Thressa DeGrandchamp, a coal miner’s daughter, was just a young girl when Moneta Sleet Jr. captured a picture of her in 1953 as part of his series depicting a West Virginia community and their role in the coal mining industry. Now, 70 years later, she’ll be in Owensboro on Friday as the featured speaker during a panel being held as part of the Through Sleet’s Eyes Festival honoring the photographer’s life and iconic works.
The panel will be held at 3 p.m. at the Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, where the photo of DeGrandchamp is part of the museum’s permanent collection.
As part of the event, two retired employees of the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer will be present for a discussion on the importance of investigative journalism and how it played a role in finding DeGrandChamp 44 years after the photo was taken.
Most of the events for the festival will be held at the RiverPark Center on Friday and Saturday. The full schedule is as follows:
Friday, Feb. 24:
- 9:30 & 11:15 a.m. – Arts Teach Kids – The Power of the Lens, a one-man show about the legacy of Sleet.
- 6 p.m. – A Witness to History Exhibit Open – A gallery of Sleet’s photos throughout his career. Music provided by the Owensboro Symphony Jazz Trio.
- 6:20 p.m. – Voices of Elmwood: Moneta Sleet Sr. Monologue – A telling of the monologue of Sleet’s father provided by the Owensboro Museum of Science and History.
- 6:30 p.m. – Community Conversation: An Evening with Ozier Muhammad.
Saturday, Feb. 25:
- 3 p.m. – A Witness to History Guided Exhibit Experience – The Exhibit opens with a guided tour.
- 4 p.m. – Community Conversation with Festival Creatives: Jeremy Gillett, Drew Hardesty, Bob Morris – A panel of local media creatives speaking on the importance of the industry.
- 6 p.m. – A Witness to History Exhibit Opens.
- 7 p.m. A Reception including Men’s Mass Community Choir, showing of the Documentary, Power of the Lens showcasing and Comments from Emmy Woosley, Festival Chair.
