WILMINGTON — The Cameron Art Museum will open a new exhibit that centers on the heritage and impact West and Central African descendants had on the South, after their transportation via the trans Atlantic slave trade.
“Rooted in Memory: The Gullah Geechee Vision of Jonathan Green†will showcase vibrant paintings and traditional crafts indicative of the Gullah Geechee people. It's on view June 19 through Jan. 24, 2027.
Revered in coastal regions across the South, the Gullah Geechee people are best known for cultivating rice plantations and creating tidal irrigation systems that helped the South become an economic powerhouse for its Carolina Gold rice. Aside from also having their own creole African language and bringing sweetgrass creations, pottery and more to the craft industry, they are recognized in the Unites States along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, expanding from Florida to Pender County, designated a National Heritage Area.
CAM's exhibit creates a “powerful exploration of heritage, storytelling, and cultural continuity,†with Green — a native of Gardens Corner, S.C., who trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago — bringing spiritual and lived experiences to life through composition. His paintings depict scenes of family, celebration, dignity and grace.
“This exhibition brings together contemporary art and traditional craft in a way that honors the enduring legacy of Gullah Geechee culture while creating meaningful connections for audiences across our region,†CAM CEO Heather Wilson said in a release.
In addition to Green's paintings, the exhibit features traditional sweetgrass baskets, quilts, and Adinkra-printed cloth on loan from the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum, and the South Carolina State Museum. It offers an ancestral look while presenting the influence the Gullah Geechee people have had on the region.
“Rooted in Memory†will be celebrated on Thursday, June 18, for a special opening night, also featuring the exhibits “Fresh Air: Inflatable Sculpturesâ€Â and “Andy Warhol: Silver Clouds.†A free community day will be hosted on Saturday, June 20, for audiences of all ages to experience the museum's summer offerings without cost.
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