The Ringling Museum in Sarasota has opened a new exhibition titled "Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums," which explores the art and artifacts of the Spiritualist movement. The show is structured in two acts, first providing historical context and then displaying images, posters, and objects that spiritualists used to promote their work and communicate with the spirit world.
This exhibition matters because it sheds light on a fascinating but often overlooked chapter in American cultural history, where art, belief, and performance intersected. By examining how visual culture supported spiritualist practices, the show invites visitors to consider the power of imagery in shaping belief systems and the enduring human fascination with the supernatural.