Jeanne Goodman

Artist Statement

The Attucks: A Living Legacy

Known as the “Apollo of the South,” Norfolk’s Attucks Theatre holds a singular place in American history as the oldest surviving legitimate theatre in the country completely financed, designed, constructed, and operated by African Americans. During its golden era, it was the heartbeat of Church Street’s entertainment district, welcoming legendary performers including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong.

After closing as a theatre in 1953, the Attucks served other commercial purposes for decades before undergoing a major restoration and reopening in 2004. Today, it continues its legacy as a vibrant center for jazz, theatre, and the performing arts.

This drawing celebrates that renewal through nationally acclaimed musicians who have performed at the Attucks in recent years. Rather than portraying a single performance, I have brought them together in a visual ensemble that reflects the spontaneity, individuality, and collective spirit of jazz.

Through gesture, color, and the interplay of figures, I hope to convey the vitality of a theatre whose history is not simply preserved, but continually renewed through the artists who perform there.

Performers depicted: ClaireDee, Allan Harris, Cory Fonville, Marquis Hill, Catherine Russell, Joel Ross, Billy Drummond, Robin Eubanks, and Michael Mayo.