Reframing the Narrative, Celebrating Amadou Kromah
Photographic Exhibit and Live Auction
SAT, MAY 12, 2:00 – 5:00 PM | Promenade Terrace
On SAT, MAY 12, Overture will celebrate the work of local photographer Amadou Kromah. A high school senior and soon-to-be graduate of La Follette High School in Madison, Kromah has been working with Overture as a freelance photographer since 2016. Among the many events and performances Kromah has photographed during that time, some highlights include performances by Boyz II Men, Patti LaBelle, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra; Frostiball 2017 and 2018; free and low-cost programs like Kids in the Rotunda and OnStage Series; as well as all the photography for the new Local Legends display kiosk in the Rotunda lobby.
Kromah first came to Overture through a connection with Dr. Ed Holmes, Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Then new in his role at Overture, Holmes saw a chance to support a young person’s interest in art and provide Kromah with opportunities to practice his skills by documenting some of the Center’s efforts around Diversity & Inclusion. It was while photographing the outreach event for local students to attend a performance of DRUMLine Live! in March 2017 that Kromah was approached by the Dane County NAACP and encouraged to enter the local ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) competition. After entering and winning a gold medal in photography at the Dane County competition, Kromah went on to win a silver medal in photography at the 2017 National ACT-SO Competition in Baltimore. This month, Kromah took gold again for the 2018 Dane County ACT-SO and will represent Madison with the hopes of gold at the National competition this summer in San Antonio.
“Amadou is an example of what it looks like when we support young people, especially African American males, to find their passion,” said Holmes. “As community members, we have a responsibility to help change the narrative, and provide pathways and opportunities for our young people that they may not imagine possible. I’m proud that in Amadou’s case, Overture was able to help him identify his arts-related passion, nurture it and show him how he could continue to pursue it in the future.”
The celebration on MAY 12 will take place from 2 PM – 5 PM and feature a display of Kromah’s work, a live auctioning of a framed piece, and a slate of speakers including representatives from the City of Madison Mayor’s Office, NAACP of Dane County and Overture Center for the Arts, along with Dr. Ruben Anthony of the Urban League of Greater Madison and J. Carter Ralphe, MD, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology at UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
This celebration shines a spotlight on one of Madison’s up and coming stars and helps us reframe the narrative about African American males in our community and beyond. We hope you are able to attend this important community event.
