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my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet

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James Kuol Makuac: my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet

On view September 24–December 20, 2024

Begonia Labs: 2805 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN.

my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet features the vibrant and expressive paintings of James Kuol Makuac (b. South Sudan, 1976; lives in Nashville) whose work reflects a life spent navigating between worlds. For nearly twenty years, Makuac has cultivated a practice of contemporary Sudanese painting that tells impossible stories of human tragedy and simultaneously speaks to survival and hope, grief and joy, surrender and determination.

This exhibition is a Begonia | Catalyst project, which celebrates the life and practice of pioneering but under-recognized artists. The exhibition is curated by Grace Aneiza Ali, EADJ Curator with curatorial assistance from Simon Tatum and Danielle Myers.

About the Artist:

James Kuol Makuac (b. South Sudan, 1976; lives in Nashville) has nurtured an art practice of contemporary Sudanese painting for the past twenty years. As one The Lost Boys of Sudan, young men who resettled in the U.S. as refugees of war, his vibrant and expressive paintings often bridge the culture of the South Sudanese people and his American life.

His work has been shown in local and traveling exhibitions, including Lending Library, Metro Arts Commission and Nashville Public Library, Our Directional Light, Leu Gallery, Belmont University, and Life Before, University School of Nashville. His paintings are in public and private collections such as The Tennessee State Museum, Tyson Foods, and the Nashville Convention Center. Makuac, who speaks several languages, including Dinka, Arabic, Swahili, and Spanish, works as a translator at Tyson Foods. In 2020, he was selected as one of Nashville’s Most Fascinating People by Nashville Lifestyles Magazine.

Read "In Conversation: Artist James Kuol Makuac and Curator Grace Aneiza Ali" for more details.

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Events and Exhibition Programs

Tuesday, September 24, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Opening Reception

James Kuol Makuac: my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet

Join EADJ and the artist James Kuol Makuac for the opening reception of my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet.

The evening will feature special remarks from the artist.

my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet features the vibrant and expressive paintings of James Kuol Makuac (b. South Sudan, 1976; lives in Nashville) whose work reflects a life spent navigating between worlds. For nearly twenty years, Makuac has cultivated a practice of contemporary Sudanese painting that tells impossible stories of human tragedy and simultaneously speaks to survival and hope, grief and joy, surrender and determination.

Wednesday, September 25, 12:30–2:00 p.m.

Curatorial Long Table, Begonia | Curatorial Lab

The Begonia | Curatorial Lab is a platform for research, collaboration, and artist and curator exchanges about pressing local and global issues. In the Curatorial Long Table, local and global curators with projects invested in The Global South(s) discuss formative and current projects and their visions for the role of the 21st century curator.

Invited Curators include:

  • María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Ríos intermitentes (Matanzas, Cuba); Tennessee Triennial, RE-PAIR
  • Grace Aneiza Ali, Somewhere We Are Human, EADJ
  • Mark Scala, Chief Curator, Frist Art Museum
  • Katie Delmez, Florine Démosthène and Didier William, Frist Art Museum
  • Elena Bally, Fredi Fischli, Niels Olsen, Adam Szymczy (Zurich Curatorial Team), Beverly Buchanan: I Broke the House, Fisk University Galleries
  • Jamaal Sheats, Beverly Buchanan: I Broke the House, Fisk University Galleries
  • Vesna Pavlović, IMS Solidarity
  • Raheleh Filsoofi, NIRMA Projects

Monday, October 28, 6 p.m.

EADJ in  Conversation with the Sudanese Community

James Kuol Makuac, featured artist in our Fall exhibition, my heart is strong because I walked on blistered feet, shares how he uses art to shed light on the stories of South Sudan. Joining him will be notable members of the Nashville Sudanese community, Dr. Gatluak Thach, Chol Rambang and Hanan Shaibu (Nashville International Center for Empowerment). The evening will feature a special screening of Nashville Refuge with an introduction from Michael Carlson (Creative Writing, Vanderbilt). Moderated by Jonathan Rattner (Cinema & Media Arts and Art, Vanderbilt University).

Begonia Labs | 2805 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.

Saturday, October 5, 12:00–3:00 p.m.

Begonia Labs Open House

Join us for the Begonia Labs Open House — a family-friendly afternoon of fun and artmaking activities.

  • Exhibition Tour at 12:30 pm: my heart is strong because i walked on blistered feet.
  • Story Time at 2:30 pm: Read Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of the Sudan and My Life Before featured in our Reading Space with Iman Saleem (MFA Creative Writing, Fiction, Vanderbilt University)
  • Color with James Makuac’s Paintings: Create your own version of the paintings featured in James Kuol Makuac: my heart is strong because i walked on blistered feet.
  • Art & Poetry: Write What You See: Get inspired by the artist’s poetry in his book My Life Before and write your own poetry in response.
  • Meet the Artist: James Kuol Makuac will be present.

*The Begonia Labs Open House is a short walk from the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival happening nearby at  Centennial Park. Join us for both. 

Begonia Labs | 2805 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203.

Saturday, December 14, 12:00–3:00 p.m.

Family Holiday Celebration

In partnership with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment.

The Engine for Art, Democracy, and Justice (EADJ) Team will host a Family Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 14, 2024, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. The celebration will take place at Begonia Labs: 2805 West End Ave.

This event is free and open to the public. We look forward to welcoming you and your families!

​​Event Details: 

  • Exhibition Tour at 12:30 pm: my heart is strong because i walked on blistered feet. 
  • Art & Poetry: Write What You See: Get inspired by the artist’s poetry in his book My Life Before and write your own poetry in response.
  • Meet the Artist: James Kuol Makuac will be present.

Saturday, December 20, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Closing Reception and End-of-Year Celebration

Please join the Engine for Art, Democracy, and Justice (EADJ) Team and founder María Magdalena Campos-Pons as we share our gratitude for a year of impactful exhibitions, public programs, and community partnerships. We invite you to our Closing Reception and End-of-Year Celebration on December 20, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The celebration will take place at Begonia Labs: 2805 West End Ave.

The evening will include a closing celebration of our exhibition featuring James Kuol Makuac with a Sudanese Tea Pouring at 6:30 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you there!

​​Event Details:

  • Location: Begonia Labs  ( 2805 West End Avenue, Nashville, 37203)
  • Admission: Free and open to the public.
  • 6:00 p.m. – Reception Begins
  • 6:30 p.m. – Sudanese Tea Pouring
  • 8:00 p.m. – Reception Ends

Additional Resources: