Installation view of title wall, Manifestation of Light at Shaker Historical Society, Shaker Heights, OH.
Manifestation of Light: Exploring the Shakers’ Celestial Inspiration
In 2023, I was hired by the Shaker Historical Society as the project curator of Manifestation of Light, aligning with the total solar eclipse that cast fleeting darkness over parts of the world as the sun, moon, and earth come into direct alignment on April 8.
The Shakers were no strangers to celestial phenomena. Manifestation of Light explores their cosmic inspiration, connecting the dots in their rituals and material culture from visionary works of art to otherworldly spirit messages and everyday utilitarian objects to manuscripts recounting star patterns, moon phases, comet sightings, and eclipses.
The exhibition also features Shaker-inspired works by contemporary artists created at historical Shaker sites. With visionary gift drawings as inspiration and source imagery, these contemporary works draw historical parallels to Shaker industries and evoke the spirit of their everyday routine through the passage of divine light.
Manifestation of Light is made possible in part by Ohio Humanities and National Endowment for the Humanities. Special thanks to Shaker Historical Society for entrusting me with this project, and to the artists, historians, librarians, archivists, and museum workers who aided in my research.
