"In the Glass" is a video series produced by Michael Beller for the Menokin Foundation.
Menokin is a 500-acre historic Virginia estate, once home to Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, where many were enslaved for over 100 years. The Menokin Foundation takes a creative approach to reconnect individuals with history and foster provocative dialogue around the complex realities of our nation’s founding ideals.
"In the Glass" brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds for thoughtful conversations about their lived experiences and their shared connections to Menokin’s past, present, and future.
Produced and directed by Michael Beller. Shot and edited by Jason Harris. Posted with permission from the Menokin Foundation.
Episode One: "The Remembrance Structure"
Architect Reid Freeman and renowned genealogist Tom Duckenfield discuss the Remembrance Structure at Menokin, exploring its significance and their personal connections to it.
The Remembrance Structure serves as a platform for open conversations about the role of slavery at Menokin and its lasting legacy in our communities today.
Episode Two: "The Glass House"
Nakita Reed, an architect involved in Menokin’s Glass House Project, and former Menokin Board President Bo Tayloe discuss the project’s focus on sustainability in historic preservation. They also explore Menokin’s role in the preservation community and its efforts to illuminate the legacies of slavery and other culturally relevant issues—past, present, and future.
Episode Three: "Through the Lens"
Reginald A. Pearman, Jr. is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer. Hullihen Williams Moore is a student of Ansel Adams and renowned landscape photographer. In this episode of “In the Glass with Menokin,” they discuss their craft, documenting Menokin, the world around them, and the role of photographers in capturing history.