The film “Unsung” by Las Vegas filmmakers will be screened on Thursday, Sept. 4

In collaboration with Clark County Public Arts, Gwendolyn Walker-Abdullah (Walker African American Museum) and Zachary Fried will be screening their short film Unsung at the West Las Vegas Library from 7 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 4.

This project was a competitive request for proposal. The project timeline lasted over one year and has been featured in other publications. In September, they will announce their first film festival nomination.

The documentary, Unsung, like the mural project, serves as an educational history lesson. The mural is displayed on 21 pillars at the Pearson Community Center, with each pillar highlighting key events from the timeline of the Historic Westside. The title Unsung reflects the often-overlooked contributions of the people and institutions that have shaped and supported the Westside, particularly members of the Black community who lived there. The film focuses on the work of artist Mike Norice, who created the mural, and Claytee White, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas historian, who guided the selection of the representations featured on the pillars.

Commissioned in Summer 2024, Unsung is a short documentary that follows the creation of the mural series and the people behind it. Directed and written by Zachary and Gwendolyn, the film documents:

·         Mike Norice’s artistic process

·         Community engagement events

·         Archival research and interviews

·         The resilience and pride of the Historic Westside

Through intimate storytelling, Unsung captures a community reclaiming its history. 

For over 50 years, Gwendolyn has been a driving force in preserving Nevada’s African American history. Gwendolyn, founder of the Walker African American Museum, holds a lifelong commitment to ensuring that the stories of Black Nevadans are not forgotten. From collecting photographs and historical artifacts as a young girl to establishing her museum in the heart of Las Vegas’s Historic Westside. Her passion was sparked by the lack of representation in school libraries. The motto of the library is “You must know where you come from in order to know where you are going.” Gwendolyn was honored to receive county commissioner proclamations for her dedication to the Clark County community on November 4, 2017, and March 5, 2024. Also, she was honored to receive congressional recognitions from Senator Valerie Wiener, Congressman Steven Horsford, and Congresswoman Susie Lee on May 15.

Zachary specializes in nonprofit, arts, and philanthropic initiatives and was the featured filmmaker and entrepreneur at the 2024 Vegas Eccentric Arts Fest. He is the recipient of Clark County's Pearson Documentary Grant. College graduate with academic honors. Zachary was presented with public service recognitions from Senator Valerie Wiener and Congressman Steven Horsford.

The primary source of inspiration for the film comes from a local organization, The Gathering. Founded by Sam Smith, this group has been providing a safe space for Las Vegas residents to come together and discuss the current state of the African American community for over 18 years.

“To create a unique experience for those familiar or unfamiliar with Mike’s Unsung Pillars of the Westside, Gwendolyn and I want audiences to experience the artwork as if they are a member of The Gathering. We want them to feel like they are sitting in the West Side Oasis, breaking bread, engaged in a powerful conversation. After the 15-minute short film, we hope viewers are emboldened to get involved and become advocates for the Westside,” said Zachary. 

The Murals: Unsung Pillars of the Westside by Mike Norice

Inside the Pearson Community Center, 21 towering concrete pillars—each 10 feet high—now stand as a timeline of Westside history. Completed in May 2025, artist Mike Morice’s murals celebrate the people whose lives, struggles, and triumphs shaped the neighborhood.

The project was begun with the community itself. Through workshops, surveys, and oral histories, residents shared their memories and pride, helping to shape the murals’ narrative arc. The journey begins with John Howell, the first Black landowner in Clark County, and continues through defining moments such as:

·         The Great Migration

·         Black workers' contributions to the Hoover Dam and Basic Magnesium, Inc.

·         The neighborhood’s legendary entertainment scene

·         Civil rights leaders like Ruby Duncan and Hattie Canty

·         Trailblazers such as architect Paul Revere Williams and civic icon William “Doc” Pearson

The timeline concludes with “The Future,” a mural honoring the vibrant and growing Hispanic/Latinx community and its vital role in the center’s legacy and evolving story.

UNSUNG

Premiere Date: Thursday, September 4

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: West Las Vegas Library Theater

947 W. Lake Mead Blvd.

Admission: Free and open to the public

RSVP: Reserve your seat on Eventbrite by clicking here.

For more info, visit here and follow on Instagram @ccpublicarts.