Heirloom: The SketchBook
Exhibition Series
HEIRLOOM SERIES
A Multigenerational Art Movement by Doudgy (Dew-G) Charmant
Honoring Legacy. Preserving Story. Inspiring the Future.
Project Overview
The Heirloom Series is an expanding, multi-city art initiative created by Emmy-winning artist and curator Doudgy (Dew-G) Charmant. Rooted in legacy, fatherhood, and cultural transmission, the project uses painting, film, storytelling, and community engagement to explore how the gifts, memories, and unfinished dreams passed down to us become the foundation of future generations.
The centerpiece of the series, Heirloom: The Sketchbook, emerged from a deeply personal inheritance: a sketchbook left behind by Doudgy’s father, the late Haitian artist Ralph Bricene Charles. Before passing, he entrusted his son with a collection of unfinished sketches—fragments of ideas, stories, and visions. In response, Doudgy began transforming every page of that sketchbook into large-scale contemporary paintings, each one both a completion and continuation of his father’s creative voice.
This process—honoring what was left behind, finishing what was started, and expanding it into new life—is at the heart of the Heirloom Series.
A short documentary film accompanies the project, capturing the emotional, artistic, and spiritual journey of transforming a father’s final gift into a generational legacy.
Awards & Recognition
The Heirloom Series has already received significant institutional recognition.
When showcased at the Maryland State National Treasury Building, the exhibition was honored with a Certificate of Recognition from the Comptroller of Maryland for its cultural impact and artistic excellence.
Doudgy’s past work—known for its powerful merging of painting, storytelling, and cinematic curation—has earned him an Emmy Award, further validating the artistic quality and cultural value of the Heirloom initiative.
Exhibitions & Impact to Date
The Heirloom Series has been showcased in notable venues across the United States, including:
• Maryland National Treasury Building (Certificate of Recognition received)
• Inter-American Museum, Washington, D.C.
• Express Yourself DMV, Wheaton, MD – supported by a Maryland State Arts Council grant
• Brooklyn, New York – supported by additional funding from the African Peach Arts Coalition
• ArtStroll / Castleberry Hill Arts District, Atlanta, GA
These exhibitions have reached diverse audiences—families, artists, collectors, cultural leaders, and community members—strengthening connections between generations and creating spaces for dialogue, healing, and artistic inspiration.
.Collaborative & Community Components
The Heirloom Series is not only a solo exhibition; it is a global group collaboration.
Each show invites artists from around the world to create works responding to the theme of legacy—the objects, memories, and intangible gifts passed down from loved ones.
The exhibitions include:
• Group Showcases featuring international artists
• Artist Talks exploring process, inheritance, and storytelling
• Workshops designed to help families and young artists reflect on their own heirlooms and creative gifts
• Film Screenings documenting the making of the Heirloom series
• Community Events that bring families together to celebrate culture and generational bonds
The project emphasizes the importance of honoring parents, elders, and ancestors while cherishing the loved ones who walk with us today.
Mission & Social Impact
At its core, the Heirloom Series is a movement dedicated to strengthening:
• Family connections
• Intergenerational storytelling
• Father–child relationships
• Cultural preservation
• Artistic empowerment
The project highlights fathers who are present in their children’s lives and encourages those who are not to reconnect, rebuild, and reclaim their role. It emphasizes the importance of carrying forward the dreams and lessons entrusted to us—and using our creative gifts to uplift future generations.
Through painting, film, and public engagement, the Heirloom Series inspires communities to:
• Honor those who came before
• Celebrate the relationships they have today
• Cultivate the legacy they will leave behind
Use of Grants & Funding
Current and past grants have been essential to the expansion of the Heirloom Series. Funds are used transparently and effectively toward:
• Creating new large-scale paintings
• Purchasing art materials
• Renting gallery and museum spaces
• Paying participating artists
• Covering travel and art transportation costs nationwide
• Film production and editing
• Community food, beverages, and hospitality
• Workshop supplies and educational materials
Each grant directly enhances public access to the arts, community programming, and the growth of a multigenerational creative movement.
Vision for Future Expansion
With continued support from donors, foundations, and grantors, the Heirloom Series aims to:
• Expand into additional U.S. cities
• Establish international exhibitions in the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and beyond
• Commission new large-scale works based on remaining sketches
• Develop a full-length documentary
• Build a traveling multi-artist fellowship
• Create community residencies and youth mentorship programs
• Grow the group show to feature even more artists whose work centers on legacy and family
This is not only an art exhibition—it is a cultural mission aimed at strengthening families and communities through the power of story, memory, and creativity.
Conclusion
The Heirloom Series stands as a tribute to the past, a celebration of the present, and an investment in the future. By completing the unfinished work of his father and inviting artists across the world to do the same with their own family stories, Doudgy Charmant has shaped a project that transcends art—it builds connection, honors legacy, and inspires generations.
With continued funding and partnership, the Heirloom Series will reach more communities, more families, more countries, and more hearts—carrying forward the torch of those who paved the way and ensuring their stories live on.