Skip to Main Content

 Admission is always freeOpen today: 10:00  to 5:00  Directions             Play Artle            

                  -  Visit                      - Visit
                    - Getting Here
                    - Accessibility
                    - Tours, Guides & Maps
                    - Food & Drink
                    - Gallery Shops
                    - Visitor Policies 
                  -  Collection                      - Collection
                    - Highlights
                    - Search the Collection
                    - Artists Search
                    - Acquisition Highlights
                    - Stories 
                  -  Exhibitions                      - Exhibitions
                    - Current
                    - Special Installations
                    - Upcoming
                    - On Tour
                    - Past 
                  -  Calendar                      - Calendar
                    - Films
                    - Performances
                    - Talks
                    - Guided Tours
                    - After Hours
                    - Fun for Kids
                    - Festivals
                    - Workshops 
                  -  Learn                      - Learn
                    - Teachers
                    - Families
                    - Teens
                    - Adults
                    - Learning Resources
                    - Music Programs
                    - Film Programs 
                  -  Conservation                      - Conservation
                    - Projects
                    - Publications
                    - Resources 
                  -  Research                      - Research
                    - The Center
                    - Publications
                    - Make an Appointment
                    - Archives
                    - Library
                    - NGA Online Editions 
                  -  Support                      - Support
                    - Donate Now
                    - National Membership
                    - Circle Membership
                    - Leadership Groups
                    - Planned Giving
                    - Major Giving
                    - Gifts of Art 
                  -  Shop                      - Shop
                    - Books
                    - Jewelry
                    - Apparel & Accessories
                    - Kids
                    - NGA Custom Prints 
                  -  Play Artle

Home>Exhibitions>Past>2022>Called to Create: Black Artists of the American South

# Called to Create: Black Artists of the American South

Past Exhibition

## September 18, 2022 – June 11, 2023East Building, Upper Level, West Bridge

## Notice for visitors:

Originally extended through December 31, *Called to Create*will close on June 11 due to the unexpected outage of our main freight elevator in the East Building. This outage affects our ability to install and deinstall works of art and requires us to relocate *The Land Carries Our Ancestors: Contemporary Art by Native Americans,* opening September 22, into these galleries. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Thornton Dial, James “Son Ford” Thomas, Lonnie Holley, Mary T. Smith, Purvis Young, and many other Black artists in the South drew upon recycled materials as their art supplies and used yards, porches, or boarded-up storefronts as their galleries. The women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, made dazzling quilts from well-worn clothing or leftover scraps of fabric. Despite racism and other forms of discrimination, all of these artists drew on deep cultural and spiritual traditions to create some of the finest art of our time. 

In 2020, the National Gallery acquired 40 sculptures, assemblages, paintings, reliefs, quilts, and drawings from the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, together with several related gifts. Enjoy these inventive works, including nine Gee’s Bend quilts, and learn the remarkable stories of their making and makers.

## Selected Works

Called to Create
Missouri Pettway, 1900 – 1981, *"Path through the Woods"*, 1971, polyester knit, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Thornton Dial, *Clothes Factory*, 1995, mattress frame, rope, carpet, fabric, plastic, enamel, spray paint, industrial sealing compound on canvas mounted on wood, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
James "Son Ford" Thomas, *Untitled*, 1987, unfired clay, artificial hair, sunglasses, and glass marbles, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Lonnie Holley, *From the Beginning to the End to the Beginning*, 1985, cast sand, Patrons' Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, 2020.28.6

Called to Create
Mary T. Smith, *Untitled*, 1987, paint on plywood, Patrons' Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, 2020.28.23

Called to Create
Purvis Young, 1943 – 2010, *Saints*, late 1970s, various paints, clear acetate, and wood lathe on laminated paperboard, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Joe Light, 1934 – 2005, *Birdman Trainer*, 1987, oil-based enamel and spray, paints on wood paneling, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Mary Lee Bendolph, *Blocks and Strips*, 2002, wool, cotton, corduroy, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Georgia Speller, 1931 – 1988, *Gloria Jean with Her Old Man and Sally Brown, a Friend Lady*, 1987, transparent and opaque watercolor and acrylic with graphite on wove paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Thornton Dial Jr., *A Man Can Be a Star*, 1988, galvanized ferrous metal, wood, carpet, glasses, and industrial sealing compound on wood, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

Called to Create
Henry Speller, *Old Man Cartwright with Adam and Little Joe*, 1987, marker, crayon, and graphite on paper, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation

## Discover More

Story
Quilts That Embody the Legacy of Black America
The artisans from the tiny town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, have been making a global impact for generations.

Feature
Black Art & Artists in the Collection
Explore art and artists in our collection, along with exhibitions, events, and resources for educators.

**Organization**                        Organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington

The exhibition is curated by Harry Cooper, senior curator and head, department of modern art, National Gallery of Art.

**Sponsors** The *Heading South* experience is possible thanks to the generosity of the filmmakers whose work is excerpted including Alabama Public Television, Matt Arnett, The Art Guys, Checkerboard Film Foundation/Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies, Linda Connelly, William Ferris, Folkstreams/Tom Davenport, Scott Ogden and Malcolm Hearn, Ethan Payne, David Seehausen, Small Change Productions: Scott Crocker and Toshiaki Ozawa, Visby, Inc./ Ryan Kindahl. Thanks to Maris Curran for excerpts from her film, *While I yet Live*. Special thanks to Danielle Beverly and Marco Williams for permission to excerpt from*Lonnie Holley: The Truth of the Dirt*, which can be streamed on Vimeo and other platforms.

**Passes** Admission is always free and passes are not required

**Banner detail**: Missouri Pettway, *"Path through the Woods" (Quiltmaker's Name)*, 1971, polyester knit, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Patrons’ Permanent Fund and Gift of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation, 2020.28.16

### Stay connected

Learn more about our exhibitions, news, programs, and special offers.

About
            - About the National Gallery
            - Stories
            - Press
            - FAQs
            - Contact Us

Plan a Visit
            - Getting Here
            - Accessibility
            - Today's Tours
            - Food & Drink
            - Calendar
            - Downloadable Map

Get Involved
            - Donate
            - Membership
            - Volunteer
            - Opportunities
            - Shop Online

Resources
            - Search the Collection
            - Conservation
            - Library
            - Archives
            - The Center
            - Film Programs
            - Music Programs
            - Audio/Video
            - Open Access Images

Hours: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily

**West Building**6th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter or exit from Constitution Avenue, 4th Street, or 7th Street. The Madison Drive entrance is currently closed.*

**East Building**4th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 4th Street.*

**Sculpture Garden**7th St and Constitution Ave NW*Enter and exit from 7th Street, Constitution Avenue, or Madison Drive.*

We are closed on December 25 and January 1.

*The National Gallery of Art serves the nation by welcoming all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity.*

            -  Twitter 
            -  Facebook 
            -  Instagram 
            -  Pinterest 
            -  YouTube 

© 2024 National Gallery of Art   Notices   Terms of Use   Privacy Policy