African Americans who made a difference featured
An exhibit at the Moody Museum that coincided with Black History Month highlights African American residents who made notable contributions to Taylor’s growth, organizers said.
“Taylor the Unforgettable” is part history, part art display, and includes items that spotlight — among others — Don Hill, Taylor’s first Black mayor; his wife and community supporter Leslie Hill; and James Dickey, one of the region’s first physicians of color. Originally created in 2017 by Hutto artist Chesiel John, the exhibition and a reception were held at that time in the Moody. A little later, John donated the work to the museum.
“We haven’t had it on display in several years, but we decided this year that we would set it out,” said Susan Komandosky, chairwoman of the museum board.
John, who describes herself as an “assemblage” or “found objects” artist, collected vintage books for the project.
She carved a frame out of the books and placed a photograph of each featured resident inside the book. Over the pictures she placed convex glass, which magnified each photograph like a small window into history.
“I think that’s the whole idea,” Komandosky said. “It’s a window into the history that (John) was trying to express.” John also wrote letters or descriptions of the person in each installation.
She gathered information, pictures and records from Taylor’s Black community through interviews and research.
“She found people she could interview about these early Black residents of Taylor,” Komandosky said.
John placed these letters or descriptions next to the book or on the inside cover. Some were short and simple, like the entry about cowboy Steve Haywood Sr., who was born in February 1872 and rode a white horse. Five sentences summed up what was known about this early Taylor settler.
With this exhibit, John hoped to represent the ancestry and history of Taylor.
When the display originally opened nine years ago, John said, “It’s important as a community that we never lose sight of how we got where we are, or of the great men and women who paved the way to bring us this far.”
Black History Month runs through March 1, but the exhibit will remain on display until mid-March. Tours are free, but patrons need to make an appointment with the Moody Museum at [email protected].
The museum is located at 114 W. Ninth St. in Taylor.
