Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art Examines the Impact of Plantation Imagery

Traveling exhibition organized by the Gibbes Museum of Art presents
plantation-related images of the American South from the eighteenth
century to the present.

(February 15, 2008 - Charleston, SC) – The Gibbes Museum of Art has
organized a groundbreaking exhibition entitled Landscape of Slavery:
The Plantation in American Art to offer a comprehensive,
interdisciplinary examination of plantation images in the American
South.

The exhibition was on view at the University of Virginia Art
Museum in Charlottesville, VA from January 25 – April 20, 2008, and
will then be on view at the Gibbes in Charleston, SC from May 9 -
August 3, 2008. Following the Gibbes, the exhibition will travel to
the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, GA where it will be on display
from August 23 – October 19, 2008.

Todd D. Smith, Executive Director of the Gibbes explains the
inspiration for the project, “The mission of the Gibbes is to tell the
story of the visual culture of the South and the plantation has been
(and still continues to be) a defining characteristic of the history
and present state of the region. The museum’s collection includes
several important works related to the subject, and we were inspired
to lead an effort to unravel the realities and fictions that surround
the subject matter.”

Curated by Angela D. Mack, the museum’s Deputy Director for Curatorial
Affairs, the exhibition features over 100 paintings, works on paper,
photographs, mixed media and installation works. The three venues
each offer a unique installation and presentation of objects and a
complete list of objects in the exhibition is available at
www.gibbesmuseum.org. Through the eyes of a range of artists such as
Eastman Johnson, Winslow Homer, William Aiken Walker, Alice Ravenel
Huger Smith, John Biggers, Edwin Harleston, Carrie Mae Weems and Kara
Walker, Landscape of Slavery examines depictions of plantations,
plantation views and related slave imagery in the context of the
history of landscape painting in America. “More than a history of the
visual imagery related to the plantation, the show invites one to
consider the impact that this imagery has had on race relations for
three centuries,” says Mack.

A genre predominantly tied to the Southern region of the United
States, the plantation view has traditionally received marginal
attention in the study of American landscape art. Previous work on
the plantation subject has emphasized the debt the genre owes to 18th
century British aesthetic theories and styles. In recent years,
however, art historians have worked to identify general shifts in
plantation iconography that reflect specific historical events.
Meanwhile, plantation views have attracted the attention of social
historians who have identified the genre as a rich source for
exploring issues of wealth, power, race, memory and nostalgia.
Landscape of Slavery seeks to bring these current discussions on the
topic together for the public’s consideration.

Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art is supported in
part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sponsors
of the Gibbes exhibition include Gibbes, etc., Charleston Renaissance
Gallery, The Henry and Sylvia Yaschik Foundation, The Humanities
Council SC, Dr. and Mrs. George W. Williams and media sponsor
Charleston Magazine.

About the Book
Landscape of Slavery: The Plantation in American Art
Edited by Angela D. Mack and Stephen G. Hoffius
(University of South Carolina Press)
Serving as a companion to the exhibition of the same name, Landscape
of Slavery draws upon art history and social history as it illustrates
the complexities of the American South. Landscape of Slavery
undertakes an original study of plantation images from the eighteenth
century through the present to unravel the realities and mythology
inherent in this complex and often provocative subject.

Through ninety-two full-color plates, sixteen black-and-white
illustrations and six thematic essays, the book examines depictions of
plantation structures, plantation views and related slave imagery and
art in the context of the American landscape tradition, addressing the
impact of these works on race relations in the United States.
Contributors to the volume are Alexis L. Boylan, Michael D. Harris,
Leslie King-Hammond, Angela D. Mack, Maurie D. McInnis, Roberta
Sokolitz and John Michael Vlach.

Related Programming – all occur at the Gibbes unless otherwise noted
Curator-Led Tours
Friday, May 9 at 1pm and Friday, May 23 at 3pm -- free with museum
admission
Angela D. Mack, Gibbes Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs, will
lead these insightful tours of the exhibition.

Landscape of Slavery: A Critical Conversation
Panel Discussion Followed by Book Signing
Friday, May 23 10am– 11:30am -- $7 museum members, students, seniors/
$12 non-members
All book contributors including Alexis L. Boylan, Michael D. Harris,
Leslie King-Hammond, Maurie D. McInnis, Roberta Sokolitz, John Michael
Vlach and Stephen G. Hoffius will participate in this discussion
moderated by Angela D. Mack.
This event is supported by The Humanities Council of South Carolina
and Brunk Auctions.

Lunchtime Lecture Series
Select Fridays at 1pm. (May 30, June 6, June 20 and July 11) -- free
with museum admission
Join local scholars, cultural critics, and conservationists as they
explore the exhibition from varying perspectives.


Film Screening and Benefit: Gone with the Wind at the Terrace Theater
on James Island
Friday, June 13 at 6pm -- $25 museum members/ $35 non members
View the classic film Gone with the Wind and enjoy live music and
refreshments. Proceeds benefit education and outreach programs at the
Gibbes.

GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART
Established as the Carolina Art Association in 1858 (celebrating 150
years in 2008), the Gibbes Museum of Art opened its doors to the
public in 1905. Located in Charleston’s historic district, the Gibbes
houses a premier collection of over 10,000 works, principally American
with a Charleston or Southern connection and presents special
exhibitions throughout the year. In addition, the museum offers an
extensive complement of public programming and educational outreach
initiatives. As the aesthetic heart of the Lowcountry, the Gibbes
serves the community by stimulating creative expression, increasing
economic vitality through tourism and improving the region’s superb
quality of life.
MUSEUM HOURS
TUESDAY - SATURDAY: 10 A.M. - 5 P.M., SUNDAY: 1 P.M. - 5 P.M.

ADMISSION:
ADULTS: $9.00 · SENIORS, STUDENTS & MILITARY: $7.00 · CHILDREN (6-12):
$5.00
·MEMBERS AND CHILDREN UNDER 6: FREE.
135 Meeting Street * Charleston, SC * 29401 * www.gibbesmuseum.org
#####