CAMDEN — Buried in Alabama's Black Belt are treasures of the past, highlighting decades of talent and showcasing how those talents are passed through generations.
The Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center has a wide variety of artwork, from paintings and quilts to wood and metal work. With artists as varied as the culture of the Black Belt, associate director Kristin Law said there is something for every guest to enjoy.
"Demonstrating artists is a huge part of what we do so that people can see them and learn from them," said Law. "They are the storytellers. They are the reason we're here … We're trying to change the image of the Black Belt, show the positive, the wonderful talent, the people that are here, the stories that are here, and keep that living history alive and bring it into the next generation."
The center is more than an art gallery. Law said the center started as an economic development to give local artists a space to sell their work. However, she said it has turned into an arts education hub.
"Education is part of the component from the moment somebody walks in the door," Law said. "Then we also have our classes here on site. We work with schools. We have a huge teaching artist program where we have artists that go into the schools and do programs."
Featured artists range in age from 12 to 98, and their families date back 220 years. Much of the art was born out of ingenuity, where people made things out of necessity. Andrew McCall, for example, creates art from recycled materials.
"With his wood making and his fine baskets, what started as a problem, which was old buildings falling down, he would take those pieces, and instead of burning them or throwing them away, he would turn them into churches or angels or furniture," Law said of McCall. "A lot of the tables here are made by Andrew. Then he also takes vines and makes beautiful baskets and trees and pieces like that."
McCall has already passed his talents down to his grandchildren.
Betty Anderson, a New York City model from Wilcox County, gained national attention for her art. Anderson's grandmother, Minder Coleman, made quilts and was a founder of Gee's Bend Quiltmakers. While Anderson was born with a natural talent for art, she created her own treasure after discovering an old trunk filled with random pieces. She made pipe cleaner dolls out of the pieces. The dolls were once featured on the cover of "Women's Day Magazine."
Generational inspiration is on full display inside the Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center. When the center opened 20 years ago, Johnna Bush commissioned a painting for the grand opening. The painting, entitled "Celebrating Our Black Belt Treasures," captures the spirit and talents of the locals.
For the center's 20th anniversary, Bush commissioned a new painting entitled "Rooted in Traditions Cultivating the Arts of Tomorrow." It tells the story of the people in the original painting passing on their creative talents.
"It's kind of what we try to do is plant seeds," Law said. "We're part of helping to cultivate what other people are doing. We are just a partner. It's all about everybody working together and partnering together to ensure that the creative talents continue for future generations."
The Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center is located at 209 Claiborne Street in Camden. The center also has an online shop.
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