Freedom Songs!

Nov. 22, 2020 - June 6, 2021

Join us on a visual journey across African American history through the creativity of five extraordinary black artists: 

• Ashley Bryan, whose Block Prints of Black American Spirituals honor the genius of enslaved composers 

• Kevin Blythe Sampson, a retired Newark police detective, whose found object assemblages explore history and the memories objects hold 

• Dr. Marlene O'Bryant-Seabrook, the first African American (and one of the first two women) to serve on the faculty of The Citadel, and whose intricate quilts preserve the histories she learned to cherish through generations of family story keepers. The exhibit of Marlene's quilts was curated by her son, historian and author Wayne O'Bryant. Hear his story of growing up in this remarkable family.

• Two unknown artists whom we know only through the historic artifacts they left behind: a monumental 19th century ship's figurehead depicting an African king, and a 20th century Nkisi Nkondi Bakongo statue from Central Africa with links to World War I, the Harlem Hellfighters, and Jazz

In addition to sharing history, this exhibit looks at art-making as discovery and the process through which history is uncovered and interpreted all the time by all kinds of historians, changing what we believe about the past and who we are.

On March 10th, Kevin Blythe Sampson and several sculptures now on exhibit at the Mariposa will appear in the PBS Kids and PBS Video App show ARTHUR, in the episode, "George Scraps His Sculpture/Arthur's Big Meltdown!" For more information, click here.