A new exhibition opening Wednesday, November 28, at Atlanta’s Auburn Avenue Research Library entitled Black Money will showcase Fuller’s collection of currencies from around the world depicting African, African American and African diasporic subjects.
“Ever since I was a child, whenever I’ve had a little cash, I’ve used it to buy currencies from other countries,” says Fuller of his longtime hobby, which has become part of his scholarly research.
A 2012 10 rand note from South Africa honors “Father of South Africa” Nelson Mandela.
Recent discussions around a planned $20 bill featuring Harriet Tubman and the release of a Canadian $10 bill featuring Nova Scotian civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond have heightened attention toward the possibility of new currencies depicting women and people of color. But Fuller is quick to point out that women and people of African descent have been featured on currencies throughout the world for hundreds of years. “The time seemed right for a public exhibition with my currency collection that really explores the idea of money as a historical and cultural source,” he says.
The new exhibition, curated by Tracy Murrell and designed by artist Irvin Wheeler, will display the artifacts hanging from specially created sculptural Baobab trees. The show is divided into 10 themes: The Ancient African World, Africana Art, Enslavement & Freedom, Colonialism, Independence, Economic Development, Black Music & Dance, Black Women on Money, Children’s Money and The Modern Africana World. While a number of the artifacts come from the countries of Africa and the black diaspora, European countries have also depicted people of African descent on their currencies, and a bank note from the Confederate States of America depicts enslaved Americans.
A 10 gourde note from Haiti depicts Sanité Bélair, a female freedom fighter in the Haitian Revolution.
The exhibition Black Money: World Currencies Featuring African, African-American, and African Diasporic History and Cultures opens Wednesday, November 28, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library with a public reception beginning at 6:30 p.m. The show runs through January 6.