Chris Webber’s Antiques Roadshow
Turns out history’s most disappointing Washington Bullet/Wizard not named Kwame Brown is something of a historian himself: Chris Webber collects African-American artifacts.
And apparently Webber doesn’t carry the selfishness he ALWAYS displayed on the court here when he’s off it. Webber has loaned two pieces from his collection to Decatur House for an exhibition titled “The Half Had Not Been Told Me: African Americans on Lafayette Square(1795-1965).”
The items are: a letter Frederick Douglass signed on “United States Marshal’s Office” stationary and something called a carte-de-visite from Douglass from 1870.
Starting today, CWebb’s FDoug wares, and the rest of the exhibit, will be available for viewing Mondays through Saturdays, 10am to 5pm and Sundays, noon to 4pm, through March 1, 2009.
Don’t wait long. If Webber’s artifacts are anything like their owner, they’ll become very hard to find as the end of the exhibit nears.
7 Responses to “Chris Webber’s Antiques Roadshow”
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April 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I found this article to be critical and quite negative. Rather than focusing on the fact that this exhibit breaks new ground and offers an interesting view of Lafayette Square, it focuses on Chris Webber’s past and relates it based on the fact that he donated to the exhibit.
I feel this did not give Decatur House and their new exhibit a chance, and instead rips on someone who has stayed out of the limelight as of late and who doesn’t seem to deserve it.
Where does your anger come from?
April 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Mary:
chris webber’s artifacts are the big promotional point of this exhibit, and it’s impossible for me or anybody who followed the Chris Webber Era of Bullets/Wizards history to not write negatively about chris webber the public figure.
i have no reason to assume that to friends and family chris webber the real human being is anything but a fine chap.
but, again, in hawking this exhibit the Decatur House is trading on the renown of chris webber the public figure, and that guy was nothing but a clown and a huge disappointment during his days here.
thanks for playing the feud!
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
A carte de visite is a small card with a photograph on it that was used like a calling card. They were also collected when they were of celebrities.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:19 am
As a fellow Michigan alumnus, I enjoyed watching Chris Webber on the court. I’ll leave it to the basketball pros to decide about his play.
As an expert regarding antiques and museums, it is typical, reasonable, and often necessary–in these trying times for museums–to work to attract visitors to museums and similar institutions with not only interesting, historical objects but with some sort of celebrity items too. Our cultural interest in sports figures and the manner in which they are held in high regard can, in this case, serve to make connections to important objects and vital historic figures like Frederick Douglass. Personally, I find it interesting that Webber collects such items. Further, it is wise, generous, and good for the investment value of his collection to make the objects available to the public in a museum venue. Publication and exhibition record, you know, increases awareness and value of historical objects. It wouldn’t hurt for more of us to visit the Decatur House exhibition and take in all of the objects and information provided within the display.
April 23rd, 2008 at 11:46 am
DLor:
thanks for the info. as an expert regarding my own slothfulness, i know that if it weren’t for chris webber’s participation there is zero chance i would make a trip to decatur house to look at old things. but, now there’s some chance i’ll go. not a great chance, but some. i think what you’re also saying is: despite appearances, webber might be lending out his items for selfish reasons…SHOCKING!!!!
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Read a book, man…please…
May 5th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Mr McKenna,
I also agree with Mary’s post. You say that you it is impossible for you or any other media person to write some thing possible about Mr. Webber, given his time in with the Wizards/Bullets. As a journalist, blogger or media representative, I felt you were irresponsible in stating, “And apparently Webber doesn’t carry the selfishness he ALWAYS displayed on the court here when he’s off it.” Can you really state with evidence that Mr. Webber was never selfish on the court. Always is a strong word. Maybe you as a rep of the media can be the first to post a positive story since providing items of historical and educational value is positive (and has nothing to do with some one’s actions so many years ago). Should you be judged by every thing you did 10 years ago??