Blog.
Why Museums Are Among the First Targets in War—And What That Means for Us
When invading armies destroy a city, they often go for more than infrastructure—they go for memory. This post explores why museums are targeted in war and why our work preserving African-American heritage in Northeast Louisiana is an act of cultural defense.
Cotton, Slavery, and the Art World: Who Really Paid for 19th-Century American Beauty?
A single Delta plantation once spent more on art than on enslaved families. This post reveals the cotton-fueled foundations of the 19th-century American art world.
Etched in Clay: The Legacy of David Drake, Potter and Poet
Enslaved in 19th-century South Carolina, David Drake—known as “Dave the Potter”—inscribed resistance and poetry onto clay. His jars still speak today.
Are Your Old Photos the Next Great Work of Art?
Your old family photos might be more than memories—they may be the next great artworks of African-American history. We explore how physical photographs are becoming cultural heirlooms worth preserving, curating, and exhibiting.
Black Art Films: Why They Matter
What makes a Black film an art film? At the Northeast Louisiana Delta African American Heritage Museum, we explore how Black filmmakers like Charles Burnett, Julie Dash, and Khalik Allah use cinema not just to tell stories—but to preserve memory, ritual, and resistance. These films challenge what art looks like, sounds like, and feels like, especially when rooted in Southern Black life.
The Unseen Hands: Black Artists Who Shaped U.S. Currency
Most people know who’s on the money—but not who designed it. Meet the Black artists whose engravings, sculptures, and corrections shaped U.S. currency.
Artist Spotlight: Loretta Pettway Bennett: Carrying the Legacy—and Spirit—of Gee’s Bend Quilting
Loretta Pettway Bennett’s quilts carry forward the bold, improvisational tradition of Gee’s Bend—a legacy stitched from memory, resilience, and artistry.
Standing Invitation: Come Draw. Come Paint. Come Observe.
Artists have long sketched in museums—from the Renaissance to right now. We're opening our doors to local creatives who want to return to this quiet, powerful tradition.
Oil or Acrylic? What Paint Reveals About Black Art, Time, and Tradition
The choice between oil and acrylic isn’t just technical—it’s historical, cultural, and deeply revealing. What do these mediums say about Black art, memory, and momentum?
Standing Tall: Representation, Dialogue, and a 12-Foot Reminder
What does a 12-foot bronze statue of a Black woman in Times Square tell us about who gets remembered, who gets honored—and how that connects to our mission?
The NEA—and What We Lose Without It
In 1965, the U.S. created the NEA to make the arts accessible to all Americans. Today, that legacy is under threat—and for museums like ours, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Hey Students, This Museum Belongs to You!
This museum isn’t just about the past—it’s about your future. Students, we’re handing you the mic. Come make some noise, explore your roots, and shape what comes next. Here’s how to take your place in the story.
The Law Is Ink, Power Is Blood: How Black Museums Forge the Nation’s Conscience
Black museums were never just repositories—they’ve always been battlegrounds. As national institutions face new political pressures to erase our past, the Northeast Louisiana Delta African-American Heritage Museum stands firm in defiant remembrance. Because remembering is resistance.
5 Black Women Painters Who Shaped American Art
Most major museums overlook the bold contributions of Black women painters. Meet five unsung visionaries whose work shaped American art—and whose stories still demand to be seen, honored, and celebrated.
What Happens When the Community Becomes the Exhibit?
What if the next great art installation didn’t happen in New York or Paris—but right here in the Delta? Learn how a global public art movement could reimagine community, visibility, and the role of our museum. Would you step in front of the camera?
More Than a COA: Why Artists Must Document Their Own Legacy
Most artists know the importance of a Certificate of Authenticity—but that’s only the beginning. Learn why self-documentation is critical for Black artists, what you should be saving, and how your story can become part of your legacy.
The Art Auction Economy, Part III: A Vision for the Future
In the final installment of our Art Auction Economy series, we look toward a future shaped by Black artists and collectors. From local stewardship to global innovation, we explore how new models of ownership, provenance, and participation can redefine the market—placing cultural agency where it belongs: in our own hands.
Provenance is Power: How Story Shapes Value in the Art World
In the art world, provenance—the documented history of a work—often holds more weight than beauty or meaning. But who controls that history? This post explores how the legacy of Black artists has been overlooked, undervalued, and erased—and how local communities can reclaim the narrative.
The Art Auction Economy Part II: Access, Agency, and the Path Forward
Auctions don’t just move money—they move meaning. In Part II of our series, we examine the deeper structures that limit Black participation in fine art auctions and why shifting from access to agency matters. From global auction houses to local collectors in the Delta, the future of Black art depends on ownership—on our own terms.
Before the Renaissance: African Art in the Age of Antiquity
Before da Vinci or Michelangelo, African artists were already creating masterworks in bronze, terracotta, and stone. From the Nok and Ifẹ̀ to Kush and Aksum, this post explores Africa’s deep artistic legacy—and why it matters to how we see Black art today.