Hendersonville Celebrates “African Americans and the Arts” During Black History Month

By Crystal Cauley –

Black residents of Hendersonville and its environs are using their artistic creativity to paint the city with hope and empowerment.

Showcasing Artist Diamond Cash

The first piece of art commissioned for the 2024 celebration is “Legacy,” painted by professional artist Diamond Cash. The painting pays homage to Henderson County’s Black History and was commissioned by Crystal Cauley, the founder of the Black History Collective of Henderson County. It was unveiled at Hendersonville’s first Black Arts and Craft Exhibition on March 23, 2019 and led to a Certificate of Commendation from City of Hendersonville Mayor Barabara Volk for both Cash’s and Cauley’s efforts.

Cash herself has set a milestone as the first Black woman painting three public art murals in a city that was established in 1847. The first, “Legacy,” is inside The People’s Museum on Main Street; two others, “Hendo” and “Bears Crossing,” are located on 5th Avenue.

Diamond Cash was the first Black artist to participate in designing the “Celebration Bear” for the Bearfootin’ Art Walk when Hendersonville celebrated 175 years since its founding. She also created the Tiger as the mascot for the all-Black Ninth Avenue School Alumni. Both are located at the new Laura E. Corn Mini Golf park.

Self-taught artist Frank Black painted the beautiful signage for Brooklyn Creek Bird Sanctuary located in Sullivan Park. And Billy “Art” Smith painted a new mural for Hendersonville Rescue Mission on 7th Avenue. Meanwhile, young JT Williams has begun his career at the age of eight, with a traveling Black History Art exhibit in Hendersonville.

The Dashing Dashiki

Henderson County’s Career Academy has chosen the Dashiki Art Project as its focus to celebrate Black History Month this year. Students at the Academy were invited to participate by coloring their own dashiki patterns and hanging the art at the entrance balcony during the month of February.

Though many are only vaguely familiar with the Dashiki, it is worn and celebrated around the world. However, its origin is often ignored as it has become a fashion icon.

From Yoruba to Civil Rights to … everywhere

While its first popularity in the West came during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, when forward-looking Black activists often wore dashikis, the garment originated in West Africa, where it is called dàńṣíkí in the Yoruba tongue. That name evolved into “dashiki” once the garment was in the hands of New York designers Jason and Mabel Benning and Howard Davis. This trio were also the founders of a clothing business called New Breed, established in 1969 in Harlem, New York.

The dashiki was worn as a statement piece that would speak loudly: I’m Black and I’m Proud! This beautiful patterned colorful fabric can be worn to an elegant, formal occasion, for an HBCU graduation ceremony, or at a Juneteenth celebration; the loose-fitting garment offers versatility as a tunic, dress, skirt, or even hoodies and short sets. No matter how you style it, this unisex garment will never go out of fashion! Hail to the Dashiki!

Crystal Cauley is the founder of the Black History Collective of Henderson County, NC.