Corey Alston, Beach Baske
The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will host a symposium Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. celebrating its current exhibition, “Grounded in Grain, Washed in the Water,” guest-curated by Lauren Jackson Harris.
In the morning, artists Derrick Beasley, Maya Freelon and christa david will give short talks about their work in the exhibition. They will then join Harris for a panel discussion exploring themes in the show.
After a break for lunch, there will be a screening of “High Water,” directed by Tyquan Morton, followed by a short Q&A with the director led by A$iahMae, Charleston’s poet laureate.
Closing out the symposium will be a panel discussion about collecting Black art, moderated by Arun Drummond and featuring Peter Washington, Michelle Washington and Okeeba Jubalo.
The symposium will take place at the Simons Center Recital Hall, located at 54 St. Philip St. in downtown Charleston.
The symposium is free and open to the public. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance.
About the Exhibition
“Grounded in Grain, Washed in the Water” explores ancestral narratives and the enduring relationships between land, water, memory and Black life in the American South.
Bringing together the work of Maya Freelon, Corey Alston, christa david and Derrick Beasley, the collaborative exhibition between the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art and the Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture considers how ancestral knowledge is carried across generations.
Rooted in resilience, creativity and connection, the exhibition explores how the past traverses the body, land, material traditions and acts of imagination. The artists examine how histories embedded in Southern soil and waterways continue to shape contemporary Black life while offering pathways toward collective futures.
For more information on upcoming events, tours and memberships, visit the Halsey Institute’s website.