The South Dakota Art Museum at South Dakota State University is hosting a closing reception and panel discussion for the exhibition “Porter Williams: Evolution of Black America,” which celebrates the work and legacy of the late South Dakota artist and civil rights activist Porter Williams. The event takes place on Friday, June 12, starting with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by a panel discussion at 6:30 p.m., featuring guest curators Jonathan Kelley and Zechariah Van Harris III, along with advisory board member Lawrence Diggs, moderated by Letishia Kelley.
The exhibition matters because it presents Black American history through Williams’ sculptures as both deeply personal and widely resonant, encouraging reflection on justice, identity, and cultural memory. The closing event, supported by the Revell-Dickerson Endowment and other funders, offers the community a final opportunity to engage with work that expands understanding of history and its relevance today, particularly around the Juneteenth weekend.