![Faded black and white photograph of a brick building with the a sign reading Williams Dreamland Theatre on the front. A box office and movie posters are visible.](/_app/immutable/assets/dreamland-theatre.B1uTwR-u.webp)
On the evening of May 31st, I was busy with a class in Typewriting until about 9 P. M. After my pupils were gone I immediately began reading a book which I was very anxious to finish (must admit, however, that I was never able to complete it), so did not notice the excitement until a late hour. The evening being a pleasant one, my little girl had not retired, but was watching the people from the window. Occasionally she would call to me, “Mother, look at the cars full of people.” I would reply, “Baby, do not disturb me, I want to read.” Finally she said, “Mother, I see men with guns.” Then I ran to the window and looked out. There I saw many people gathered in little squads talking excitedly. Going down stairs to the street I was told of the threatened lynching and that some of our group were going to give added protection to the boy.
![Photograph of a small row house painted with crude but rhythmic shapes, from the first exhibition at Project Row Houses in Houston.](/_app/immutable/assets/Project-Row-Houses-1994-Installation.m0lTUEtU.jpg)
66 Signs of Neon exists on several levels as an art exhibition dominated by assemblages of artifacts of the Watts riots (August 1965); as a one-to-one format of communication between individuals who otherwise would not or could not communicate; as an evolving system of philosophy. It began as an expression of the necessity for art education, affirming the importance of this avenue of self-expression to individuals in the community of Watts. Noah Purifoy and Judson Powell began with six assemblages created from the lead drippings of melted neon signs, artifacts of the riots.
![Page from a catalog of the exhibition '66 Signs of Neon', showing 3 assemblage sculptures made from detritus of the Watts riots, and text describing the origins of the exhibit.](/_app/immutable/assets/66-signs-of-neon.DQHUcBOh.jpg)