“Heavenly Beings” Opens At The Historic Dedrick-Hamilton House for Juneteenth
This Juneteenth, the African American Cultural Heritage Facility hosted “Heavenly Beings,” an art exhibition and showcase celebrating Black history and creativity inside the historic Dedrick-Hamilton House.
Curated by Future Front Curatorial Advisor Leah Kearse and local curator and artist Via Ceaser, the show brought together Texas-based Black artists across disciplines, creating a space for reflection and celebration through visual art and storytelling.
Grounded in the work of primarily Texas-based artists, the show highlights the ways Black creative practices continue to evolve, take up space and assert presence across generations. As a stop along the Central Texas Juneteenth Parade, the opening reception featured live music supported by Future Front, a free catfish fry and community gatherings on the lawn.
ABOUT THE HISTORIC LOCATION
Built by Thomas Dedrick, the first formerly enslaved person to own land in Travis County, around 1880, the Dedrick-Hamilton House stands as a lasting symbol of East Austin's historic Rosewood community. Located within the city’s formally recognized African-American Cultural Heritage District, the space now serves as the centerpiece of the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility as a community space that supports arts, culture and educational programming throughout the year.
“When you visit the African American Cultural and Heritage Facility—a pillar of Austin’s Black community—you’ll be inundated with wonder by the sight of a cozy yellow house snuggled up to the building’s breezeway. Constructed by Thomas Dedrick, the first freed slave in Travis County, circa 1880, the Dedrick-Hamilton house is a longstanding artifact of the blooming Rosewood community that built and defined East Austin, serving as a as a powerful venue for the debut of ‘Heavenly Beings.’”
MEET THE CURATORS
Leah Kearse (left) and Via Ceaser (right)
Leah Kearse
Leah Kearse (she/they) is a designer and artist originally from Americus, Georgia. Her work focuses on intersecting culture with impact and capturing the Black experience through interactive mediums. When she's not creating, you can find her volunteering at Austin School of Furniture, whipping up concoctions in the kitchen, or teaching at Sisu Studio.
Via Ceaser
Via Madison Ceaser is a multi-hyphenate visual artist skilled in visual storytelling and creative direction for immersive environments, cultural institutions, and digital platforms. Ceaser earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with a minor in Digital Media from the University of Texas at Austin. During her studies, she was influenced by a range of artists, including Dawoud Bey, Simone Leigh, Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley and Howardena Pindell; each shaping her approach to representation, material, and storytelling. Her work centers people of color, seeking to capture the subtle nuances of intersectional identities.
EXPLORE PHOTOS FROM THE OPENING RECEPTION:
All photos by Kate Nuelle
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