Danny Lyon's civil rights era photos on view at Reading Public Museum [Spotlight]

Feb. 18—To mark the 60th anniversary of the passing of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Reading Public Museum is hosting "Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement" in its Works on Paper Gallery on the Ground Floor.

The exhibit comprises over 50 black-and-white photographs taken by Lyon during his time as staff photographer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1962 to 1964. The exhibit will be on view through May 12, and is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions.

A giant of post-war documentary photography and film, Lyon helped to define a mode of photojournalism in which the picture-maker is deeply and personally embedded in his subject matter. Lyon's photographs are considered to be some of the most significant images of the era.

A self-taught photographer and a graduate of the University of Chicago, the Brooklyn native began his photographic career in the early 1960s as the first staff photographer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, a national group of college students who joined together after their first sit-in at a North Carolina lunch counter.

From 1963 to 1964, Lyon traveled the South and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States documenting the Civil Rights Movement. The photographs were published in "The Movement," a documentary book about the Southern Civil Rights Movement, and later in "Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement," Lyon's own memoir of his years working for the SNCC.

The museum will present several programs to enhance this exhibit. On Feb. 27 at 6 p.m., the Reading Branch NAACP Historian Wynton Butler will present a special lecture called "1960's Reading: The Great Migration & Civil Rights" at the museum. This event is free but requires a reservation, and light refreshments will be available. Email sydney.ernst@readingpublicmuseum.org to RSVP.

On March 22 at 1 p.m., the museum will host a documentary screening of "American Experience: Freedom Riders" in its Neag Planetarium. This inspirational documentary is based partly on Raymond Arsenault's acclaimed book "Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice" and is the first feature-length film about this courageous band of civil rights activists.

The museum is open daily, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 adults (18-64), $6 children/seniors/college students (w/ID). For more information, see readingpublicmuseum.org.

Comedy

Comedian Tom Papa will bring his "Good Stuff Tour" to the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, on April 12. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com.

With more than 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Papa is one of the top comedic voices in the country, finding success in film, TV, radio and podcasts as well as on stage. He is a regular guest on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast and the late night TV shows.

The comedian has had five Netflix specials, the most recent being "What A Day!," taped at the iconic Wilbur Theatre in Boston.

In 2023, he released his third book, "We're All in This Together ... So Make Some Room," which compiles comedic essays that aim to unite us through our stupidity.

In 2020, he released his second book, "You're Doing Great! And Other Reasons To Stay Alive," which was the follow-up to "Your Dad Stole My Rake: And Other Family Dilemmas," both released by St. Martin's Press, making "Summer Must Read" lists from Parade Magazine to The New York Post.

Papa's podcast "Breaking Bread with Tom Papa" features Papa and his guest sitting down for an hour of eating, drinking and enjoying life. Listeners are invited to take a seat at the table as they celebrate the true meaning of breaking bread with insightful, revealing and always funny conversations.

Music

Berks County native Bret Tobias will celebrate the recent release of "Pleaser Vol. 1," the debut EP by his band the Bret Tobias Set, with a gig Saturday at 9 p.m. at Nitro Bar, West Reading. The local band Pseudo Seal will open. There's a $5 cover charge.

A guitar and organ-drenched slab of atmospheric pop, "Pleaser Vol. 1" comprises five songs ranging from meditations on parental shortcomings ("Good Morning, Sunshine"), the ways people are both casually and profoundly awful to one another ("Bit of a Dick"), crippling fear of confrontation ("Avoid the Minefield"), hopefulness following a prolonged rough patch ("Better December") and three-time Tour De France-winning bicyclist Greg LeMond ("It Never Hurts Any Less (But You Get Fast)").

Tobias, who resides in Chester County, was backed on the EP by Patrick Berkery (War on Drugs, Pernice Brothers, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah) on drums, Jeff Tanner (Photon Band) on guitar and Tracy Stanton (AM Mills) on bass. For Saturday's show, he'll be joined by two new band members, Mike Kennedy on drums and Krista Umile on keys and harmonies.

Tobias got his start in the melodic Philly punk trio Moped, and later cut his teeth co-fronting The Bigger Lovers. The Lovers wrote guitar pop contenders and found a home at Yep Roc Records, where they were in the company of revered songwriters such as Nick Lowe, Bob Mould, Robyn Hitchcock and Paul Weller. A four-star review from David Fricke at Rolling Stone, opening slots for Alex Chilton, Jonathan Richman, Superchunk and the Minus Five, and countless econo tours followed, but ultimately the Bigger Lovers were undone by tensions over royalties: "There were none," Tobias explained with a faint smirk.

These days, Tobias believes he's writing his sharpest, most fully realized and lyrically compelling songs to date.

"I've always been drawn to darker subject matter," he said, "and the last few years have been a real bumper crop of bleakness. Not to be ghoulish, but I find it kind of inspiring."

"Pleaser Vol. 1" is on various streaming services, with vinyl available at thebrettobiasset.bandcamp.com.

Art

"Queremos Justicia: How We Shut Down Berks," an exhibition of works by 22 artists that examines the eight-year battle by the Shut Down Berks Coalition to close the Pennsylvania immigrant prison for families, then later adult women, is on view through March 3 in Schmidt Gallery at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading.

On Jan. 31, 2023, the coalition of immigrant leaders, organizers, grassroots groups, interfaith leaders, lawyers and activists won their battle. This multimedia exhibit explores the art made for the campaign and how it played an invaluable role in education, mobilization and community building.

The viewer will learn about the organizing strategy executed by the coalition, the artists who supported the campaign, and view the art and messages of families held at the Berks County Detention Center themselves.

The exhibition may not be suitable for all audiences, as it contains accounts of extreme violence against immigrants, including sexual assault and violence against children, as well as accounts of family separation and deportation.

The exhibit was curated by Jasmine Rivera, who has been community-organizing and campaign-coordinating in Pennsylvania since 2009, working on issue campaigns for immigrant, racial and economic justice. In 2023 she celebrated the closure of the Berks County Detention Center as one of the co-founders and co-coordinators of the Shut Down Berks Coalition.

Books

Though nearly a quarter of Berks County's population is of Hispanic/Latino origin, this demographic remains underrepresented in nearly every area of local society. As a response, Lizette Epps, a longstanding community leader and advocate, has authored a book dedicated to sharing the compelling stories of the Hispanic/Latino community within and beyond Reading.

The book "Our Voices: Little Stories Through a Latina Lens," shares a collection of poignant narratives inviting readers on a journey that celebrates diversity, resilience and the universal threads that bind us all.

What began as a personal passion for collecting unique stories transformed into a book that launched on Amazon and Barnes and Noble in January, and is available in both English and Spanish. Epps' unique perspective as a Latina author infuses each tale with authenticity and insight, creating a work that resonates across cultures and backgrounds.

"My inspiration for this book was to offer a glimpse into the lives of Latinos and Hispanics grappling with challenges, embracing triumphs and discovering the beauty of their individual identities," Epps said. "I wanted to capture the emotions and experiences of these characters, drawing readers into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where every story is a testament to the power of the human spirit."

Epps' own background enriches the stories, as she seamlessly weaves her cultural heritage into the fabric of the narratives. From heartfelt family moments to tales of self-discovery and empowerment, "Our Voices" paints a vivid picture of life's complexities and joys through the lens of a Latina storyteller.

To learn more, visit www.breadthofhope.com/ourvoices.