Summer is normally filled with laughter, fun and sunny days. However, for the local residents of Charleston, S.C., this year’s month of June marks the one-year anniversary of the massacre of nine people at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Wednesday, June 17, 2015, nine churchgoers were killed in a mass shooting by the 21-year-old Dylann Roof. It was reported that the Emanuel AME Church, one of the country’s oldest Black churches and a site for social activism, was attacked by Roof during an evening prayer meeting. After the tragedy, Roof faced state charges with nine murder counts and federal charges for the potential of a hate crime.
A year later, many memorial services have commenced to acknowledge the incident’s anniversary. Among these events is Passages Artists Collective’s exhibition, “The Holy City: Art of Love, Unity and Resurrection,” on 414 King St. in Charleston. Presenting 40 pieces from different artists, the event hopes to acknowledge the people affected by the tragedy. From Tuesdays to Sundays, the free event is expected to run weekly from June 1, 2016, to July 17, 2016. It was reported that the exhibition’s building was donated by its owners.
Some art pieces in the exhibition were showcased in Emanuel AME Church before the shooting.
In an interview with Live5News, Torreah Cookie Washington, the curator of the exhibition, spoke about the church’s previous art events. In one previous event, the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, one of the slain victims, admired her quilt and later had it displayed in his office.
“Every day that we had our art show there, he’d come and look at it and go, ‘I just love that piece, I just love that piece,’” Washington stated. “I just felt led to give it to him as a gift.”
Some featured pieces in the exhibition are responses to the tragic incident as many artists tried to encapsulate the day’s specific details and feelings.
Artist Georgette Wright Sanders created a sweet-grass basket. Sanders expressed her sentiments to the local station.
“It was very emotional trying to think of each person as a person, as a mother, a father,” Sanders explained.
Catherine Lambin, another artist and local resident of the Charleston area, is also featured in the exhibition.
“This tragedy hit home for me,” said Lambin. “Three of those killed, my family knew personally.” Like many members of the community, Lambin experienced significant loss from the shooting.
Though left with only the past memories of loved ones, the Charleston community is making strides to commemorate the histories of those taken too soon.