Select photographs from Vaughn Sills’ series “Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens,” capture African American gardens and their creators in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina taken over 20 years.

The images illustrate the beliefs and practices brought to the United States by enslaved Africans more than 200 years ago. Thoughtfully arranged objects and plants have spiritual and personal significance. “In these yards we see the gardeners’ reverence for the cycles of life and nature, for the presence of the spiritual, and for the value of community,” the artist said.

These photographs are on display at the Nevin Welcome Center from June through October, 2024, as part of the “Seeds of Survival and Celebration: Plants and the Black Experience” exhibition.