. But Owensboro Remembers has gotten statewide attention as well; earning itself the feature article in the February issue of Kentucky Monthly Magazine. A film crew has expressed interest in filming part of this event, and Porter says more events and activities are being added every day.
For more information, contact Karen M. Porter at OSO 684-0661 or visit www.theOSO.com.