Art galleries aren’t a common thing in Williamsburg County. As a matter of fact, there’s only a handful in the Pee Dee to begin with.
That’s what makes African-American Arts and Collectables, at 200 Hampton St. in Kingstree so unique, but it also has something that separates it from other art galleries as well.
As the name implies, the gallery specializes in African-American exhibits, with dolls, Christmas decorations and classical southern works of art being curated into the gallery’s large number of individual exhibits.
More than two decades ago, Cassandra Williams-Rush, the owner and operator of African-American Arts and Collectables, began collecting items of African-American heritage from antiques stores, eBay, artists and other museums.
From Atlanta to New York City, the collection at the gallery is immense. Her current exhibition – which focuses on classical and contemporary southern art – was loaned to her from Francis Marion University.
Growing up, Rush said, she was a child of the segregated South where she rarely felt like anyone’s equal. This, she said, led her to gravitate toward anything that resembled what she saw in the mirror.
“I think it goes back to wanting to learn more about my history and realizing the significant contributions of African-Americans,” she said. “I’ve got a greater appreciation for the art and culture.”
Throughout the summer, the current collection has been on exhibit, but throughout August and September, a new form of art will take hold at the gallery.
Following in the same vein as another exhibit which displayed a collection of African-American Christmas decorations, dolls that celebrate the heritage will be on display, but with a little more interaction than other exhibits.
“In August and September, I plan to have an exhibition surrounding dolls,” she said. “I plan to have an exhibition early on and have a couple of doll artists come in at the same time.”
In a place as devoid of art as Williamsburg County, Williams-Rush thinks places like her gallery and the Williamsburg County Magnet School for the Arts are just what the area needs.
She said she believes the endeavors will not only be beneficial for those that attend, but also for the community that hosts them.
“I think it’s very important to get people out here, but it’s a process,” she said. “Now, the school of the arts is open in Kingstree, I know they’ll be more focused on the arts and coupled with this, too – not just for the school children – hopefully we can attract tourists and visitors.”
