PORTSMOUTH PROJECT
PORTSMITH PROJECT
Jerome Meadows, a Savannah sculpture artist was contacted by the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire to design a permanent sculpture installation for African Burial Ground Memorial Park. Jerome and other members of the Portsmouth community describe the incident, which took place in 2003 where the remains of an African American cemetery were found lying beneath a sewer line in the busy downtown of the city. For this, he would create multiple sculpture pieces to reside in their honor. This is the story of a community coming together to right a wrong committed to the ancestors of Portsmouth. This documentary will be highlighting Jerome Meadows and his stunning works of art. The reburial of the bodies and how the town still continues to honor these individuals and the Black history of Portsmouth.
The film was selected for the Best NH Short Documentary 2016 New Hampshire Film Festival.
Directed by: Catherine Bobalek and Rebecca Weinel
Produced by: Rebecca Weinel
Cinematography by: Emoni Michelle Aikens and Nate Brown
Edited by: Laurie Sever
Sound Designer: Kyle Haglund
Location Sound: Amanda Hughes
Photography: David J. Murray and Jazmin Corchado
Special Thanks: George Carlisle, Kelvin Edwards, Jerome Meadows, Kathleen Wheeler, Dr. Arthur L. Wilson, The Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, Seacoast Archaeological Consulting LLC, Portsmouth Burying Ground Committee and Blank Page Poetry