The Life of Sally Hemings
The Life of Sally Hemings
The Monticello Mountaintop Project is a landmark initiative by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation restoring and making accessible to the public new rooms of Monticello, the home Thomas Jefferson built for himself in Virginia, in addition to the unveiling of untold stories revolving around slavery. GSM Studios was enlisted to design the visitor experience in four different historic spaces in Monticello’s South Wing, as well as a fifth space along Mulberry Row. As the centrepiece of this project, we created a flagship immersive multimedia installation that tells the story of Sally Hemings, in the very room where she lived and raised her children.
GSM StudiosTelling Sally Hemings’ story without interpretation
Sally Hemings is a historical figure enslaved by Thomas Jefferson who fathered all six of her children. Her story has been interpreted in numerous ways, usually centered on her relationship with Thomas Jefferson. This exhibition is about giving Sally her space and retelling the story through her perspective. With so few artifacts to glean from, how can we tell Sally Hemings’ complex story in a compelling, yet factual way?
GSM StudiosEmbodying Sally Hemings in the space
A period dress reproduction was built to embody Sally Hemings’ presence in the room and connect the installation to other exhibition spaces at Monticello. With no historical paintings or pictures of Sally, we did not want to interpret her features. Instead we based the dress on historical evidence about the fabrics and styles she wore in Paris and Virginia. Multimedia projections bring the dress to life, suggesting that Sally is with us in her room.
GSM StudiosA theatrical experience based on what we know
To help connect visitors to Sally Hemings, we devised an approach grounded in theatricality and facts about her life. Why theatre? Because of its ability to conjure emotion and meaning from the said to the unsaid, and the known to the unknown. Inspired by factual evidence and testimonials, we explored key moments in Sally’s life and created an installation that focuses on her as a matriarch who sacrificed her own freedom for her children’s.
GSM Studios
GSM StudiosHer son Madison’s words
History has left us no written words from Sally Hemings. But the little we know about her speaks volumes. Short of Sally’s own words, we couldn’t find a better way to honor her legacy than to draw from her son Madison’s recollections of his mother. As we explored his memoir, we found true gems that reveal rich details about Sally’s everyday life and her role in her family’s history.
GSM StudiosThe room has a strange status — not quite a historical artifact, not entirely a shrine, more like an architectural prod to the conscience.
An immersive multimedia installation
To provide visitors with an intimate experience of Sally Hemings’ life, we used a blend of video, animation, sound, and object theatre. Visitors are immersed in Sally’s environment as they travel with her through space and time, reliving moments shared with her children and some of the major challenges she faced.
Behind the scenes of the multimedia installation's shooting.Inspiring a conversation
The Mountaintop Project, a major milestone at Monticello, sparks a national dialogue about the foundational role its enslaved community played in the country’s history. "The Life of Sally Hemings" allows the public to step into her room and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of her powerful legacy.
Together we create meaning
Audiences seek emotional and educational connections that inspire