Diversity 2008: A Cultural Heritage Gala
January 18 - February 29

The Lambda Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Gadsden Museum of Art and History collaborated to present Diversity 2008: A Cultural Heritage Gala, which honored the contributions of outstanding African-Americans to the arts.

The hour-long program on Sunday
featured topnotch performers including the Athens CME Church Gospel Choir, the Alabama City First Baptist Church Angel Praise Dancers, spirituals performed by guest soloist, Hattie Peters, pianist/violinist and student composer, Brianna Ware, various orators, and a Tae Kwon Do demonstration by Ray Davis.

Exhibits featured AKA and Central-Carver Museum memorabilia, as well as artwork by Tony Reddick, John Sandridge, Habiba, Mary Moore, Edward Jennings, Willie "Toson" Coleman, Mero' Rei, Larry Allen and Jerome Vason. Also exhibited was fabric art by award-winning quilters Mary Cylar, Alpha Buford and Mary Davis;crochet and tailoring submitted by Paulette Lipscomb and handwork by others.

Educational exhibits featured the Piney Woods School (the first black boarding school), Gadsden State Technical Institute, and historically black colleges and universities.

Click here for more images from the Diversity Cultural Heritage Gala.