The International African American Museum (IAAM) announces its upcoming special exhibition, “middle of somewhere: the art and legacy of Black Southern makers.”
middle of somewhere will officially open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 7, and will be on display until Sunday, Feb. 14, 2027. Curated by Martina M. Morale, IAAM’s Director of Curatorial and Special Exhibitions, this new exhibition centers the creativity, ingenuity, and cultural legacy of Black artists rooted in and influenced by the rural American South.
Reclaiming and reframing the dismissive phrase “middle of nowhere,” this special exhibition positions rural and overlooked places as vital sites of innovation, memory, and artistic excellence. Through a curated selection that will include quilts, sweetgrass baskets, ceramics, ironwork, and handmade furniture, middle of somewhere traces how practices born of necessity and survival have become celebrated pillars of American art.
“This exhibition offers a timely reconsideration of Southern art history through the visionary lens of Black creativity,” said Morale. “By moving beyond the idea of ‘craft’ as a relic of the past, we center the maker, the hand, and the generational knowledge that has shaped the very fabric of American material culture.”
A primary focus of the special exhibition is the deep material and aesthetic connection between African American artistic traditions and West African visual languages, connecting a bridge across the African Diaspora. By highlighting artisan techniques, such as weaving, coiling, carving, and patterning, middle of somewhere will illustrate how diasporic knowledge was carried across the Atlantic and adapted to new landscapes. Visible in form and symbolism, the generational interconnection emphasizes how Black Southern makers preserved and transformed ancestral practices over centuries.
middle of somewhere brings its featured artists, legacy makers, and historical masters into direct conversation with contemporary visionaries, featuring works from IAAM’s permanent collection alongside significant loans:
- Historical Mastery: The stoneware of David Drake (Dave the Potter), whose inscribed vessels challenged 19th-century constraints on Black authorship; the architectural elegance of free Black cabinetmaker Thomas Day; and the iconic ironwork of Charleston’s own Philip Simmons.
- Living Traditions: The world-renowned Gee’s Bend Quilters, featuring the 2020 work “Equal Justice” by Essie Bendolph Pettway; and the intergenerational Gullah Geechee sweetgrass artistry of Dionne and Delores Jones.
- Contemporary Innovation: The “Bantu Knot” sculptural vases of Danielle Williams; the globally informed designs of Stephen Burks; the community-rooted furniture of Norman Teague; and the continued legacy of Charleston blacksmithing through the work of the late Carlton Simmons, the nephew of the late master Blacksmith Philip Simmons.
Designed to evoke an emotional journey from wonder to deep respect, the exhibition will offer an immersive look at the social and economic contexts of Black artistry. Visitors will be able to engage with:
- Interactive Kiosks: A digital “Design Your Own Quilt Block” experience.
- Reflective Prompts: Invitations for visitors to consider which everyday objects in their own lives carry the weight of art and family history.
With the intentional lower-case title and middle of somewhere’s refusal to elevate museums or collectors above artists and communities, this special exhibition prioritizes the makers over the institutions. It is an invitation to witness tradition in motion and celebrate those who have shaped American art history in both visible and invisible ways.
Join us on Friday, February 6, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: from nothing, Something: an evening of makers, memory, & art
Prior to the special exhibition debut on Feb. 7, IAAM will host a special evening of dialogue and discovery on Friday, February 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The program, from nothing, Something, offers a unique exploration of how Black Southern makers transformed the "nothing" of scarcity and discarded materials into the "something" of enduring art and legacy. Attendees will also enjoy an exclusive first look at the middle of somewhere exhibition before it opens to the public. Registration is required and includes a curated conversation and guided tour walkthroughs of the newest exhibition (free registration here).
For all the latest news and updates on “middle of somewhere,” visit iaamuseum.org/special-