King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation
Mistress of Ceremony
Nakeshia Walker
Known for her captivating presence and dynamic storytelling, Nakeshia Walker, will serve as this year's Mistress of Cermony. With grace, humor, and an unmatched ability to connect with audiences, she will guide the evening's program, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for all guests. She is the proud owner of The KW Experience.
Instagram: @the_kwexperience
Guest of Honor
Dr. Amir-Jamal Toure'
We are proud to recognize Dr. James Toure as our Guest of Honor. He is the distinguished receipient of the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council's 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. His decades of dedication, leadership, and service have left an endurng impact on our community. This honor celebrates his unwavering commitment to cultural preservation, education, and social advancement.
Special Guest Speaker
Elder Ned Williams
We are honored to welcome Elder Ned Williams, founder of the I.W. Cheever Vision Foundation, as our Special Guest Speaker. A respected voice in faith, history, and community advocacy, Elder Williams brings wisdom, inspiration, and a message rooted in heritage and hope. His leadership and work continue to uplift and empower communities.
Website: iwcheevervfoundation.org
Holiday Art Auction
Silently bid on original works by acclaimed and emerging local Black artists. All proceeds will go to supporting historic preservation and community art programs.
FEATURED ARTISTS
Calvin Woodum
Calvin Woodum (often seen under the name Cal Wood) is an abstract and contemporary painter based in Savannah, whose work is characterized by its vibrant colors, rhythmic composition, and a lyrical, expressive approach to form. A longtime presence in the Savannah arts community, Woodum blends abstract visual language with influences from music, fashion, and poetry. He creates canvases that move between bold geometric structure and fluid, emotive gesture. In addition to his studio practice, Woodum is an active local cultural leader and community arts initiator. His work has been highlighted in local features and exhibition programs across the city.
Richard Law
Richard Law is a Savannah-born visual artist whose work channels the spirit of the lowcountry through bold color, layered texture, and narrative imagery. Law’s paintings draw on Southern folklore, Gullah-Geechee cultural motifs, and everyday life in Savannah. He blends elements of folk tradition, gospel music, and contemporary fine art to tell stories about community, memory, and resilience. His practice ranges from striking figurative scenes to richly patterned compositions that celebrate local culture and spiritual life. Law’s work has been shown locally and regionally and is frequently exhibited at the Beach Institute, where his visual storytelling complements the museum’s mission of preserving African American history and cultural expression.
Napolean Wilkerson
Napoleon Wilkerson is a nationally recognized artist and educator based in Savannah who has worked in painting and watercolor for decades. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, Wilkerson’s work often focuses on figurative subjects, musical scenes, and everyday moments rendered with sensitivity and a strong sense of color and composition. As a longtime art teacher (including roles in the Savannah public schools and at Savannah Arts Academy), he pairs studio practice with a deep commitment to mentorship and arts education. Wilkerson’s paintings have been featured in local exhibitions and museum programs, and he remains a visible and respected voice in Savannah’s cultural life.
Meet the Assistant Archivist
Saadiq King-Short
Saadiq King-Short is a proud graduate of Morehouse College, where he earned his B.A. in Art with a minor in Art History. He currently serves as the Assistant Archivist at the Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center, bringing a thoughtful, research-driven approach to the preservation of Black cultural expression.
.With a foundation in studio art and deep training in art historical analysis, Saadiq approaches archival work as both a creative and scholarly practice. He views archives as spaces of living memory; places where the past speaks to the present and guides the future. His work is grounded in the belief that Black art is a vital vehicle for storytelling, identity, and community preservation.
.At the Beach Institute, Saadiq is committed to building an archive that not only upholds the museum’s mission but also honors the fullness, diversity, and depth of the community it represents. Through the intersection of art, history, and lived experience, he is dedicated to amplifying stories that have shaped Savannah’s African American legacy.
