Walter J. Hood: 2025 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medalist in Architecture Public Talk

Join Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medalist Walter Hood for a public talk "Exploring the Lowcountry" on the design of the African Ancestors Memorial Garden at the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina. This lecture will explore the rich heritage of the Phillips Gullah Geechee community and its profound connection to the low country landscape-a history deeply intertwined with the sacred site at Gadsden's Wharf, where many enslaved Africans first arrived from West Africa. Hood will discuss how the memorial garden honors this cultural legacy within the broader narrative of African American experiences and contributions in the region.

The lecture is presented with Walter Hood's exhibition Native(s) in the Campbell Elmaleh Gallery, February 3–April 13. The exhibition is supported by the UVA School of Architecture's Office of the Dean, the Thaler Endowment, UVA Arts, the Office of the Provost, and the Vice Provost for the Arts.