Join us for a reception and celebration of "An Exuberant Spirit: The Sammie L. Nicely Collection" to be held on Thursday, June 15, from 4 to 7 pm. Samuel Louis Nicely (1947 - 2015) was an artist and educator who embraced his cultural heritage as an African American man from Appalachia. Nicely self-identified as a contemporary folk artist, and his unique aesthetic is a blended exploration of African and Appalachian ancestry that is evident in both his art and his collection. In 2020, fifty works from Nicely's personal collection were bequeathed to the Reece Museum, and since then the special collection has grown to include 138 works that represent a variety of media and forms.

“This eclectic and diverse collection of works reflects Mr. Nicely’s talents and eye for beauty as both a collector and an artist,” says Reece Museum director Rebecca Proffitt. “This exhibition is the first opportunity we have had to see the collection as a whole, and to experience the power and emotional impact of sharing space with all of these artworks.”

"An Exuberant Spirit" will be on display through October 13, 2023. The Reece Museum is a unit of the Center of Excellence for Appalachian Studies and Services, which is housed in the ETSU Department of Appalachian Studies. The Reece Museum is located on the campus of East Tennessee State University and is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Follow the Reece Museum on social media for more content and digital programming. For more information, please visit http://www.etsu.edu/reece or phone (423) 439-4392. ETSU is an AA/EEO employer.

For disability accommodations, call the ETSU Office of Disability Services at 423-439-8346.