ST. MARY’S CITY, Md. — The descendants of Historic Sotterley call each other “cousin.” There are more than 300 self-identified descendants in 30 states and six countries hailing from the historic property in St. Mary’s County that has seen over three centuries of human life on its grounds.
Now, descendants have an opportunity to have their portrait painted by local artist Nicole Stewart. Their journey, according to Historic Sotterley President — and a descendant herself — Gwen Bankins, is one of healing.
“People are all at different points on their journey. They’re in different places, it’s critical to show that. We can’t change the past, but to take that common ground and build on it however we want to express ourselves is a beautiful thing,” Bankins said.
Sotterley is special because of the sheer number of people who lived and worked on the land over the last 300 years. And not just the enslaved, but the indentured servants, Indigenous people and farmers, too. Here, they are rooted together. Here, they find a common ground that shows the ways we’re alike, the pain we’ve experienced at each other’s hands, and that honoring the past can help forge a path forward together.
“There’s no shame amongst the descendants,” Bankins said, adding that it often feels like a family reunion. “It’s one of love. We respect where each individual person is in their journey.”
Connecting with your ancestors has become popular in recent years with the explosion in technology and increased accessibility to records. Now, it’s possible to pull historic documents while you’re on your lunch break, and DNA kits offer a glimpse of stories that may have otherwise been lost to history. Many people aren’t always ready for the secrets they unearth or the questions they revive about identity, family and our shared American story. Even so, getting to know our ancestors is essential work; their stories and hardships have shaped us all, no matter who they were or where they came from. Our connections to the past can serve as lessons for how to move forward and honor the sacrifices that got us here. It also fosters empathy and a deeper sense of self.
Bankins described how profound it is to walk on the grounds where her ancestors walked while simultaneously hearing kayakers calling to one another in the Patuxent River, or listening to kids embark on service learning projects or simply enjoy the beauty of the grounds. The space, much like our role in it, is bigger than just ourselves. And she believes the portraits help bridge that gap between the self and the bigger picture.
As for the portraits, Stewart said her goal is to let people be themselves. Everyone, including kids, gets to choose their own outfit, pose and title. It’s not just about creating a historical record of the descendants, but capturing who they are and what they mean to each other.
“I want people to stand in front of these portraits and tell themselves ‘this could be my brother, my sister, my neighbor, my friend,’” Stewart said, adding that creating these portraits was “a labor of love.” Stewart is retired from another field and said she considers it “a privilege to do something to make my corner of the world a little better.” The portrait work was made possible in part by grants from the Maryland State Arts Council and the Southern Maryland Folklife Center.
Stewart has completed 38 portraits and imagines there could be anywhere from 60 to 100 when she’s done. The portrait itself is a baby step, she says, into something bigger, into discovering yourself and your full story for the first time.
“Sharing Our Common Humanity from Common Ground” opens at St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Sept. 29 and will run through Dec. 12.
The 38 portraits will be on display with additional work by photographer Ken Barlow and quilter Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither. Visitors can view the exhibit from Sept. 30 through Dec. 12 during the Boyden Gallery’s open hours, Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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This writing radiates empathy—for a solemn history and for the possibilities of tomorrow. We, as modern immigrants drawn by the promise of freedom and democracy, have a particular duty to cherish this history, recognize the cost of today’s blessings, and commit to co-creating a brighter future.
It is a privilege, as both an artist and a gallery colleague of Nicole Stewart, to applaud her masterful painting technique. I wish her exhibition a triumphant success! 🎉🎉🎉