Artist Creates Collaborative Work For Bucks Co. Juneteenth Anniversary

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Each year since Juneteenth became a federal holiday, Bucks County artist Kevin Aster Young has invited the community to contribute to a collaborative work of art at the annual Mercer Museum Juneteenth celebration in Doylestown based on the imagery found in the Juneteenth flag.

This year, for the 160th anniversary of the holiday, Kevin is partnering with 16 different community organizations and faith-based institutions to create a piece that simultaneously celebrates the holiday, highlights the history of the African-American experience, and unites diverse segments of the local community by having them collaborate on one cohesive work of art.

Each organization was given 10 small canvases to paint according to the artist’s guidelines, resulting in 160 separate pieces in total. The small canvases were then combined to create an image of the Juneteenth flag.

Each canvas corresponds to a particular year since the first Juneteenth celebration in 1865.

In addition, each canvas corresponds to a particular year since the first Juneteenth celebration in 1865, and can be rotated to reveal the year and a QR code that links to a relevant educational article on Black history for that time.

According to Kevin, the work, titled “Forward Backward Together Forward (160 Years),” is aimed at bringing the community closer together while simultaneously embodying unity in diversity, visualizing the passage of time, and highlighting the contributions of Black Americans to American history at a time when doing so is of paramount importance.

Each canvas can be rotated to reveal the year and a QR code that links to a relevant educational article on Black history for that time.

“Forward Backward Together Forward (160 Years)” will be unveiled to the public at the Mercer Museum’s fourth annual Juneteenth Celebration on June 14 beginning at 12 p.m. at 84 S. Pine Street in Doylestown's cultural district.

Young has created work for the museum’s Juneteenth event each year since 2022. He draws inspiration from his activism work in Bucks County around racial justice, community outreach, and the historical contributions of Black Americans to American history.

If You Go

The Mercer Museum is teaming up with the African Diaspora Collective of Bucks County, Gather Place of Yardley, and the Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth on Saturday, June 14 from 12 to 3 p.m.

The event commemorates the anniversary of June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the United States learned that they had been freed by President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

The free outdoor rain or shine event will feature guest speakers, a DJ, food trucks, vendors and artisans, and family-friendly crafts and activities.

Parking is limited and guests are asked to use the $1 per day Bucks County Parking Garage located at Broad & Court Streets in downtown Doylestown. Street parking is also available and all local rules apply.