“Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina Show at the MFA Boston

The “Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina” show at the MFA was a captivating and thought-provoking exhibition that shed light on African-American potters’ rich history and artistic traditions in Edgefield. I hope you get to see the exhibit at your nearest museum; it is a powerful exhibit.

This exhibition, curated by MFA Boston, attempted to capture the African ethic and aesthetic by looking through the analysis and presentation of the pottery created by black potters. The show featured a diverse collection of pottery pieces, each showcasing the skill and creativity of the Black potters as well as their hardships of forced labor and poor treatment. As you walk around the show, you start to understand the significance of Dave’s work and his journey to create something that was his and to use something he was forced to do for another as his way of saying, “I exist, I am here.”

The curator did a commendable job of presenting the artworks in a way that allowed viewers to appreciate the intricate designs and craftsmanship. Additionally, the exhibition provided valuable context and historical information about the Edgefield District and its significance in the southern alkaline-glazed stoneware tradition. Including archival photographs and documents further enriched the exhibition, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the lives and experiences of the Black potters. It also included current prominent black artists working in different mediums that inspired viewers and emphasized the continued legacy of African-American artistic expression. The show successfully highlighted the importance of these Black potters in American art history, bringing their contributions to the forefront and giving them the recognition they deserve.

However, there were a few opportunities for improvement that could have made the exhibition even more impactful.

• The video shown in the show is an interview with his descendants and is not located in an ideal spot. It is located behind the main wall; the video features interviews of descendants of the Black potters, specifically Dave, providing a more personal and intimate perspective on their craft. Placing the video in a more prominent location, perhaps a few more feet in would have made it more accessible and allowed visitors to engage in the show more. After viewing the video, I appreciated and understood the stories behind the pottery pieces on display much more deeply. I considered it with a deeper understanding of its cultural and historical significance. The words and emotions in the video were more potent than any brief on a wall.
• I wish a mock-up of one of Dave’s original pottery kilns were included in the exhibition so we could touch and experience his pottery-making process. He had poured so much energy into his pieces that I wish I could have felt the texture of the clay and witnessed the physical labor that went into creating these works of art. It would have been a powerful addition to the exhibition, allowing visitors to directly engage with the materials and techniques used by the Black potters.
• A projection was made with Dave’s own words, something many of the visitors overlooked. I only happened to notice it because I looked up. Some walls were more open where they could have been projected, and I wish everyone saw them because those were his own words. It would have made the show that much more powerful. I understand you work with the space, but its always the little things that make a difference in how visitors experience and engage with an exhibition.

Although the show has left Boston to tour other museums, I hope you all have an opportunity to see the show and experience the incredible work of these Black potters. I hope Dave’s voice never fades and that his legacy continues to be celebrated and recognized in the art world.

Happy Exploring!

<3 Ann