Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now

About

Clarence Heyward, PTSD, 2020 — Clarence Heyward, *PTSD*, 2020. Acrylic and gold leaf on canvas, 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.92 cm). © Clarence Heyward. Image courtesy of the artist. Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art. This work was part of the 2022 exhibition *Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now*.

Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now brings together 30 emerging and established artists working across the state. This group survey, featuring approximately 100 works, presents an expansive view of contemporary art in North Carolina both in terms of regional geography and artistic approaches.

With media ranging from traditional drawing, painting, sculpture and photography, to ceramics, textiles, performance and experimental video, the selected artists explore themes surrounding historical and current events, identity, loss and remembrance, and trauma and healing. After two years marked by a global pandemic, political chaos, ongoing deadly racism and environmental injustice, the need to reexamine ourselves and the world around us has never been more urgent. The artists included in this exhibition invite us to reckon with hard truths, seek healing in collective reflection, and demand transformative action.

Artists include Elizabeth Alexander, Johannes Barfield, Kennedi Carter, Kimberley Pierce Cartwright, Jessica Clark, Steven M. Cozart, Julia Gartrell, Ayla Gizlice, Stephen Hayes, Clarence Heyward, Jibade-Khalil Huffman, Sam Digges Hunter and Xiaowei Wu, Ashley Johnson, Juan Logan, Jennifer Markowitz, Beverly McIver, Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, Bishop Ortega, Renzo Ortega, Sherrill Roland, Meg Stein, Saba Taj, William Paul Thomas, Lien Truong, Cornell Watson, Antoine Williams, Charles Edward Williams, Jade Wilson and Stephanie J. Woods.

Beverly McIver, Eloise Closing Her Eyes, 2020. Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 inches (121.92 x 91.44 cm). Private collection. © Beverly McIver. Courtesy of the artist and Craven Allen Gallery, Durham, North Carolina. Photo by J Caldwell.
Renzo Ortega, Modernist from the series Mar Bravo, 2020. Mixed media, 40 x 48 inches (101.6 cm x 121.9 cm). © Renzo Ortega. Image courtesy of the artist.
Ambrose Murray, the space between, 2020. Acrylic on muslin, paper, and assorted textiles, 96 x 60 inches (243.8 x 154.4 cm) © Ambrose Murray. Image courtesy of the artist.
Kimberley Pierce Cartwright, Shirley for President, 2019. Assorted fabrics, embellishments, and beads; 22 x 16 inches (55.9 x 40.6 cm). Courtesy of the artist. © Kimberley Pierce Cartwright. Photo by Peter Paul Geoffrion.
Steven M. Cozart, Why Are You White? The Edith Cozart Statement II from the series Pass/Fail, 2020. Charcoal and pastel on paper bag, 41 1/2 x 22 inches (105.4 x 55.9 cm). © Steven M. Cozart. Image courtesy of the artist.
Stephanie J. Woods, A Radiant Revolution I, 2018. Burlap dyed with sweet tea, woven brass chains, t-shirt, textile foil, polished furniture vinyl, dresser mirror frame, and upholstered taffeta print; 108 x 66 inches (274.3 x 167.6 cm). © Stephanie J. Woods. Image courtesy of the artist.
Johannes Barfield, In The Bilge Again, 2017. Concrete, asphalt, wheatpaste, and fluorescent lamp; 48 x 120 x 2 inches (121.9 x 304.8 x 5.08 cm). © Johannes Barfield. Image courtesy of the artist.
Meg Stein, Success under this system is suspect, 2019. Ceramic, tampons, maxi pads, cotton balls, Q-tips, lace, nylon, camisoles, underwear, balloons, glitter, razors, mop, wax, bath loofahs, bras, towels, toilet paper, silk slips, napkins, face wipes and other bleached white feminine hygiene products and/or everyday materials, sponges, paint, fabric dye, vases, Ziploc bags, gems, hair curlers, copper scrubbies, nail polish, scrub brushes, ear plugs, erasers, eyelashes, gold powder, bottle brushes, toothpicks, baby socks, baby pacifiers, dirt, and bed frame; 82 x 75 x 68 inches (208.3 x 190.5 x 172.7 cm). © Meg Stein. Photo credit: Derrick Beasley.
Juan Logan, Elegy LXXIII, 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 67 1/2 x 83 1/4 inches (171.5 x 211.5 cm). © Juan Logan. Image courtesy of the artist.
Jade Wilson, Taari Coleman of NC BORN, 2020 (printed 2021). © Jade Wilson. Image courtesy of the artist.
Saba Taj, Borders/Portals (are so Gay) from the series there are gardens at the margins, 2020. Acrylic paint, oil paint, spray paint, gold leaf, and glitter on canvas; 72 x 72 inches (182.9 x 182.9 cm). Courtesy of the artist. © Saba Taj.
Lien Truong, My mother, she fell from the sky., 2021. Oil, silk, acrylic, copper pigment and enamel on canvas, 72 x 96 inches (182.88 x 243.84 cm). Collection of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. Gift of Christine and Jeff Weller. ©Lien Truong. Courtesy of the artist and Turner Carroll Gallery.
Kennedi Carter, Untitled from the series Ridin’ Sucka Free, 2020 (printed 2021). Archival pigment print on Epson Hot Press Bright paper, 32 x 40 inches (76.2 x 101.6 cm). © Kennedi Carter. Courtesy of the artist and ROSEGALLERY.
Elizabeth Alexander, A Mightier Work is Ahead, 2021. Hand-cut found porcelain, glass, cork, gold leaf, brass, and dust; dimensions variable. © Elizabeth Alexander. Image courtesy of the artist.
Jessica Clark, Lumbee Family Values XI, 2021. Oil on canvas, 25 x 37 inches (63.5 x 93.98 cm). © Jessica Clark. Image courtesy of the artist.
Jibade-Khalil Huffman, The Circle (still), 2020. Single channel video, color, sound, 24 min 37 sec. © Jibade-Khalil Huffman. Courtesy of the artist, Anat Ebgi Gallery, Los Angeles and Magenta Plains, New York.
Ayla Gizlice, Map of Fish Kill Events in the Jordan Lake Watershed, 1997–2018, 2019. Cyanotype and ink on paper, approx. 84 x 84 inches (213.36 x 213.36 cm). © Ayla Gizlice. Image courtesy of the artist.
Ashley Johnson, …from baptisms, 2019. Inkjet print, 36 x 24 inches (91.44 x 60.96cm). © Ashley Johnson. Image courtesy of Courtesy of the artist.
Multimedia artist Julia Gartrell explores the process of repair and transformation through the Radical Repair Workshop, housed in a vintage camper trailer named Sonny. Photo by J Caldwell.
Stephen L. Hayes, Flying "W," installed in the Carol O'Brien Lounge as part of the exhibition Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now. Photo by Brian Quinby.
William Paul Thomas, Kenna's Dad, 2019. Oil on canvas, 36 x 24 inches (91.44 x 60.96 cm). © William Paul Thomas. Courtesy of the artist.
Antoine Williams, There Will Be No Miracles Here series, 2021. Printed material and acrylic on wood panel, 12 x 9 inches (30.48 x 22.86 cm). ©Antoine Williams. Courtesy of the artist.
Charles Edward Williams, Freedom Rider series, 2019. Oil on mylar, 11 x 9 inches. © Charles Edward Williams. Courtesy of the artist.
Bishop Ortega, Kill the Indian, Save the Man, 2020. Mixed media, dimensions variable. © Bishop Ortega. Image courtesy of the artist. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Selected Works

Jennifer Markowitz, Stimulus Mask II, 2021. Drawn thread and hand embroidery on silk organza, 4 x 9 inches (10.16 x 22.86 cm). Courtesy of the artist. © Jennifer Markowitz. Photo by Brian Quinby.

Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Reckoning & Resilience gallery installation view. Photo by Brian Quinby.
Gallery Installation Views

Cornell Watson, Righteous Rage (detail), from the series Behind the Mask, 2020 (printed 2021). Archival pigment print on Epson Hot Press Bright paper, 40 x 60 inches (101.6 x 152.4 cm). © Cornell Watson. Courtesy of the artist.

Sam Digges Hunter and Xiaowei Wu, Deep Cut, 2019. 4-channel video (color, sound), 13:09 minutes. © Sam Digges Hunter and Xiaowei Wu. Image courtesy of the artists.

Organization and Support

This exhibition is organized by the Nasher Museum’s curatorial department: Molly Boarati, associate curator; Adria Gunter, curatorial assistant; Melissa Gwynn, exhibitions and publications manager; Lauren Haynes, Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Senior Curator of Contemporary Art; and Marshall N. Price, Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Chief Curator and Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Reckoning and Resilience: North Carolina Art Now is generously supported by Bank of America.

Additional support provided by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation; The Duke Endowment; Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family Fund for Exhibitions; Frank Edward Hanscom Endowment Fund; Janine & J. Tomilson Hill Family Fund; J. Horst & Ruth Mary Meyer Fund; John & Anita Schwarz Family Endowment; Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Foundation; Katie Thorpe Kerr and Terrance I. R. Kerr; Lisa Lowenthal Pruzan and Jonathan Pruzan; and Kelly Braddy Van Winkle and Lance Van Winkle.