by Robert Leedy
gouache on Aquabord panel
4” x 4”
framed.

Collection of The National Park Service

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“Whispers of Freedom” began as a 16-piece painting series that is my homage to the slaves who lived and worked at Kingsley Plantation. These men, women, and children comprised the labor force that kept the Plantation in operation.

The paintings are mostly of the 32-cabin surviving tabby ruins that form a large semi-circle on the southern end of the Kingsley property. I included the exact GPS location for each painting.

A visit to Kingsley Plantation is only complete with a walk through the entire length of the structures. They have quite a surreal feeling and take on an abstract, sculptural sense. They were a challenge to paint, but shown together as a group, they have a stronger impact.

For me, they are like monuments to the people who lived in them.

 This is the largest collection of remaining tabby ruins in the United States, and we are fortunate to have them as constant reminders of a darker side of American history.