A gallery in the heart of Gee’s Bend.
The River Gallery presents year-round exhibitions curated by Souls Grown Deep that explore the history and artistic heritage of Gee’s Bend.
Current Exhibition
BETWEEN HISTORY AND MEMORY: DINAH MILLER’S LEGACY IN GEE’S BEND
Between History and Memory: Dinah Miller's Legacy in Gee's Bend honors the life, family, and enduring legacy of Dinah Miller (née Jenkins). Dinah was forcibly brought to the United States from West Africa as a young girl in 1860, likely aboard the last known slave ship to enter US waters, the Clotilda, 52 years after Congress outlawed the importation of enslaved people.
Having settled in Gee's Bend in the 1890s, Dinah is the earliest known named quilter in the area and the progenitor of a vast familial network of Gee's Bend quilters that flourishes artistically to this day. This exhibition aims to celebrate and contextualize Dinah's life within a broader historical framework, telling the story of one individual's arrival in Gee's Bend and her enduring influence on the community, its cultural traditions, and the history of American art.
Between History and Memory: Dinah Miller's Legacy in Gee's Bend is curated by Emma Yau, Souls Grown Deep Assistant Curator, and sponsored by Souls Grown Deep.
On view through September 2027.
The River Gallery is located at the Gee’s Bend Welcome Center.
12021 Co Rd 29, Boykin, AL 36723 • (334) 573-0020
Hours of operation: Mon: 10:00 am–1:00 pm, Tue - Sat: 10:00 am–3:00 pm
Hours may vary during holidays and special events, so please call ahead to confirm.
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Past Exhibitions.
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![Exhibition space with quilt displays and informational panels, including a black and white photo of an elderly woman sewing a quilt, a colorful quilt hanging on the wall, and a small display featuring a TV and a quilted bench.]()
Just Look Where He Brought Me From: The Family Quilts of Mary Lee Bendolph
Curated by Souls Grown Deep in collaboration with two of Bendolph’s children–Rubin Bendolph, Jr. and quiltmaker Essie Bendolph Pettway–the exhibition brought together quilts, prints, and archival images to showcase the powerful throughlines of storytelling, cultural expression, and familial connection in Bendolph’s work.
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![Exhibition space with white display panels featuring historical photographs and text, and a colorful quilt hung on a brown wooden wall. There is a bench with a patterned cushion to the right and large windows in the background letting in natural light.]()
A History of Gee's Bend from 1816 to the Present
OCTOBER 2023—AUGUST 2024
From the settlement of a cotton plantation by Joseph Gee in 1816 through the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement to celebrated exhibitions at major art museums worldwide, this exhibit explores key moments in the history of the storied community of Gee’s Bend. -
![Gee’s Bend, Gee’s Bend Quilts, Gee’s Bend Quilts for sale, Gee’s Bend ferry, Gee’s Bend History, Gee’s Bend map, visit Gee’s Bend, Gee's Bend River Gallery, Gee's Bend Welcome Center, Mosaic: Gee's Bend x Greg Lauren]()
Mosaic: Gee's Bend & Greg Lauren
OCTOBER 2022—SEPTEMBER 2023
This exhibition celebrated the groundbreaking collaboration between 14 Gee’s Bend quiltmakers and fashion designer Greg Lauren.
