Telfair Museums announces its upcoming exhibition, “Roots in the Rushes: African American Basketry of the Lowcountry.” This compelling showcase explores the enduring legacy, technical brilliance, and cultural resilience behind one of the oldest African American art forms in the United States.
This inspiring exhibition will open on April 24, 2026, and run through April 4, 2027.
For centuries, artisans across the Lowcountry have practiced the intricate craft of coiled basketry—a technology brought to the region by enslaved people of West African descent. Originally serving as essential tools for rice production on coastal plantations, these baskets evolved from utilitarian objects into sophisticated works of art. Using indigenous plant materials such as bulrush, sweetgrass, and palmetto, these handsewn forms represent a direct link to West African traditions…