Brantley Carroll, a professional photographer, was inspired to create an exhibit depicting our country’s history of racial tension after learning that his family descended from slave owners. After 10 years of pondering over the concept, his ultimate product was
The Whipping Post – When Cotton Was King, a photography exhibit shown at The Community Folk Art Center.
The exhibit displayed a series of photos recreating scenes of slavery overlaid with historical images. The resulting pieces melded to recreate the indignities and suffering American plantation system slaves endured. The Center is planning future travel for the exhibition to schools, libraries and museums across the country to impact a national audience. Community Foundation funding supported the exhibit and Carroll’s outreach into the local community. As an extension of the exhibition, Carroll taught students how to illustrate a story with photography by incorporating inspiration and research, as well as assembling and presenting their work.
The
Community Folk Art Center is committed to the promotion and development of artists of the African Diaspora. Public programming includes exhibitions, film screenings, gallery talks, workshops and courses in the studio arts, including dance and ceramics. A unit of the African American Studies Department at Syracuse University, CFAC strives to serve as a beacon of artistry, creativity and cultural expression engaging the Syracuse community, the region and the world.