Exhibition - Inside Blackness: Illuminating the Black Psyche in the Interior Landscape

February 26 to March 28 2024

Reception on March 20, Wednesday from 5-7pm

Guests of honor: JoEl Logiudice, President, Tennessee Craft

Curators: Cynthia Gadsden, PhD, Associate Professor, Art History, Department of Art and Design, Tennessee State University and Karlota I. Contreras-Koterbay, Director, Slocumb Galleries, East Tennessee State University

Presented by Crafting Blackness Initiative and Tennessee Craft with support from the Tennessee Arts Commission, East Tennessee Foundation and SouthArts.

Artists: Omari Booker, Sean Clark, Tina Curry, Kimberly Dummons, Samuel Dunson, Kelsie Dulaney-Hayworth, Alicia Henry, Barbara & Leroy Hodges, Elise Kendrick, Desmond Lewis, Michael McBride, Aundra McCoy, Carl Moore, Lakesha Moore Calvin, Charlie Newton, David Quarles, Jessica Scott Felder, Gary L. White, Carlton Wilkinson, Nija Woods, Kevin Wurm, with poet Nikki Giovanni.

What is blackness? Much of what is attributed to blackness is simple exterior window dressing—black or brown skin, curly/kinky hair, broad nose, full lips, thick waist and wide hips, strong, athletic physique, and on and on. Yet, blackness is more than just physical appearance. Blackness is equally a mindset, vibe, attitude, gaze and psychology visualized as place. Blackness embodies interiority, or the interior landscape that is unbounded, wide, and deep. It is a wellspring of creativity, imagination, freedom, originality, desire, brilliance, knowing, vitality, wisdom, radiance, richness, and intellect. These are just a few of the characteristics found in this vast universe.

How can such a rich, fertile landscape exist, but go unrecognized? One reason may be the concept of concealing/revealing knowledge. Within numerous African cultural groups, the conceal/reveal concept relates to when, how, and with whom knowledge is shared. For such community-oriented cultures, knowledge is a precious resource that must be maintained and managed with care and reverence. For African Americans, along with other cultural groups throughout the African diaspora, this concept has been woven into their cultural fabric, and has served to benefit individuals and the larger community. Black people’s knowledge of when and how to judiciously conceal and/or reveal their interior landscape has been life-saving and life-giving.

Inside Blackness: Illuminating the Black Psyche in the Interior Landscape offers a nod to the essence and existence of black interiority. The exhibition aims to make space for diverse conversation about, around, and through blackness from an inside perspective. In addition, the hope is to present a multifaceted dialogue about the diversity, richness, and abundance of the black interior space. Finally, Inside Blackness strives to provide unique insight into the African American experience through the interior experiential lens.