News and Insights
FINN Partners Joins Leading Cultural and Civic Organizations to Present Say Their Names Memorial Augmented Reality Exhibition Honoring Those Lost to Racial Injustice
September 27, 2022
FINN Partners is joining forces with leading cultural and civic organizations to present a landmark exhibition honoring those lost to racial injustice. The inaugural Say Their Names Memorial Exhibition is as an augmented reality (AR) experience combining digital photography, technology, and art to allow visitors to engage with hundreds of familiar and unsung faces lost over time directly on their cell phone, iPad or other device. The exhibition is virtually sited on West 85th Street in New York’s historic Seneca Village, an area that had been one of the largest African American settlements in the country prior to being dismantled in 1857 to make way for Central Park. Say Their Names NYC will be on view through October 17, with plans for a national tour in 2023. FINN’s sponsorship of the project is part of its sweeping Actions Speak Louder program, that counts community engagement and volunteerism as one of its major pillars.
The Say Their Names Memorial features 50 virtual pedestals with four photos affixed to each, for a total of 212 photos. To experience the exhibition, visitors will download the Membit app on their phone, tablet, or other device, use the app’s built-in map and follow the instructions. They can then view the pedestals and read about the individuals and their circumstances. Visitors are also encouraged to use the screen recording function in the app, to show four of the faces and read four of the names and then share it with their friends and families as personal tributes. Among those featured in the exhibition are Alberta Spruill, Amadou Diallo, Breonna Taylor, Deborah Danner, George Floyd, the Buffalo 10, Eric Garner, and Malcolm X. The full list of names can be found on the national Say Their Names registry: https://www.saytheirnamesmemorials.com.
“Say Their Names honors the countless African Americans who have lost their lives to acts of racism over the past two centuries and more,” says Helen Shelton, global chief diversity officer. “FINN Partners and our focused DEI program identifies and supports initiatives that spark dialogue and drive action in every city and community in which we do business around the world. We salute the San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art and the other partnering organizations. Together, we are utilizing our collective resources and platforms to amplify this important message in a manner that will encourage and inspire greater understanding of humanity and our shared history.”
Say Their Names NYC is the result of a collaborative effort, with the active participation of a variety of cultural and civic institutions. In addition to FINN Partners, these include the San Diego Museum of African American Art, the organizers of the initiative, as well as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Institute for the Exploration of Seneca Village, Manhattan Community Board 10, the New York Urban League, McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at NYU Silver School of Social Work and Greater New York Chapter of The Links, Inc.
“At FINN Partners, we have always believed in the power of art to transform society for the better,” added Peter Finn, founding managing partner and CEO, FINN. “We are proud to co-sponsor the Say Their Names Memorial Exhibition and honor the many lives of those whose lives were cut short by hate and racism by reciting their names. We hope that people will take the time to experience this remarkable installation and are committed to doing our part to make meaningful change a reality for us all.”
“Racial violence continues to be a distinct part of American history,” adds Gaidi Finnie, executive director, San Diego African American Museum of Fine Art. “While that violence has impacted every ethnic and racial group in the United States, it has had a particularly horrific effect on African American life ranging from revolts of the enslaved and lynchings to urban uprisings and calculated acts of murder. SDAAMFA is honored to collaborate with FINN Partners in bringing this exhibition to New York City and dedicate it to the ongoing fight to end systemic racism.”