Reclaiming: Soil as Justice and Presence
Martin Public Library
– November 15, 2024
Curators:
Dr. Cynthia Gadsden, Tennessee State University
Karlota I. Contreras-Koterbay, Director, Slocumb Galleries, East Tennessee State University
Crafting Blackness Initiative and Martin Public Library with Tennessee Craft and Weakley County Restoration Project proudly presented ‘Reclaiming: Soil as Justice and Presence’ exhibition at the Martin Public Library in Martin, TN, on display through November 15, 2024. A public reception and panel were held on September 5 in collaboration with the SoyBean Festival.
‘Reclaiming: Soil as Justice and Presence’ aimed to celebrate Black creativity and address historical omissions. Inspired by the Weakley County Restoration Project’s (WCRP) efforts to collect soil samples from lynching sites all over the state, the exhibition employed soil as tactile reminder of the history and memories of Black Tennesseans as well as symbolic media to reclaim conversations on social justice and empowered presence of disenfranchised communities.
Artist Listing
- Akintayo Akintobi
- Lynn Bachman
- Jane Buis
- Bill Capshaw
- Tina Curry
- Kelsie Dulaney-Hayworth
- Kimberly Dummons
- Samuel Dunson
- Pam Faw
- Jason Flack
- Forms Meet Function Collective
- Lurlynn Franklin
- Cynthia Gadsden
- Willard Hill
- Chuck Johnson
- Doniqua Joyner
- Rahn Marion
- Jerry Machen, Sr.
- Hattie Marshall-Duncan
- Aundra McCoy
- James McKissic
- Taylin Meneese
- Elisheba Israel Mrozik
- Jernicya Onyekwelu
- Shai Perry
- Jackie Schlicher
- Dawn Smith
- Roger Smith
- Shamek Weddle
- Gary White
- Nija Woods
- Robert Nunley
- ALaSonna
- Clint Higgs
- Collaborative community quilt led by Vera Shanklin
CRAFTING BLACKNESS 