Spirit in the Land

Written By Studio Assistant Annalee Davis

Installation images courtesy of the Cummer Museum, photographed by Brian Shrum.

Group Exhibition

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, Jacksonville, FL

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November 9, 2024– February 9, 2025

Curated by Trevor Schoonmaker, Mary D.B.T. and James H. Semans Director of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University

Spirit in the Land is now open at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, exploring the deep connections between land, water, and cultural memory. This marks the third iteration of the exhibition, now beautifully installed at this Jacksonville, Florida museum. From a Garden of Hope is on loan from the Ian McNeel collection.

From A Garden of Hope

I am pleased to be exhibiting From a Garden of Hope—a collection of drawings layered atop hand-drawn contour lines reproduced from a geological survey of the Scotland District.

The drawn contour lines extend into each meditative rendering of wild botanicals, creating a counter-map that highlights overlooked yet commonplace plants thriving in a landscape in transition. The title recalls one of the early names for this land and is connected to the living apothecary, A Garden of Hope, planted at Walkers Reserve in the Scotland District of Barbados.

The botanicals featured in this collection include Blue Vervain, Horseweed, Clammy Cherry, Feather Finger Grass, and French Cotton among others. These plants, gathered from Walkers Reserve’s sandy soils, form part of a small herbarium I’ve collected, pressed, photographed, and drawn as gestures of care through observation.

From A Garden of Hope advocates for innerseeing—a practice of mindful connection with the ground beneath us, offering an alternative to the role of the plantation overseer. By engaging with our landscapes, we can foster a more intimate and regenerative relationship with these mediated environments.

Exhibition Overview

Spirit in the Land is a contemporary art exhibition exploring the deep connection between cultural identity and the natural world, highlighting the urgent ecological challenges we face. Featuring the work of 30 artists, the exhibition examines how relationships with land and water shape individuals and communities, emphasizing the restorative power of nature and the essential roles of biodiversity and cultural diversity in survival.

The artists celebrate nature's beauty while mourning environmental degradation and the loss of cultural histories tied to it. The exhibition focuses on the intersection of environmental, social, and racial justice, amplifying the voices of communities most impacted by climate change. Through their work, the artists reframe nature as a source of cultural memory, sanctuary, resistance, and healing.

Rooted in North America with connections to the Caribbean, Spirit in the Land conveys a message of hope, regeneration, and the importance of living in harmony with nature to secure the future. Organized by the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, the exhibition is supported by the Ford Foundation, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Studio Assistant Annalee Davis
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