The Curatorial Theme: "Transitions" is not merely a movement from Point A to Point B; it is the volatile, beautiful, and necessary state of becoming. This exhibition explores the internal and external shifts experienced by BIPOC artists as they navigate the changing seasons of identity, geography, and social landscape.

By housing this collection within Stem & Vine, the theme draws a direct parallel between the organic metamorphosis of the plant world and the cultural evolution of the African Diaspora and other communities of color. From the "Seed" (ancestry, roots, and history) to the "Sun" (future-building, joy, and visibility), these works capture the friction and the flow of change.

Curatorial Statement: To transition is to exist in the liminal—the threshold where the old self sheds and the new self takes root. As we move from the awakening rains of May to the high-noon heat of July, Transitions invites viewers to pause in the middle of the journey.  In this collection, the artists utilize various media to interrogate what it means to "cross over." For the BIPOC creator, transition is often a multidimensional act: it is the migration across borders, the shifting between cultural codes, and the radical evolution of healing from the past to bloom in the present.

The works on display mirror the environment of Stem & Vine itself. Just as a vine climbs and adapts to its structure, or a plant turns toward the light, these artists showcase the resilience required to thrive during periods of upheaval. Through vibrant palettes, reclaimed materials, and ancestral iconography, Transitions reminds us that the period of "becoming" is just as vital as the destination.

We invite you to wander through these visual narratives with a glass in hand and a spirit of curiosity. Observe the growth, feel the shift, and find yourself within the transition.

SUSIE'S STEEL & SPIRIT: A Tribute to Susan T. King Presented at the Bearman Gallery | Frederick Douglass–Isaac Myers Museum July 9 – September 30, 2026 Curated by Kibibi Ajanku & The Black Art Today Foundation Sponsored by Living Classrooms Foundation 

 Susie’s Steel & Spirit is a vibrant, living tribute to a living woman. To celebrate her milestone 102nd year, a premier collective of visual storytellers have gathered to reflect her enduring light, strength, and legacy. Through diverse textures, colors, and media, these artists mirror Mrs. King's dual essence: the "steel" of her groundbreaking labor and the "spirit" of her lifelong devotion to education, faith, and community elevation. 

This visual honor guard features works by: Alma Roberts, Anita Henley Carrington, Ashley Joi Summers, Janet B. Waters, Janice MacLean, Karen Y. Buster, Kaylee Daryl, Keiona Clark, Kibibi Ajanku, Linda Mose Meadows, Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Gates-Davis, Nikki Brooks, Suzette Royster, Tanya Bracey, Tinnetta Putney, Tracey Coleman, Dr. Yemonja Smalls, and Zsudayka Nzinga. 

About Susan T. King: She was called Susie as a child- a young girl from Kilmarnock, Virginia, born on July 13, 1924, who would grow into one of Baltimore's most extraordinary women. After graduating from Frederick Douglass High School in 1942, Susie stepped directly into a nation at war. She trained as an aircraft riveter and was hired by Eastern Aircraft in Baltimore County. As one of only a few African Americans on the floor, and fewer still as an actual riveter, she helped assemble the very planes that defended freedom in World War II. Today, she stands proudly among the vanguard of women history honors as "Rosie the Riveters." Mrs. King attended Hampton University and has degrees from both Morgan State and Coppin State University. She was Baltimore City Public School science teacher and guidance counselor. A Congressional Gold Medal recipient, a woman of profound faith and community, and a centenarian whose impact endures through scholarships in her name, Mrs. Susan T. King is, in every sense, a living legend.