Roots and Realities

The Beach Institute African American Cultural Center, in conjunction with the Savannah Black Heritage Festival, proudly presents Roots and Realities, a powerful exhibit exploring the Gullah Geechee people's vibrant culture and untold stories. Featuring the works of renowned artists Amiri Farris and Isaac McCaslin, the exhibit invites audiences to reflect on the beauty of resilience while honoring the tragedies that have shaped history.

Amiri Farris’s vivid, dynamic pieces pulse with the rhythm of Gullah Geechee life, capturing the brilliance of their traditions and the resilience of their spirit. In stark contrast, Isaac McCaslin’s black-and-white series, The Tragedy at Ebenezer Creek, lays bare the sorrow of lives lost in a long-buried historical atrocity. The Tragedy at Ebenezer Creek, a dark chapter of the Civil War, shook the nation when news of it reached Savannah, playing a pivotal role in the landmark "40 Acres and a Mule" meeting at the Green-Meldrim House.

Together, their works embody the alchemy of resilience—how the deep roots of memory and ancestral connection can transmute suffering into something enduring, where pain becomes purpose and tragedy gives rise to culture, as vividly reflected in the luminous hues of Amiri Farris’s paintings.

The exhibit runs from February 1 to April 10 in the Main Gallery at the Beach Institute, with an opening reception on Thursday, February 6, at 6 PM. Light refreshments will be served. To learn more, visit beachinstitute.org or call 912-335-8868. Join us to explore the duality of tragedy and resilience and pay deference to those who have suffered before us.

Host or Publisher The Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center