Atlanta's Hammonds House Museum Celebrates Its 35th Anniversary in 2023
with Dynamic Exhibitions, Public Programs, Remembrances, and More!
February 13, 2023 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta-based photographer and multimedia artist Tokie Rome-Taylor launched Hammonds House Museum's 2023 exhibition season and 35th Anniversary Celebration with Insight: Body as Artifact, Archive, and Memory. The exhibition explores the visual reminders of memory, weaving the threads of history both real and reimagined. Insight of memory plays upon the notion of gaining insight into the history that is contained within family, cultural, and spiritual artifacts, allowing for the exploration of two worlds: the actual and the possible. Curated by Nitzanah Griffin, the exhibit will be on view until April 2nd. On February 23, there will be a Gallery Tour and Artist Talk with Rome-Taylor and Griffin.
The works of award winning and critically acclaimed artist Paul Stephen Benjamin will exhibit April 21 through June 25, 2023. Benjamin's breadth of work includes sculptures, video installations, paintings, sound, and performances. His provocative work centers an ongoing exploration of the color black and forces the viewer to consider the existence of Blackness beyond narrow confines. A Chicago native based in Atlanta, Benjamin's art has won many awards and gained notice in the New York Times, Black Art in America, and other well-read publications.
The summer exhibition features the art of Haitian-born American multi-disciplinary artist, Edouard Duval Carrié. Duval Carrié is known for his innovative adaptations of traditional Haitian iconography, which he engages viewers in to address religion and contemporary social and political conditions. His mixed media works and installations present migrations and transformations. Through recent attention to translucent and reflective mediums: glitter, glass, and resin, Duval Carrié implicates the viewer in their own historicity. His exhibition will be on view July 14 through October 1, 2023.
In addition to the exhibition schedule, there will be public programs to help contextualize the works for audiences, tours, educational opportunities for students, lectures, conversations, free family days, performances, and more. A staple of the Hammonds House Museum’s Anniversary Celebrations has been The Gathering. The Gathering weekend will take place November 3 -4, 2023, and include a special recognition of every artist who has exhibited at the museum over the past 35 years.
“Hammonds House Museum has displayed an ongoing commitment to presenting dynamic programs and exhibitions that center art by African American artists and artists from the African Diaspora. Fulton County and Fulton County Arts and Culture are thrilled to be able to support this work and happy to continue our 35 year-long relationship with Hammonds House as a legacy partner and by extension, the artists and the communities the museum serves," said David Manuel, Director of Fulton County Arts & Culture. “35 Years is quite a milestone, especially for Black-led organizations," said Imara Canady, Hammonds House Museum Board Chairman. “We are extremely grateful for the support we receive on an ongoing basis from funders, donors, members, and visitors. We continue to build the capacity the institution needs to push forward into the next 35 years. On behalf of the board of trustees and the staff, I invite everyone to join us throughout the year as we celebrate 35 years of artistic excellence, culture, and community.” Support for the exhibitions, events, workshops, and more is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Fulton County Department of Arts and Culture, Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta, and the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs.
Hammonds House Museum is a 501(c)3 arts organization whose mission is to celebrate and share the cultural diversity and the important legacy of artists of African descent. The former residence of the late Dr. Otis Thrash Hammonds, a prominent Atlanta physician and passionate arts patron, houses the museum in a beautiful Victorian home at 503 Peeples Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310.
Hammonds House Museum’s 2023 exhibitions are supported by a series of artist-led workshops, public programs, and civic engagement activities which serve as companions to the works and opportunities for the community to have a deeper experience with the art. For updates and information about events throughout each season, and to plan your visit, go to their website: hammondshouse.org.