Moving documentary from Rex Miller sheds light on intersectionality in athletic achievement
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College presents Althea as part of the South Arts Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers at the Burrow Center Recital Hall on Thursday, April 14, at 9:30 a.m. Following a screening of the film, sports journalist Sam Crenshaw will engage the audience in a discussion about the film and Althea’s impact on the world of tennis and beyond.
The screening is scheduled as an activity for students in the Learning Communities courses at Wallace State, as well as an activity for the Diversity Committee. Admission is free and open to the public.
Althea, which premiered at New York’s Documentary Festival in 2014, tells the story of the first African American tennis player to ever win Wimbledon. Althea’s life and achievements transcended the world of tennis and made her a notable figure in American History.
Cinematographer Rex Miller who is a visual storyteller with an extensive background as a photographer and filmmaker directs the film. His work has appeared on HBO, PBS National, and has been screened at major national and international film festivals. He has been a part of two, Peabody Award-winning projects and was recently nominated for an Emmy for cinematography.
The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is a program of South Arts. Southern Circuit screenings are funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. South Arts, founded in 1975, is a nonprofit regional arts organization building on the South’s unique heritage and enhancing the public value of the arts. Their work responds to the arts environment and cultural trends with a regional perspective, through an annual portfolio of activities designed to address the role of the arts in impacting the issues important to our region, and linking the South with the nation and the world through the arts.
The Evelyn Burrow Museum is the home of the vast collection of delicately crafted porcelain, pottery, glass and bronze pieces primarily from the Victorian era to modern times donated by Ottis and Evelyn Burrow. The museum continually displays some of Mrs. Burrow’s most treasured pieces while also bringing in artwork and collections that span many interests.
Currently, the Evelyn Burrow Museum features a collection of more than 400 Nike Air Jordans and other Nike memorabilia on loan from Cullman businessman Robin Cummings. The collection was started by and is a tribute to Cummings’ late wife, Charlotte. Also on exhibit is a collection of photographs by Australian photographer Antole Zurrer.
The Evelyn Burrow Museum is open Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.burrowmuseum.org or call 256.352.8457.
