Robin North
Rewoven Narratives: Cotton, History, Modernity, and the Black Southern Experience
2024 SDSU Grad Award Exhibit
July 9 to August 17 2024

Opening Reception:
Tuesday, July 9th 6:30-8:30pm

Rewoven Narratives: Cotton, History, Modernity, and the Black Southern Experience offers a profound exploration of the deep connections between the past and present in the deep rural Texas South. Through North’s artistic lens, visitors are invited to engage with the intricate fabric of family, collective memory, and a heterogeneous culture that defines the region. The exhibit examines the transatlantic slave trade's impact, focusing on Black Atlantic themes and creolization. The Black Atlantic highlights the cultural network formed by the African diaspora, while creolization refers to the blending of African, European, and Indigenous cultures. This fusion shapes the rich traditions of the American South.

North's skillful blend of photography, oral histories, artifacts, and cotton creates an immersive experience that transcends time and place. It allows viewers to reflect on the complex layers of Southern heritage. The exhibition serves as both a showcase of North's artistic evolution and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.

Central to the exhibition is an examination of how the legacy of slavery and the cotton industry continues to shape the fabric of modern society in the region. By delving into the economic, social, and cultural impacts of these historical forces, the exhibition sheds light on the enduring inequalities and structures that persist today.

Through North's use of cotton as both a medium and a narrative device, visitors are encouraged to contemplate its dual significance: as the economic backbone of the slavery- driven South and as a symbol of resilience and reclaiming Black heritage. This artistic commentary offers a poignant reflection on the intersection of historical trauma and contemporary resilience, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of these narratives in shaping present-day social and cultural dynamics.
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About the Artist:​
​Robin North holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Houston with
a concentration in Photography and Digital Media and a Master of Fine Arts in Art with a
program emphasis on Photography and Multimedia from San Diego State University in San
Diego, CA.

As an interdisciplinary visual artist, educator, and archivist, his passion lies in
preserving and celebrating the rich histories of Black families in the rural Deep American
South. North delves into the complex histories and contemporary implications of cotton,
slavery, modernity, and Black reclamation in the Deep South. North's work often
incorporates mixed media, multimedia, and alternative photographic processes such as
cyanotypes and platinum/palladium prints. He is known for his experimental narratives and
portraits exploring identity and social change themes.

His journey began when his grandmother entrusted him with his family's archives in
2006, unveiling a treasure trove of stories from generations past, captured in photographs,
documents, and oral histories. Inspired by the resilience, joy, and perseverance within these
narratives, Robin embarked on a personal quest to understand and share his family's roots. This journey gained deeper significance in 2016 when his uncle, James North, a fellow artist, shared his battle with Alzheimer’s disease—a poignant reminder of his time serving in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he was exposed to the harmful effects of Agent Orange.

During this time, his family and the broader Black Jackson County community asked
him to tell their stories through his visual arts practice, family archives and his scholarly
work to ensure they were not lost to time. This profound request propelled him to found
"Keeper of the Walls"; a digital repository dedicated to collecting, digitizing, mapping, and sharing Black family archives from Jackson County, Texas. This project serves as a virtual space where families like his can contribute their photographs, documents, and stories,
ensuring that their legacies endure for future generations.

A Way of Looking - Cotton Fields

Air Cotton

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Gallery Hours:
Thursdays and Fridays 2-5pm (thru Gallery)
Saturdays 11am-1pm (entry thru Garden)
​or by appointment HERE.