Notes of Ebony: Closing Reflections on a Season of Black Art in Fayetteville, NC

Attendees viewing the art at Notes of Ebony during the Reverie

For three months, Notes of Ebony filled Fayetteville with color, sound, and story. It wasn’t just an art exhibit—it was a living, breathing conversation between Black artists and the community of Cumberland County. Each piece carried its own melody, and together they sang a chorus that hundreds of visitors came to witness, celebrate, and take home with them.

The walls of Notes of Ebony held the work of twelve extraordinary artists, each voice distinct yet in harmony with the others:

• Lydia Boddie-Rice

• Tyi Chaplin

• Tim Ellis

• Zoe Hare

• Love Aritus

• Chasity Simone

• NiSi

• Lex Turner

• Willie Williams

• Christina Miles

• JaLisa McCullough

• Dwayne Lester

  
  

Their artistry reminded us that Black creativity is both timeless and urgent—a reflection of history, a mirror of the present, and a vision of what’s still to come.

A special shout out to Mayor Anthony and her wife for attending (Also pictured Zmear Kalle and Antonio Renteria)

But Notes of Ebony was not only about the art on the walls. It was about the community that gathered around it—the laughter, the conversations, the clinking of glasses. A special thank you to Dirty Whiskey Craft Cocktails, whose Fayetteville space became our home. Their signature drink, Perfect Thyming, created just for The Reverie, tasted like celebration in a glass.

We are also grateful to Thomas Ferguson (Tommi Lee) of Black Canvas, whose sound, lighting, and DJ sets turned each event into an experience that touched every sense. To Zairius Miles, who kept us lifted during CHUuUCH: A Creative Revival. To Zmear Kalle, who closed us out with song at The Reverie. And to Nakia Jalise, who welcomed us in at the opening reception with a voice that set the tone for everything that followed—thank you.

As we close this chapter, we are not saying goodbye. Notes of Ebony was a seed planted, and it will keep blooming in our city and beyond. The next bloom will come in January with our upcoming exhibit, Ease: A Love Letter to Black Women. This new show will continue to honor and uplift Black artists in Fayetteville and Cumberland County. The call for art goes live in October, and we invite artists and community members alike to join us in this next celebration.

President April Mata and Vice President Shakeyla Ingram

Notes of Ebony has shown us what happens when Black art is given space to shine: people show up, connections are made, and culture is nourished. Thank you to every artist, every partner, and every visitor who walked through those doors. Fayetteville showed up for Black art, and Black art showed up for Fayetteville. And that’s a note that will keep playing long after the exhibit has closed.