An exhibit developed and originated at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum last year is now making the rounds in Northwest Georgia.
“Ghost Paths,” a personal interpretation of the Trail of Tears, originally opened for Native American Heritage Month at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in 2014 and remained on display for several months before making its way to the Funk Heritage Center in Waleska.
Now the exhibit has found its newest home at Chieftain’s Museum (the Major Ridge Home) in Rome.
Beginning Feb. 19, Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home will present “Ghost Paths: A walk back into history along the Trail of Tears” by artist Elizabeth Waight.
In 2013, Waight, a British artist and photographer, traveled to the United States to take photographs of sites along the various routes taken on the Trail of Tears in order to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the forced removal of the Cherokee.
According to the artist, “I came up with the idea for Ghost Paths because I wanted to explore how photography can be used to conjure things no longer there but that still matter, and I knew that I wanted this somehow to relate to the story of the American colonization and its repercussions.”
From her travels in America, Waight created a custom made fine arts book based on her experience.
On loan from the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society, “Ghost Paths” features thirteen panels that exhibit selected photography from this book along with historical quotes and original poetry written by the artist that take the visitor on a thought-provoking journey along the Trail of Tears.
The exhibition will open with a members-only reception the evening of Friday, Feb. 19, then will open to the public for viewing Feb. 20-June 30. Admission to the exhibit is included with regular museum admission.
For more information, phone 706-291-9494 or visit www.chieftainsmuseum.org.
