Charmaine Minniefield explores her ancestral roots in exhibit 'Indigo Prayers'

Charmaine Minniefield is the artist behind "Indigo Prayers" on view at the Carlos Museum. (Courtesy of Charmaine Minniefield)

The “ring shout” is an African-American practice of resistance, and the origins go back to West Africa, predating enslavement. Artist and activist Charmaine Minniefield explores this and her ancestral roots in a new exhibition at the Carlos Museum of Emory University, “Indigo Prayers: A Creation Story.” She joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes via Zoom to talk about her recent research and how it informs her new body of work.

Interview highlights:

How an unexpected detainment led to personal and artistic discoveries: