Insights

Jackson Kelly’s Pro Bono Efforts Honor the Memory of Many

October 15, 2018

“This is one of those projects that make you glad you went to law school,” said John Hays, Member of Jackson Kelly’s Construction Industry Group, when he describes his participation in the i was here exhibit at Carnegie in Lexington, Kentucky. Jackson Kelly is honored to be a sponsor and extremely proud of the pro bono work both John and Patrick Estill, Associate in the Firm’s Construction and Equine Industry groups, contributed to the i was here exhibit.

i was here is an artistic collaboration between poet (and former Jackson Kelly client) Nikky Finney, artist Marjorie Guyon and photographer Patrick J. Mitchell who developed an exhibit that depicts the millions of slaves who were bought, sold and many who died during the transatlantic Middle Passage slave trade.It is a reminder of extremely dark times as well as a beautiful expression of the boundless amount of strength shown in the face of these unfathomable injustices

This exhibit was displayed around Cheapside in Lexington, Kentucky, which long ago was one of the largest slave auction sites in the United States. The participants who modeled for the art, Ancestor Spirit Portraits, are descendants of persons who were sold at Cheapside – adding even more significance for the community in Lexington.

The i was here exhibit was on display through Oct 14, 2018, at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning.  For more information call (859) 254-4175 or visit Carnegiecenterlex.org. To see the images online visit http://i-was-here.org/gallery.html