A new exhibition, “Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence” co-curated by the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive, is at The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum from March 29 to December 31, 2025. The exhibition centers on the lives and experiences of black craftspeople and artisans from the 18th and 19th centuries and seeks to embrace the stories of all those who pursued independence.

This exhibition highlights African Americans' creations, contributions, and legacies as they fought for freedom from the earliest calls for American independence and beyond. “Fighting for Freedom” spans the war years of the American Revolution through the present, as African Americans sought to pursue agency and liberty through craft.

The underpinning idea of African American craft as a catalyst for freedom-seeking displays itself in many ways in this exhibition, encompassing furniture, metals, ceramics, textiles, art, tools, and personal accessories. The Founders' cries for liberty from tyranny and oppression resonated with African Americans and were embraced by Black craftspeople, both free and enslaved.

"The petitions of the Founding Fathers, while enslaving tens of thousands of people, were heard by Black people, and inspired them in their quest for freedom as well," states Dr. Tiffany Momon, exhibition co-curator and founder of the Black Craftspeople Digital Archive. "Our hope is that visitors will see just how important those cries for liberty were to Black craftspeople and how they pursued it, despite being marginalized, by creating and passing down craftsmanship generation to generation."

“Fighting for Freedom” features more than 50 objects from public and private lenders and includes items made by both free and enslaved craftspeople. With artifacts from the 18th, 19th, and 21st centuries, this exhibition tells the stories of countless known and unnamed figures whose skills and commitment created not only objects but independence in many forms. Examples of Black craftsmanship in the exhibit include:

· Revolving wooden table made by John Hemmings for Thomas Jefferson's use at Polar Forest in 1811. On loan courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Foundation

· Landscape of Lookout Mountain and Moccasin Bend by itinerant painter Robert Duncanson from 1855, depicting a location where self-emancipated people crossed the Tennessee River for freedom in the North. On loan courtesy of Michael and Julie Meyer.

· Silver coffeepot, 1742-1768, from the shop of Alexander Petrie in Charleston, South Carolina, likely made by Abraham the silversmith. On loan from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA).

· Modern quilt back chair made in the style of Richard Poynor by artisan Robell Awake to honor his legacy and push back against craft histories that ignored Black makers.

The exhibit will be accompanied by various educational programs, including monthly virtual lectures, weekly family craft activities, and an annual symposium. Most will be free and available to the public. The “Fighting for Freedom” catalog can be pre-ordered at the DAR Museum shop. 

Select objects from the exhibition will travel to select locations through 2028 after it closes at the DAR Museum on December 31, 2025, including the North Carolina Museum of Art (Winter/Spring 2026), Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston,  SC (Summer 2026-Spring 2027), Historic New Orleans Collection (Summer/Fall 2027), Tennessee State Museum (Winter/Spring 2028), and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (Summer/Fall 2028).