The Uncle Junior Project: Legacy Presentation
Saturday 7/31. 5:00-6:30 PM MDT – $10
Uncle Junior Project founder Veronica Blair shares her journey of uncovering the stories of Black Performers in American Circus and how the experience has helped to shape her career as an aerialist.
About Veronica:
Veronica Blair is a professional aerialist with over 15 years of performing and teaching experience. She is currently Aerial Director for Celebrity Cruises Entertainment. Expanding her portfolio beyond performing, Veronica launched the development of “The Uncle Junior Project” in 2010. The ongoing documentary shines a light on the careers of African-American circus performers, including Emanual “Uncle Junior” Ruffin who remained largely uncredited for his contributions to American Circus until after his death. In 2017, she was invited to speak at the Smithsonian FolkLife Festival about her experience as producer and director of “The Uncle Junior Project”, and served as organizer and moderator on a panel highlighting the African-American circus experience. She’s also worked with the African-American Art and Culture Complex to stage “Entrapment to Entertainment: A Celebration of Blacks in American Circus”, a three-month exhibition that ran from October, 2013 – January 2014 with over 1,000 attendees.