The James Island Arts and Cultural Center is excited to host the MOJA Festival Exhibition titled The Freedom Ship of Robert Smalls, featuring a collection of large print copies of illustrations by Jonathan Green. These dynamic illustrations beautifully portray the story of the children's book by the same name, written 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 15 fellow slaves sailed to freedom. Smalls served in the Union military for the remainder of the war, rose to the rank of captain and became the first African American to command a U.S. service ship. After the war Smalls returned to Beaufort, bought the home of his former master, and began a long career in state and national politics.
The JIACC is open Mon., Wed., Fri. from 9-5 and Tue., and Thurs. from 10-6.
"This project was funded in part by the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Program through their joint administration of the Lowcountry Quarterly Arts Grant Program and the South Carolina Arts Commission which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the John and Susan Bennett Memorial Arts Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of SC."