The Gibbes Museum of Art hosted a preview party to provide art enthusiasts with a sneak peek of the groundbreaking exhibition entitled Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American. The traveling exhibition organized by the museum presents plantation-related images of the American South from the 18th century to the present. Curated by Angela D. Mack, the museum’s deputy director for Curatorial Affairs and newly appointed executive director, the exhibition features more than 100 paintings, works on paper, photographs, mixed media, and installation works.
Upon arrival, guests made their way through the much-anticipated exhibition. Gibbes Museum board member, Gloria M. Bell thought the collection was inspirational and one of the best exhibitions that have come to the museum in years; and it’s just in time for the Spoleto Festival. She also thinks it would be a great educational tool for teaching African-American art history. Afterwards, everyone gathered in the courtyard to enjoy entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails and celebrate the eight-years-in-the-making show.
This party was truly a beautiful sight. Tents, designed by Sara Bradley of Social Event Design, were draped in the same colors as the scrims in the exhibit—deep red, purple, green, and orange (check out the pictures in my photo gallery). In the center was a huge flower arrangement surrounded by tasty duck and collard spring rolls, shrimp on mini grit cakes with remoulade, bourbon chocolate pecan pie, and key lime tarts sandwiched in between benne seed wafers, provided by Crew Carolina. The Charlton Singleton Trio played laid-back jazz tunes which made for a powerful, yet charming evening.
Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art
May 9-August 3, 2008
