At the ArtsXchange, a new group exhibition invites visitors to follow the righteous line of Black resistance, beginning with the 1739 Stono Rebellion and continuing through the protests of the 21st century. From Stono to Now: The Fire This Time — Black Resistance in American Art, 1739 to Present is both a historical reflection and a creative call to action, exploring how the fight for freedom has been documented, reimagined, and reignited through generations of art.
Curated by artist and founder of Black Art in America, Najee Dorsey, the exhibition was developed in collaboration with ArtsXchange Executive Director Alice Lovelace and curator Rick Washington. Drawing from his earlier series The Resistance, Dorsey expanded the concept to inspire a broader dialogue between past and present, between rebellion and remembrance.
“I wanted to bring other artists into the conversation,” Dorsey said. “The Stono Rebellion becomes the jumping-off point for the exhibit, taking a chronological view that carries us through the 2020s.”
According to the official press release, the exhibition “charts a powerful lineage of Black rebellion and creative defiance, presenting a curatorial arc that spans uprisings, visionaries, and visual declarations of freedom.” Featured works include Traci Mims’ portraits of Sojourner Truth and Fred Hampton, Jamaal Barber’s For God and Angels, and Dorsey’s own Gullah Jack and Google Robert Charles, mixed-media pieces inspired by the roots of rebellion deep in American soil.
The works move through centuries of revolution, from the early revolts of enslaved Africans to modern-day protest movements, showcasing how art can be both witness and weapon. From Traci Mims’ depiction of Harriet Tubman in Truth and Light to Kevin Williams’ portrayal of the 2020 George Floyd protests, each piece serves as both a history lesson and a call to action for the present day.
“It’s important for us to remember our active involvement in our own fight for freedom and justice,” Dorsey said. “Growing up, I didn’t see enough images of us fighting to save ourselves. We didn’t always just turn the other cheek; we’ve always resisted in many forms.”
A unique twist to this exhibit is that in an effort to deepen that experience, Dorsey collaborated with SCAD student Nathan Adley to create an original soundtrack inspired by nine of the exhibit’s pieces. Using AI-assisted technology, Adley generated lyrics and compositions based on the visual language of the art. “I see it as a tool,” Dorsey said. “It’s just another layer to the onion, another way for people to experience the work.” Visitors can scan QR codes at the gallery or access the soundtrack through Black Art in America’s website and YouTube channel.
For Dorsey, the exhibition stands as both documentation and declaration, a reminder of art’s ability to preserve, provoke, and propel. “Everything I do is centered around Black culture and documenting our history,” he said. “Stories untold are stories forgotten. One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”
From Stono to Now: The Fire This Time is currently on view at the ArtsXchange, located at 2148 Newnan St., East Point.