Jack Johnson “Fight of the Century” Celebration in Galveston to Feature Viewing of “Unforgivable Blackness” and Auction of Newly Commissioned Johnson Portrait

Addenda July 14, 2010: The auction has been cancelled.

For a press-ready, downloadable version of the new Jack Johnson portrait, click here.

Galveston, TX – A Centennial Celebration of the 1910 Reno, Nev. “Fight of the Century” between Galveston’s Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, and Jim Jeffries, the “Great White Hope,” will be held in Galveston at the Old Central Cultural Center, 2627 Avenue M, on Sunday, July 4 from 2 to 6 p.m. The free event is hosted by Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee.

The celebration will feature a viewing of the PBS Ken Burns documentary “Unforgivable Blackness,” in which footage of the original 1910 fight is shown. There also will be the opening of an auction of the newly commissioned portrait of Jack Johnson by Robert Hurst, official artist of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Orders will be taken for the limited edition signed and numbered prints of the portrait at $100 each.

Galveston Historical Foundation will sell the original painting at auction through a sealed bid process from July 4 through August 4, 2010 (3 p.m.). No bids will be accepted after 3 p.m. on August 4, 2010. Minimum bid is $5,000. All bids require a 10 percent deposit for bid amount and the balance is due by August 6, 2010 at 5 p.m. Only the winning bid’s deposit will be made. All other deposits will be returned to bidders once the balance is paid by the winning bidder. The original painting will be delivered two weeks after final payment has been made.

Only the painting, not the rights to reproduction, is being sold. The artist Robert Hurst will retain his copyright to the painting.

Jack Johnson “Fight of the Century” Celebration Schedule

2 p.m. to 2:40: Meet and Greet

2:44 (exact time original fight began): Showing of “Unforgivable Blackness” begins

4:45 to 5 p.m.: Regroup

5 to 6 p.m.: Panel Discussion

For further information, contact Samuel Collins III, chairman elect of Galveston Historical Foundation’s African American Heritage Committee, at 409-256-3822 or mrslc3@hotmail.com. Sealed bids for the Johnson portrait may be mailed to Collins at Galveston Historical Foundation, 502 20th Street, Galveston, TX 77550.

For the full release on the commissioning and unveiling of the new Jack Johnson portrait, click here: http://www.galvestonhistory.org/Jack_Johnson2.asp