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![A headshot of George Bayard looking at the camera and smiling.]()
George Bayard
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![A headshot of Huemartin Robinson II]()
Huemartin Robinson II
Kitchen Table Conversation: Rewriting History
Thursday, Apr 21, 2022
7:00 pm — 9:00 pm
Inspired by Carrie Mae Weems’ photo narrative series of the same name, The Kitchen Table Conversations are a three-part series of community programs intended to spark conversations surrounding identity, culture, and experience. For each event, GRAM has paired with a socially-focused local organization to feature presentations and facilitate discussions based on themes explored in Weems’ work.
Join GRAM for the second installment in the series, featuring a conversation with Founder and Executive Director of GRAAMA George A. Bayard III and Kent County Social Services Advisory Council Board Member Huemartin Robinson II, as they discuss the responsibilities that institutions and individuals play in the documentation, retelling, and shaping of history.
To ensure community access to these discussions and the accompanying exhibition, the series will be free to the public as part of Meijer Free Days.
Please note: Program safety measures include face covering recommendations, regular sanitization and cleaning, and restricting the sharing of tools/materials among participants. Masks will be available for those who do not have one.
For more information, contact Deputy Director of Art, Learning, and Engagement Christopher Bruce at cbruce@artmuseumgr.org.
About the Speakers
George has owned West Michigan’s oldest gallery devoted to artists of color for 30 years. An Art Education BA from the University of Delaware, George became regional manager of Philadelphia’s largest picture frame chain before moving to Michigan.
Bayard Gallery hosted Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, Underground Rail Roadshow, Authors Day, Soul of the City Festival, 100’s of exhibits, lectures, and book signings.
Currently, George is the founder and Executive Director of GRAAMA, the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives. This 5‑year journey has culminated with Grand Rapids only museum devoted to Black history, culture, education, and community. GRAAMA is winner of the 2018 ArtPrize Outstanding Venue award and an AASLH magazine cover for the Grandma’s Voices Oral History Project.
George is a professional picture framer, conservator, appraiser, artist, lecturer, collector, historian, Black culture expert, filmmaker, writer, and arts advocate. He is the 2019 winner of the Albert Baxter Award for Local History and the Carol and David Van Andel Leadership Award 2020 and the Grand Rapid Business Journal 200 Most Powerful People Award 2019 — 2022.
Huemartin Robinson II brings with him many years of experience with community advocacy and working with young people. He serves on several boards to include the Kroc Center Advisory Council, Kent County Social Services Advisory Council, ALPACT Advisory Committee and he currently chairs the Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeals Board. He was a member of the highly publicized Grand Rapids Police Policy and Procedure Review Task Force. He has been employed with the 17th Circuit Court for the past 20+ years where he is currently the Assistant Superintendent of the Kent County Juvenile Detention Center. Hue is a member of the Kent County Cultural Insight Council, Warner Norcross and Judd Scholarship Committee with the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, PROACTIVE Election Protection Coalition and the former Director of Guide Right for the GRAC/Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. In 2018 he was a GIANTS award honoree, the recipient of the prestigious Floyd Skinner Justice Award. Hue has been married for 20+ years and is the father of three beautiful daughters ages 34, 26 and 21. He also has three grandchildren.
