"That's ALL Folks!" by David Boatwright at Aiken-Rhett House

This fall, Charleston-based artist David Boatwright will exhibit his original works of art in a temporary installation at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum this fall, October 5 through November 11. Included with daily admission to the historic house museum, this original art exhibit will be installed carefully throughout the c.1820s property with sensitivity to its historic fabric while beautifully complementing the preserved “as-found” space with modern works of art rendered in acrylic paint.

Known for his iconic murals around Charleston, David Boatwright considers himself a “Southern artist” in that his works of art carry a narrative style and often include the story’s subjects. This exhibit, titled “That’s ALL Folks” will include thirteen original paintings, nearly all created for, and inspired by, the Aiken-Rhett House Museum and its complicated history.

“Most of the subjects in these paintings start off with images of the family portraits or art works, both sculpture and paintings, that were owned by the Aiken family” artist, David Boatwright, describes. “At the same time, it is impossible to not be aware that the quality of the family’s life was in large part derived from the labors of the slave population, so I felt the need to also acknowledge their existence as well.”

One work included in this exhibit exemplifies this concept in a direct way: a six-foot tall painting titled, “Dorcas and Harriet” to be exhibited in the house’s Double Parlor. In this large-scale painting, standing nearly 6 feet tall, David Boatwright is inspired by Harriet’s historic portrait in the Art Gallery, and pairs her with a representation of Dorcas Richardson, one of the enslaved women that accompanied Harriet to her new home when she married Gov. William Aiken in 1831. While photographs of Dorcas and other enslaved men and women were not found, the artist was inspired by a handful of early antebellum archival images to inspire and inform his work.

David Boatwright’s new art exhibit, “That’s ALL Folks”, will open to the public on Saturday, October 5th at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum just in time for Historic Charleston Foundation’s annual event, Family Day at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum. During this family-friendly fundraising event, David Boatwright will be at the historic house to speak to guests about his exhibit. Two exhibit talks will be included with Family Day event programming. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit this page.

“That’s ALL Folks” will be open and available to view with regular admission to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum beginning Saturday, October 5 through Veteran’s Day, Sunday, November 11. To honor our men and women in uniform, Historic Charleston Foundation offers free admission to all US Military Veterans, Active Duty service men and women to both the Aiken-Rhett and Nathaniel Russell House Museums on Sunday, November 11th. This offer is only available in person with a valid Military ID.