Although the Manassas Museum was closed to the public for most of last year due to COVID-19, the museum staff continued to focus on connecting with the community. The result is “Manassas Faces,” a special exhibition designed to introduce museum visitors to the past and present of Manassas residents, which have had a significant impact but are often overlooked.
About a year ago, museum curator Mary Helen Dellinger wanted to create a special exhibition that “isn’t just about the community, but actually created by the community itself,” she said.
She worked together with her staff and together they came up with the idea of asking the residents to nominate “residents who make Manassas the place we all know and love” for an exhibition.
Several residents have been nominated as “COVID superheroes” for their work during the ongoing pandemic.
After the idea came up, they decided on a format for the exhibition and how it would be presented in the museum gallery. Then they informed the community that the museum was seeking nominations from exceptional residents, unsung heroes, and anyone who made a positive impact on Manassas to be included in the special exhibition, Dellinger said.
Museum staff worked side by side with city staff to spread the request in multiple modes of communication with the aim of reaching a broad cross-section of the population, she said.
The “Manassas Faces” exhibition highlights local residents in five categories: former residents, activists, COVID-19 superstars, philanthropy and the new generation.
When the museum received nearly 50 nominations submitted by residents, Dellinger said she was delighted. Then the difficult process of narrowing down the nominations and shaping them into an exhibition began.
Dellinger said she and her staff reviewed all of the submissions to show the diversity of the community and also to showcase the most compelling stories.
“All of the stories were great, and if we had a bigger room I would have put them all up against the wall,” said Dellinger.
Brien Johnson, a Manassas Faces award winner recognized for his work with youth at risk, visits the museum with his nephew.
After a long deliberation process, Dellinger said, she and her staff selected 26 people whose faces, names and stories would be sprayed across the gallery wall to form the exhibition.
The exhibition is divided into five sections: former residents, activists, COVID-19 superstars, philanthropy, and new generation. The submissions fell into these categories, of course, and it makes sense to group them together, she said.
Dellinger said she continues to believe that all nominees should be included in the exhibition in some way as all of their contributions to the Manassas community are important. She and her staff pondered, and eventually decided, to create an electronic display that includes the remaining nominees as part of the exhibition.
At the end of the exhibition there are mirrors at different heights. Museum visitors are encouraged to look themselves in the mirror to become part of the exhibition.
“When you look in the mirror, you are also an important person. Her story is as valid as anyone else’s, ”she said.
Dellinger said she was proud of the community involvement in creating the exhibition, as well as the feedback it received from the public. The exhibition opened on July 2nd with more than 100 visitors to the exhibition opening, which took place outdoors. The visitors switched to the museum gallery to see the exhibition in small groups.
As a curator, Dellinger said she “liked”[s] to tell all the stories, not just the ones you expect to hear, but also the ones you don’t expect to hear. ”She said she hoped everyone would come to the museum and take a moment to think about the Manassas exhibit Thinking about faces.
“I hope it will convey to people that our community is very diverse. I really hope people can see that on the walls. And I hope it will convey to people that it is worth telling each individual’s story, ”she said.
The Manassas Museum is home to a permanent collection of historical artifacts, interactive exhibits, and educational opportunities for all ages exploring the city’s rich history from Native American to the present day, as well as a number of rotating galleries. The museum building will be closed for a major renovation at the end of this year and will reopen in April 2023.
“Manassas Faces” is now open for free at the Manassas Museum. Further information can be found on the museum website, available at www.manassas.gov/things_to_do
or by calling the museum at 703-368-1873.
Reach Cher Muzyk at cmuzyk@gmail.com