An historic installation of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church is on display at Denver's Museum of Contemporary Arts as part of their exhibit titled "The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture and the Sonic Impulse."

According to the curator of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and exhibit organizer Valerie Cassel Olivier via the 303 Magazine website, the exhibit's purpose is to make a musical statement about the richness of black culture in the South.

Installation of Church

The installation of the church was reportedly inspired by Project C in 1963.

According to the Civil Rights Digital Library, this was a program led by Martin Luther King Jr. and his colleagues at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. 

The program sought to fight against the city's segregation system through economic pressure and a large-scale demonstration. It was a struggle in which thousands of demonstrators were fire-hosed by the police and attacked by dogs.

In line with the events, Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Luther King was co-pastor, provided adequate public accommodation for the black community. This showcased their key role during a time of resistance.

The artist, Nadine Robinson, stated that the installation, which she titled "Coronation: Organon," was made using 30 speakers.

According to 303 Magazine, the speakers would initially play a coronation anthem composed by German composer George Frideric Handel. 

Then, it will transition to a mixture of historical sound clips where you can hear the barking of the dogs, the force of the water being hosed onto the demonstrators, pieces of sermons, choral music, and chants of protest.

Apart from an installation of Ebenezer, the exhibit also features the works of over 80 artists. 

The exhibition takes up three floors of MCA Denver and showcases a variety of art forms, including sculptures, paintings, films, and photographs.

'Dirty South' Program

As reported, artworks in the "Dirty South" have many meanings as the exhibition progresses. The museum reportedly wants visitors to see as if they are on a historical journey, wherein they encounter both joy and conflict at different stages in time.

In the museum's lobby, the sounds of water from Alisson Janae Hamilton's visual-sonic piece would greet the visitors.

According to 303 Magazine, Hamilton's work serves as an introduction to the slavery of black people in America and baptism for the experiences that are to follow as the viewing continues.

Here, artworks featured showcased spirituality in the South. One of these artworks is Dr. Fahamu Pecou's "Dobale to Spirit," which features a shirtless black man wearing a white mask with cowrie shells.

Following this is the third section, which focuses on the black body as a "vessel of tradition, generational trauma and resistance, and knowledge." As reported, the section here presents the installation of the historical church. 

Another work in this section is "Hers" by Melvin Edwards. This artwork is part of the artist's series, which showcases the South's gruesome and brutal history of lynching.

The exhibit ends with a Cabinet of Wonders, which features the South's influence on the music scene, especially hip-hop.

"The Dirt South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse" is on exhibit at MCA Denver until Feb. 5, 2023.

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