As celebrations gear up across Cumberland County for Black History Month, the Arts Council opens The Seed and The Sower on Jan. 24. The exhibit centers on strength and generational connection through works by Black female artists.
The Seed and The Sower was an idea that came to curator Teresa Bone through her connection to her own ancestry. After the passing of her paternal grandmother, Bone found herself considering which of her own traits came from the woman she knew as a young girl.
Bone started her art journey in her youth, so processing bigger questions about lineage and life came more easily through art.
“In the last several years, my work as an artist and as a curator isn’t just about things being pretty (though I’d still like to think what I produce is nice to look at),” remarked Bone about the exhibit. “The heart of my work now is about narratives. It’s about stories. What is the message that I am trying to convey?”
Despite the personal origins of the show, Bone wants viewers to feel connected to the work and each other.
“This show is focused on familial narratives, but in a larger view, our lives have an effect on every person we meet,” said Bone. “Those who came before us (family, mentors, teachers, friends), left an impact on our lives, and we- in turn, will leave our own impact on others.”
Bone is excited to see how artists interpret this theme of interconnectedness and hopes the exhibit shows a broad spectrum of work. The exhibit reflects a national juried art call inviting 2D and 3D works from artists from across the US. The call particularly encouraged art from Black female artists, asking for a “multi-layered study of time, connections, and heritage as seen specifically through the lens of Black women’s eyes.”
According to a 2022 study done by the Burns Halperin Report, Black female artists represent 0.5% of collected holdings in the largest American art museums. The Arts Council hopes to address some of this disparity by supporting The Seed and The Sower. The opening reception on January 24 will further celebrate the role of Black female artists with performances from musicians and poets.
The performances are curated by the local nonprofit Book Black Women whose mission is to celebrate, amplify, and empower Black women in the arts and creative industries.
For curator Teresa Bone, the exhibit evokes a look at a generational timescale.
“This cycle never ends. ‘The Seed’ will always eventually become ‘the Sower’, and the descendent will one day be the ancestor. We should all be mindful of what we ‘sow.’”
The Seed and the Sower will be on display in the Arts Council’s gallery until Feb. 28 with a free Opening Reception on Jan. 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For regular updates on the Arts Council, follow the organization @artscouncilfay on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or YouTube.

(Photo courtesy of Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland county)