The Tennessee Aquarium is fortunate to have a few pieces of folk art crafted by Black Americans dating back to the turn of the 20th Century. These works, with connections to nature, are displayed within the halls of the Aquarium’s administration building.
This quilt, hand-crafted by Sarah Mary Taylor (1916 – 2000), is named Tennessee River Story. A variety of animals are featured throughout the quilt in a colorful cavalcade. Frogs, turtles, horses, and more seem to cavort joyfully throughout the quilt.
Along with the animals, handprints are prominently displayed across the quilt. These handprints on the quilt continue the Kongo cosmogram. The cosmogram is a religious symbol, and many of her quilts feature handprints. Including one commissioned for the 1985 film, The Color Purple. Many of her quilts feature simple, bold, asymmetrical patterns that resemble those in textiles from the Ashanti and Fanti, among others.
Displayed near Taylor’s quilt is another piece created by Alabama folk artist Charlie Lucas. The 12-foot metal sculpture called “The Old Fish Swimming Upstream Went Downstream to Serenade” is signed with his “Tin Man” moniker.
While The Old Fish is vague in design, given its length and name, it’s quite possibly inspired by Lake Sturgeon. The Lake Sturgeon, considered by scientists to be a “living fossil”, is one of the oldest fish in the fossil record for Tennessee.
Lucas learned about art from his family, especially his Granddaddy. His Granddaddy would become his main source of inspiration. After being told, “that’s for white folks,” regarding art, Lucas left school at an early age to pursue his passion for creating, becoming a full-time artist in 1984.
The Tennessee Aquarium is a place steeped in history. From medallions depicting vignettes of regional history adorning the exterior of River Journey to the Aquarium plaza, tributes to the past surround guests.
Today, we highlight and celebrate Black History and hope that through content like this, readers learn to view that history as not just something separate and unique, but a part of American history that binds, connects, and intertwines across people and time.
Interested in more ways to celebrate the history of Black art in Chattanooga? Be sure to check out these upcoming events:
- The Hunter Museum’s Hair Love dance performance, referencing Black women’s hair: Hair Love
- The Black Art Lounge at The Chattery: Black Art Lounge Tickets
- Even More ways to celebrate Black History in Chattanooga: NOOGAToday Calendar of Black History Events