Ava Holloway & Kennedy George, American
Ballet Performance at Robert E. Lee Monument, 2020
In the wake of global Black Lives Matter protests, teenage ballerinas Ava Holloway and Kennedy George repurposed space with their bodies, which were historically seen as inferior to that of Richmond’s infamous Confederate monuments. A joyous expression of black life and solidarity amidst the now colorfully spray-painted statue of Robert E. Lee, the two friends were captured in a spontaneous photo session by freelance photographer Julie Rendleman. The photo quickly proliferated on social media, spurring performances in front of other polarizing monuments and promoting Brown Ballerinas for Change, a nonprofit that seeks to increase the participation of underrepresented girls in ballet. This act of vitality stands against and with the reality of inhabiting a body of color today—amidst shouts of “I can’t breathe” and the surge of bodies taking to the streets during a pandemic, the simple act of girls moving in a way that brings them joy is a profound form of resistance. Label by Kristin Rheins
This photo shows two Black ballerinas, Ava Holloway and Kennedy George, posing on the Robert E. Lee statue in Richmond Virginia shortly after Governor Northam announced its pending removal. Shown en point in black tutus, with the backdrop of the graffiti covered pedestal, raising their fists in the Black Power sign, the two young women radiate power and strength. This is part of a total reclamation of this space that has been ongoing during the protests in Richmond. What was once a symbol of power and oppression is being transformed into a space that is open to all Virginians. Ultimately this image is both powerful and hopeful at the same time. Label by Savannah Singleton