The International African American Museum (IAAM) explores the history, culture, and impact of the African American journey on Charleston, the nation, and the world. The engaging museum is excited to announce a line up three major national and international exhibits set to start December through next November.
“The special exhibitions gallery at the IAAM is the one place in the entire museum where we expect to transform the space every time we bring or produce a new experience for our audience. To deepen that ambitious goal, in our first 12 months of operation we will turn the gallery five times. These three exhibitions, two internally produced and one a traveling exhibition from Contemporary Arts Museum-Houston, will offer visitors an opportunity to discover African American culture through contemporary art, photography, immersive technology, and powerful and compelling narrative. We’re grateful to our donors and team for such generosity and care in making these three shows possible, and we can’t wait to share them with the community,” noted Malika Pryor Martin, chief engagement and learning officer for IAAM.
Among the first exhibits is - Creative Gathering: A Space for Gathering, Fellowship, and Reflection Creative Gathering - that is curated from the permanent collection of the International African American Museum. It is always exciting when a museum draws from their collection, and gives guests to experience something engaging and thoughtful. Creative Gathering is an airy, open space designed to facilitate museum programming and public events. This exhibit starts on Dec 14th and runs through January 15th.
The next exhibit - Feeling the Future: Ming Smith - will start on January 31 through April 28th. This exhibit explores artist Ming Smith’s unparalleled and under-recognized career from the early 1970s through the present. As Smith’s first solo exhibition at a major institution, it encompasses a multitude of artistic expressions to represent her vibrant and multi-layered practice, which is grounded in portraiture, as it amplifies the heartbeat of Black life in the United States.
Follow the North Star: Freedom in the Age of Mobility Throughout African American History is scheduled to run May 23rd through November 3rd. This exhibition portrays the destination of “freedom” as it proves to be an elusive location. The search for this “promised land’ has taken many forms, including travel, migration, and imagination. Follow the North Star: Freedom in the Age of Mobility, explores this multifaceted journey through three distinct perspectives: Transportation, The Great Migration, and Spirituality/Imagination. In this multi-media exhibition, guests learn about historic events related to African Americans’ search for freedom, as well as lesser-known forms of escape, including folklore, storytelling, and metaphysical travel.
Every day, with every exhibition, program, and resource, the International African American Museum fosters empathy and empower guests with knowledge of the past. Visit their website for schedules, events, and more exhibits.
Photo Credit: James Van Der Zee
