Capstone: Robert Killins III

Roots & Resonance: an Exhibit on the Tanner Family and Strawberry Mansion

My project came from the idea that members of the Friends of the Tanner House had for a possible gallery space existing on the first floor of the historic Henry O. Tanner House in Strawberry Mansion. The exhibit is divided into three main sections. The first focuses on the Tanner family, highlighting their legacy through original photographs, documents, and artworks by Henry Ossawa Tanner, along with narratives from past and present family members. The second section explores the history of Strawberry Mansion, featuring community stories, local activism, migration narratives, and contributions from neighborhood artists, elders, and youth. The third section presents the exhibit as a traveling and multipurpose space, designed to host rotating displays, lectures, and presentations, allowing the Tanner House’s stories to reach broader audiences while activating the space for public engagement.