Mason Fine Art is excited to announce our inaugural 2025 exhibition, Affrilachia: Testimonies by Chris Aluka Berry, which is part of a book published by the University of Kentucky Press. This collection features intimate and revealing photographs that document the contributions of people of color who have significantly influenced the rich tapestry of Appalachia. The reception will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 6 to 9 p.m., with the artist in attendance.

The term “Affrilachia,” first coined in 1991 by Kentucky poet Frank X Walker, refers to the cultural contributions of African Americans living in Appalachia, a predominantly mountainous region extending from Mississippi to New York. Although Black Americans have greatly shaped the cultural landscape of this region, their stories, struggles, and successes often remain undocumented, as Appalachia is typically perceived as entirely white.

In Affrilachia: Testimonies, Chris Aluka Berry gives voice to the wide array of African Americans who have lived in the Appalachian region throughout history. Berry spent six years in western North Carolina, northeast Georgia, and eastern Tennessee, where he immersed himself in the communities and lives of Black Appalachians to highlight the diversity and shared experiences of these proud individuals.

Although Affrilachian communities have diminished in size, their familial and spiritual bonds continue to endure. These culturally rich
photographs capture real-life people in all their complexity. We witness their moments of joy and sorrow, their tender, carefree interactions, and their quiet moments of reflection. This collection serves as a contemporary, artistic document that honors a community rooted in its place while preserving an important history that risks fading from our collective memory.

A selection of powerful narratives from the people who inhabit these areas, alongside contributions from Appalachian writers Kelly Elaine Navies and Maia A. Surdam will be featured alongside those work. Their poignant poems and essays provide historical context and enrich the collections archival significance.