The City Gallery has reopened to the public, and is presenting works by artist Jonathan Green in an exhibit titled The Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls, Oct. 29. The exhibit is a collection of large print copies of illustrations Green made for a children’s book by the same name.
The artwork, composed in Green’s vivid style, is accompanied by highlights from the book by Louise Meriweather.
Robert Smalls is well known in South Carolina for his escape from enslavement during the Civil War. After commandeering a Confederate vessel, Smalls and a group of Black men and women sailed to freedom. Smalls served in the Union military for the remainder of the war, and afterward began a career in politics in South Carolina.
On the day the exhibit begins, the City Gallery will reopen its doors to the public with abbreviated hours. Guests must reserve a time to view the gallery, and exhibition viewing will be offered Thursdays through Sundays from 12-5 p.m.
Tickets for the exhibit are free, and can be grabbed online. To learn more about the life of Robert Smalls, visit the City Gallery’s website.