The Historic Hampton Home stands as a testomony to Black resilience and cultural excellence. As soon as a protected haven in the course of the Jim Crow period for luminaries like Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ella Fitzgerald, this Miami landmark has remodeled into the world’s solely Inexperienced Guide museum whereas sustaining its place as a significant cultural establishment. In an unique interview with Rolling Out, Chief Technique Officer and Inventive Director Curb Gardner shares how the historic venue continues to bridge previous and current by artwork, music, and neighborhood engagement, whereas preserving its wealthy legacy in Miami’s cultural panorama.
[Editor’s note: This is a truncated transcription of a longer video interview. Please see the video for the extended version. Some errors may occur.]
What’s your function on the Historic Hampton Home?
I’m Chief Technique Officer and Inventive Director. I’m accountable for the trajectory of the museum relating to its programming, relating to the way it’s considered on this planet, relating to the affect it can make as the one Inexperienced Guide Museum on this planet.
Are you able to share the historical past of the Historic Hampton Home and its significance to the neighborhood?
Again within the Jim Crow period, which is the Fifties, 60s—previous to Black folks, and chances are you’ll know out of your grandmother’s tales or your grandfather’s tales—that after they traveled from North to South or inside the South, it was not a protected place to journey. You couldn’t go to a gasoline station, you couldn’t go to a restaurant—that’s why we needed to sit in counters. You couldn’t go to a lodge.
So, there’s a gentleman by the identify of Victor Inexperienced who created this ebook, like just a little cellphone ebook. And it was a information that instructed you the place, in no matter metropolis—in Knoxville, in Atlanta, in Tallahassee, in Detroit—the place you could possibly keep and be accepted as an individual of shade.
The Historic Hampton Home was in-built 1954. Harry Belafonte carried out that evening on the opening evening with a white viewers, standing ovation, however he couldn’t keep there. So, he stayed over on the Historic Hampton Home. He stayed over city on this space referred to as Brownsville, which was essentially the most elegant place, most luxurious place that he may keep. Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Sam Cooke—everyone who was anyone stayed at that lodge. Martin Luther King, simply everybody, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali—everybody.
How does the Hampton Home serve the neighborhood right now?
It’s really, it’s now a museum. I really discovered the area as I used to be producing the premiere of Regina King’s movie, “One Night time in Miami.” I get there, and I’m like, “Oh my God, I’ve been in Miami since 2014. Why don’t I learn about this place?” We’ve shifted the narrative the place it’s turn out to be, as soon as once more, we’re housing artists, each performers—we’ve lately had Chaka Khan, Eric Benet, and these non-public concert events—and visible artists, which is why we’re a part of Artwork Basel.
We’ve got a brand new partnership with Montreux Jazz Pageant, which is the oldest jazz competition on this planet, to carry dwell music again. We’re so blessed to have the ability to tie into Artwork Basel VIP. We’re the one establishment of its kind that’s VIP that’s formally with them.
Inform us in regards to the Invisible Baggage exhibit that debuted throughout Artwork Basel.
That is our second yr with Artwork Basel, an exhibition throughout Artwork Basel. Our first yr was stated to be probably the greatest, and we’re so blessed that this yr too has been lauded as probably the greatest exhibitions throughout Artwork Basel. Invisible Baggage is one thing that I believe we should always all—that all of us carry, proper? I believe that at this second in time in American historical past, we have to take a look at ourselves and perceive who we’re.
Take a second, go inside your self and do some self-assessment, after which what’s it that you just’re carrying? Is it trauma? And how much pleasure are you carrying? The present is actually about how we journey by life and what we stock with us and what we have to typically unpack.
Rolling Out and Mielle had been very intentional about working with the Historic Hampton Home for our partnership, The Artwork of Hair. Our manufacturers’ legacy and heritage appeared to align completely along with your area.
We’re very explicit and really intentional in regards to the partnerships that now we have as a result of we’re a museum—we’re a brand new museum. And so as to have the ability to appeal to manufacturers on a nationwide stage, they’re on the lookout for a sure experience and a sure high quality and a sure dedication to excellence. You’ve obtained Munson Steed, you’ve obtained Monique Rodriguez, and people two are legends in their very own proper.
So right here you might be—you have got them come into a spot and be accepted and get on the wall with Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Josephine Baker. They’re black ladies there. They use these hair care merchandise. I imply, we want our hair care product. I respect this duty of Mielle educating its viewers to our historical past.
The occasion had a number of elements, together with a networking reception within the courtyard and a non-public VIP dinner.
It was a VIP dinner of influencers and activists and enterprise leaders who principally had a beautiful grasp desk, and it was a grasp class. And the way individuals are presenting themselves in enterprise. How they’re presenting their artwork, and their artwork type. And I believe it was simply magical. We had all the things from caviar to lobster, and it was a wonderful setting. And I believe folks actually felt good, and we needed folks to be ok with their accomplishments.
The dialog on the desk actually spoke to the why—why we selected the Historic Hampton Home, why Mielle selected to be right here for his or her tenth anniversary.
And 50 of a very powerful younger artists on this planet which are there right now. I imply, these artists are properly revered, and so they’ve been collected not solely in museums, however they’re some are younger and budding, however their careers are very, very vivacious. And so, for us to know who our artists are. And so, to be within the area the place now you can rooted in historical past. However now we’re taking the ground with modern-day artists.
We additionally provided non-public excursions of the exhibit and areas inside the Historic Hampton Home to the neighborhood.
And for Mielle and Rolling Out present that chance for neighborhood to see. After which a reception that they dance with DJ MOS, specialty cocktails and the meals was excellent. I believe that manufacturers have a chance to both carry neighborhood together with them or have them simply be utilizing their product, however then they will educate them in some ways. Not solely about their product, but additionally give them such delight in themselves and delight in your personal historical past.
The visible raise and be taught expertise was distinctive, together with present baggage containing merchandise, signed prints, and customized t-shirts.
You guys are on the forefront. The actual fact of matter is that we’re a beautiful little secret. There are such a lot of articles written in regards to the Historic Hampton Home in regards to the exhibition from Forbes journal, mainstream magazines. However you guys are like on the prime of it. You’re understanding and getting issues out the place we want that partnership. We want that partnership so we are able to find out about our personal historical past by our personal neighborhood.
What’s subsequent for the Historic Hampton Home?
We’ve obtained arising is that we’re now related, we’re going to be doing one thing for Meals and Wine. We’ve got a world partnership with Montreux Jazz. You’re going to see some huge celebrities come by the Historic Hampton Home. We’ve got this music sequence referred to as From Be Bop to Hip Hop, which is a supper membership.
We do two units, after which we stream it dwell as properly so folks that may’t get the ticket can go digital for that. If you come to the Hampton Home you get a digital key that key works in each door in each room, which implies that this historical past is yours. It by no means expires, and the sunshine by no means seems. So come on again dwelling and use your room.
