ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Jeanine Michna-Bales captures a glimpse of history

By EMILY CHARRIER

Can a modern image accurately tell an ancient story? That’s a question Jeanine Michna-Bales answers in her 1,400-mile photographic journey to depict the Underground Railroad from Louisiana to the Canadian border.

“I found research that [those on the Underground Railroad] traveled 20 miles per night. So that’s how I shot — 20 miles apart and mostly at night,” says the East Dallas photographer.

All of those images, shot with a long exposure to give them the visual texture of an oil painting, tell a vivid American story. Fifteen years of research and photography culminated in the photo-driven book “Through Darkness to Light: Seeking Freedom on the Underground

Railroad,” released this year by Princeton Architectural Press.

“I feel like this project picked me; I didn’t exactly choose it,” Michna-Bales says.

Growing up in Indiana, she remembers learning about the secretive path to freedom, used by slaves escaping their chains during the pre-Civil War years.

Just north of the slave-state Kentucky, Indiana was the first free state many entered on their pilgrimage north. Quaker settlers led the state’s anti-slavery move- ment beginning in 1805 and were known to help men and women who fled slave owners once they crossed the raging Ohio River.

“They called it the River Jordan because it separates the North and South,” Michna-Bales says.

The Ohio River was near the home of freed slave Chapman Harris, Michna-Bales says. He was a reverend and a blacksmith, with a shop right on the banks. He used his heavy tools to signal fleeing slaves when it was safe to cross the water.

Michna-Bales began her photo series much farther south, however, at the scenic Magnolia Plantation on the banks of the Cane River in Derry, La. It’s a National Historic Monument where “slave quarters” still stand that once housed some of the 350 forced laborers who lived on the land when the plantation was a commercial operation.

“It was a venerable city in its day,” Michna-Bales says. “It just spoke to me.”

She didn’t have a set direction from there, just a loosely knit collection of sites where slaves could hide out or find respite, like the cotton fields at the

Eyevenue Dallas

Call us or schedule an appointment at www.eyevenuedallas.com fracking. She’s most interested in advocacy art, and is inspired by the conversations “Through Darkness to Light” has sparked.

“A lot of people call it America’s first civil rights movement,” she says. “Civil rights are being discussed all over the country right now, and [the Underground Railroad], in some ways, is where it all started.”

Find “Through Darkness to Light” at jmbalesphotography.com or on Amazon.

City

Despite a deep-pocketed super PAC that supported challenger Matt Wood, Philip Kingston retained his District 14 seat on Dallas City Council, capturing 55 percent of the vote. (It’s worth mentioning that only 7.8 percent of the city’s registered voters participated in the election.)

A petition is circulating throughout Old East Dallas to narrow the Abrams/ Columbia thoroughfare to a four-lane road with space for bike lanes, parking and sidewalks. Old East Dallas neighbor Nathaniel Barrett posted the petition on Change.org. “The harmful effects of this dangerous and neighborhood unfriendly road areevident in the number of injuries and lackluster growth along this corridor,” Barrett writes.

Fundraisers were launched for two men hurt in the Old East Dallas shooting on May 1, which left one 67-year-old man dead. The shooter, identified as Derick Brown, also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Paramedic William An was hit as he administered aid to the 67-year-old man. The 10-year veteran of Dallas Fire-Rescue was shot in the leg and arm, and nearly lost his life when a bullet pierced his artery. DFR established a PayPal account to assist An, his pregnant wife and 3-year-old son. A second victim, whom police have yet to identify, was shot outside his home. His sister-in-law Michelle Cavillo established a GoFundMe page to assist with his medical expenses.

Education

Lori Kirkpatrick received more votes than incumbent Dustin Marshall in the District 2 race of Dallas ISD board of trustees, but it was short of the 50.01 percent needed to avoid a runoff election. The two will go head to head again on June 10.

East Dallas’ St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School were two of 26 schools to receive funding from The Catholic Foundation’s annual spring grant totaling $1 million. St. Bernard will use the funding to help families who can’t afford tuition, and St. Thomas Aquinas is planning to repave its parking lot.

Dallas Academy

950 Tiffany Way, Dallas 75218 / 214.324.1481 / dallas-academy.com Founded in 1965, Dallas Academy’s mission is to restore the promise of full academic enrichment to students with learning differences in grades 1-12. A meaningful connection with each student is established to overcome barriers to success. Dallas Academy offers students an effective program and strategies to meet the special educational needs of bright students with learning differences, while including the activities of a larger, more traditional school. Classes are small, with a student-teacher ratio of 6 to 1 where students are encouraged, praised, and guided toward achieving their goals. Diagnostic testing is available to students throughout the community.

Our Redeemer Lutheran School Of Dallas

7611 Park Lane, Dallas, TX 75225 / 214.368.1371 / ORDallas. org On a beautiful campus just across from NorthPark Center, Our Redeemer encourages working above level, but without the atmosphere of anxiety and pressure. We’re nationally accredited through NLSA with our students historically scoring 2.5 years above level in nationally normed testing. PK 2 – 6th graders are provided a faith-based education of co-curricular Fine Arts and Language enrichment, strong academics, daily PE and recess and interscholastic athletics. Before and aftercare options are offered for PK3 and up. Private tours by request.

Spanish House

Four East Dallas Locations / 214.826.4410/ DallasSpanishHouse.com Spanish Immersion Program in East Dallas! Nursery, Preschool, Elementary and Adult Programs available. Our new dual-language elementary campus is now open at 7159 E. Grand Ave. Please visit our website at DallasSpanishHouse. com for more information.

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org Founded in 1953, St. John’s is an independent, co-educational day school for Pre-K through Grade 8. With a tradition for academic excellence, St. John’s programs include a challenging curriculum in a Christian environment along with instruction in the visual and performing arts, Spanish, German, French, and opportunities for athletics and community service.St. John’s goal for its students is to develop a love for learning, service to others, and leadership grounded in love, humility, and wisdom. Accredited by ISAS, SAES, and the Texas Education Agency.

Ut Dallas Chess Camp

800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson 75080 / (972) 883-4899 / utdallas.edu/chess ) 2016

Summer Chess Camp Campers learn while they PLAY. Chess develops reading, math, critical and analytical skills, and builds character and self-esteem. Just don’t tell the kids…they think chess is fun! Join beginner, intermediate or advanced chess classes for ages 7 to 14 on the UT Dallas campus. Morning (9am-noon) or afternoon (1-4pm) sessions are available June 13-17, June 20-24, July 18-22, July 25-29 and extended playing classes. Camp includes t-shirt, chess board and pieces, trophy, certificate, score book, group photo, snacks and drinks. Instructors are from among UT Dallas Chess Team Pan-Am Intercollegiate Champions for 2010-2012!

White Rock North School

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas/ 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool.com

6 Weeks through 6th Grade. Our accelerated curriculum provides opportunity for intellectual and physical development in a loving and nurturing environment. Character-building and civic responsibility are stressed. Facilities include indoor swimming pool, skating rink, updated playground, and state-of-the-art technology lab. Kids Club on the Corner provides meaningful after-school experiences. Summer Camp offers field trips, swimming, and a balance of indoor and outdoor activities designed around fun-filled themes. Accredited by SACS. Call for a tour of the campus.

Zion Lutheran School

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630 / ziondallas. org Toddler care thru 8th Grade. Serving Dallas for over 65 years offering a quality education in a Christ-centered learning environment. Degreed educators minister to the academic, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of students and their families. Before and after school programs, Extended Care, Parents Day Out, athletics, fine arts, integrated technology, Spanish, outdoor education, Accelerated Reader, advanced math placement, and student government. Accredited by National Lutheran School & Texas District Accreditation Commissions and TANS. Contact Principal Jeff Thorman.

By GEORGE MASON