Benjamin Sterling Cannon hadn’t been to Winterthur since he was about 10 years old. Now the executive and artistic director of the Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance, Cannon never gave much thought to the local cultural institution, which he viewed as a “separate, large, and self-contained” system.
“I never thought I could have a partnership with a place like Winterthur,” Cannon said recently from the stage of Copeland Lecture Hall. But one day a few years ago he was approached by Mark Nardone, who was then communications manager at Winterthur. Nardone invited Cannon to visit and experience what we have to offer, and so Cannon did. He was delighted to find that his assumptions weren’t justified.
“I found the team at Winterthur to be, in a word, ‘curious,’” Cannon said.
He could have meant curious in the sense of the word’s secondary definition: “strange, quirky, or unusual.” And he wouldn’t be incorrect. We’re an interesting bunch. But he truly meant the primary definition of curiosity: “eager to learn.”
On his first visit back as an adult, Cannon fell in love with Winterthur, and the team here likewise fell in love with the Wilmington Ballet. When Cannon drives on to the estate these days, he doesn’t feel like a trespasser. “I like to pretend I live here,” Cannon said.
Winterthur’s collaboration with Cannon developed into a relationship with a variety of area organizations. It’s been an enriching experience for Winterthur employees and visitors alike. One of the outcomes is our upcoming Juneteenth Celebration Day, which takes place here on Saturday, June 17, from 11 am to 4 pm. Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
Throughout the day, a variety of storytellers, musicians, and dancers will fill Enchanted Woods and Copeland Lecture Hall with performances enriched by and deeply rooted in African American arts and culture. The activities in Enchanted Woods are included with general admission tickets and are free for Winterthur members. Purchase tickets in advance here.
Performances of The Whitney Project’s “A Celebration of Black Joy” will take place at 11 am and 3 pm in Copeland Lecture Hall. There is a separate fee for these performances. Register for “A Celebration of Black Joy” here.
For an overview of Juneteenth Celebration Day, visit this page.
