Underground Railroad exhibit open through July 21

SANDUSKY — An ongoing art show paints a picture of the Underground Railroad's significance and Sandusky's role in helping runaway slaves achieve their freedom.Debuting earlier this month, and available through July 21 at Carrington Arts in downtown Sandusky: A show titled "Karen Hampton presents The Light of Freedom, Stories of African-American Threads of my Family, Their Journeys Towards Freedom and the Abolitionists.""As an artist of color, I have made a lifelong commitment to creating artwork that responds to the lives of my ancestors," Hampton said. "My lens is anthropology, and I study my own genealogy. I travel in my ancestor's footsteps. I walked the roads where they lived, explored the plantations where they were enslaved. I am the storyteller. As their medium, I provide a vehicle for my ancestor's spirits to transcend history and remain as historical memory."Marsha Carrington, the owner of Carrington Arts, explained why she recruited Hampton — a critically acclaimed contemporary artist, with her work displayed in many museums — for this specific show."In 2016, I learned that the Sandusky bicentennial was coming up in 2018," Carrington said. "I knew, then, that I wanted to have a special show at the gallery that related to Sandusky's rich history of the Underground Railroad."Sandusky represented an important stop along the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes dotted with safe houses inhabited by abolitionists, who helped slaves reach their freedom destination, often in Canada.In fact, Harriet Beecher Stowe used Sandusky as the gate to freedom for runaway slaves in her novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a 19th-century best-selling novel.Fast-forward to present day, and Carrington believes this show perfectly honors Sandusky as community members celebrate the city's 200th anniversary all year long."I love being a part of beautiful downtown Sandusky, and I felt this show might be a unifying experience for our diverse community," Carrington said. "There is a lot to celebrate here, and what better way to celebrate 200 years than through art that which is not only relevant to this city but also enlightening, moving and educational."Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.Karen Hampton's exhibit, paying tribute to both the Underground Railroad and Sandusky's involvement in helping runaway slaves achieve their freedom, is on display through July 21 at Carrington Arts in downtown Sandusky. She attended a special opening reception June 8 and is pictured with gallery owner Marsha Carrington.A portion of Carrington Arts for "The Light of Freedom" gallery is dedicated to the abolitionists, including Harriet Tubman and John Brown. "Walk With The Ancestors" is one of the piece featured in Carrington Arts' newest gallery by artist Karen Hampton. Open through July 21, and located at the gallery in downtown Sandusky, the show pays tribute to the Underground Railroad along with emphasizing Sandusky's rich history in helping runaway slaves achieve freedom.