Mary Inabinett Mack

If you’ve ever stepped foot in any Black home in the South, then you’ve probably experienced something reminiscent of a Museum or an life-size Altar, right before your eyes. And if you’ve ever stepped foot in a coastal Georgia or Carolina home, then I can almost bet that you have had a similar experience, but accompanied by the work of Mary Mack hanging on at least one of the walls. 

When you think of Black & Gullah Geechee artists in the Lowcountry, you think of names such as Sam Doyle, Jonathan Green, Lisa Rivers,Natalie Daise, Diane Britton Dunham, Sonya Evans, Cassandra Gillens, and Mrs. Mary Inabinett Mack.

Although I only met Mrs. Mack a few years ago, I had already observed her work hanging in the homes of many other elders in our community years prior. Instantly, I felt connected with her work, specifically her emphasis on water and Black-Indigenous women in the Sea Islands. In my time as a resident of Saint Helena Island, I’ve not only had the chance to work in community with Mrs. Mack, but have also been a witness to the great impact she has had on Gullah-Geechee culture and it’s people. 

Last fall, I had the grand blessing to sit in cozy conversation with Mrs. Mack in her home; first, with the permission of her dear cat, Clemson 🧡. We discussed her life as an artist, art collector, her ancestry, Penn School and her connection to the land, water, and people of this place. Not to mention, she gifted us with a biggggg pan of her famous bread pudding upon departing, the true epitome of Southern love and hospitality; and a true representation of how Mrs Mack continues to authentically show up in this world.

UnEarthing: The Faces of an Island - Mary Mack and her Deep Connection with Water