By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
The Art Tatum Zone held its third annual Art Tatum Porchfest Sunday, October 6 celebrating the renowned jazz artist and Toledo native Art Tatum at his historic home on 1123 City Park Ave. The event featured live jazz music, vendors and food trucks.
“Porchfest is an annual celebration that we put on just to celebrate the legacy and birthday of Art Tatum who was born right here in the junction neighborhood,” stated Christine Sweeney, executive director of the Art Tatum Zone. “It’s just a time for community to come together to celebrate someone who came right here from our streets and then became worldwide,” she continued.
The event featured glass blowing demonstrations from The Toledo Museum of Art and activities for children. Mike Williams on Sax and NJ Trio, a jazz trio, provided entertainment for the afternoon of festivities.
The Art Tatum home is currently being restored, according to Ms. Sweeny. The back porch, roof and wood siding are next, followed by the restoration of the interior.
The Art Tatum Zone is a neighborhood revitalization company transforming Toledo’s Junction neighborhood through place-based cradle-to-career opportunities. By empowering individuals from early childhood to adulthood through programs in education, job readiness, health, and leadership, the Art Tatum Zone is working to create a new model for vibrant, sustainable communities. (source: www.arttatumzone.org/)
World-renowned jazz pianist, Art Tatum, grew up in the Junction Neighborhood and overcame numerous obstacles to achieve remarkable success. His family, represented by his last living niece, Lucille Johnson, approached the leaders of The Art Tatum Zone and asked them to use his story and childhood home to inspire the community’s children and families to dream big and work hard.
Through the restoration of his home and the construction of the Inspiration Center, the ATZ team is honoring this legacy and fulfilling her request. (source: www.arttatumzone.org/). Art Tatum was born in 1909 in Toledo, Ohio and would be celebrating his 115th birthday, October 13.
The organization hosts the event annually every first Sunday in October with plans to continue next year.
To learn more about the Art Tatum Zone and the work that they are doing in the community visit ArtTatumZone.org.
