Requiem for Mother Emanuel by Leo Twiggs

South Carolina artist Leo Twiggs created the nine batik works of art featured in Requiem for Mother Emanuel, in the aftermath of the 2015 murders at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Painting provided a vehicle for the artist to process this awful event and search for meaning. The final series reveals his reflections on, not only the shooting, but also the the responses of the family members, the church and fellow citizens.

“My paintings are testimonies to the nine who were slain. But I also record another moment: our state’s greatest moment . . . a response that moved us from tragedy to redemption. For one shining moment, we looked at each other not as different races, but as human beings.” – Dr. Leo Twiggs

In addition to the nine batik works by Twiggs, the State Museum will also display a hand-made prayer quilt and other items from Mother Emanuel Church. The exhibition is also accompanied by a seven minute video, directed by Joe Clark of SailWind Inc., featuring Dr. Twiggs and an exploration of the context, impetus and inspiration for Requiem for Mother Emanuel.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website