Stephen Towns’ mixed-media textile pieces pay homage to the tradition of quilts made by Black women in the American South. These intricate works combine fabrics, buttons, shells, and beads to create stunning tableaux that reflect family portraits and vacation snapshots from a bygone era. Towns’ latest solo exhibition, titled “Safer Waters: Picturing Black Recreation at Midcentury,” at the Wichita Art Museum, delves into the theme of Black leisure during the era of Jim Crow laws.
The vibrant compositions in Towns’ artwork depict scenes of families and friends engaging in various recreational activities such as dance parties, sunbathing, boating, and swimming at a resort in Florida called Paradise Park. These images evoke a sense of joy and community, capturing moments of pleasure and togetherness in a time when racial segregation was still prevalent in the South.
Through his work, Towns explores the concept of escape and celebration of Black joy in the face of systemic oppression. He emphasizes themes of innocence, unity, and leisure as forms of resistance against the discriminatory practices of the past. The exhibition features seven new pieces that expand on Towns’ ongoing exploration of Black leisure activities.
Towns’ art invites viewers to reflect on the resilience and strength of Black communities, highlighting the importance of finding moments of happiness and connection in the midst of adversity. His intricate textile compositions celebrate the beauty and vitality of Black culture, offering a poignant reminder of the power of joy and togetherness in the face of historical challenges.
The exhibition “Safer Waters” will be on display at the Wichita Art Museum until June 14, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in Towns’ rich tapestries of Black recreation in midcentury America. To see more of Stephen Towns’ work, you can follow him on Instagram.
