The Earl Scruggs Center announces a new special exhibit, Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons, opened to the public Tuesday, March 19, 2019.
This exhibit tackles assumptions - real and imagined - about the South as shown in comics. Visitors will explore the drawings of Thomas Nast as well as cartoons such as Snuffy Smith, Li'l Abner, Pogo, and Kudzu. Thought-provoking interactives throughout the exhibit will encourage all ages to consider stereotypes about humor, language, race, and intelligence that have shaped an image of the South and Southerners, for better or for worse.
Comic Stripped: A Revealing Look at Southern Stereotypes in Cartoons was created by the Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte, NC, and made possible by generous grants from Triad Foundation and The RLJ Companies. It will be on display at the Earl Scruggs Center now through August 22, 2019.
Unique to the Earl Scruggs Center, this exhibit also features objects from the Cleveland County Historical Collection and cartoons submitted by local artists Silas T. Allen,
Kincaid Jenkins, and Elijah Pemberton. Art stations are available for visitors to create their own cartoon illustrations.
The exhibit is generously sponsored by the City of Shelby, Holland & Hamrick Architects, PA, Frame Masters Gallery, and the Cleveland County Arts Council. Visit the Earl Scruggs Center's website www.EarlScruggsCenter.org for information about educational programming and opportunities associated with Comic Stripped.
Earl Scruggs Center Hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 am - 4 pm with extended hours on Wednesdays until 6 pm.
Learn more about the Earl Scruggs Center: Music & Stories from the American South and upcoming events and programs by calling 704-487-6233 or visiting www.EarlScruggsCenter.org.
The Earl Scruggs Center is a project of Destination Cleveland County, Inc., a non-profit 501©3 whose mission is to unite our county's history, heritage, culture and arts to create a vibrant economy while embracing the future and preserving the past.
Submitted by Mary Beth Martin