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| "Side effects": junk paper collage. |
Want music?
Click: Chaka Khan, Ain't Nobody.
2GN2S
Paintings and Quilts • Black Leisure
by Stephen Towns
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| “Looking for Lorraine” (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, and acrylic and crystal glass beads, 55.5 x 68 inches. |
In central Florida, Ocala National Forest is dotted with more than 600 lakes and rivers. A nearby recreation hub, Silver Springs, has capitalized on the tourism potential of these glistening, clear bodies of water for decades, offering sandy riverside beaches and taking visitors on jaunts in glass-bottom boats.
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| “Swimming Lessons” (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inches |
Until 1968 and the passing of the Civil Rights Act, Silver Springs—similar to many other places in Florida and the South more broadly—was racially segregated and only open to white patrons. In 1949, the owners of Silver Springs opened Paradise Park a mile down the road as a destination “for colored people,” as the welcome sign read, who were prohibited from the other resort.
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| “Motown in Motion” (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, and acrylic and crystal glass beads, 55.5 x 68 inches |
Paradise Park was one of three beaches in Florida open to Black visitors during this time and also offered sandy beaches, rides in glass-bottom boats, a petting zoo, a dance pavilion with a jukebox, performances, games, and a softball field. It remained in operation until 1969, shortly after desegregation, and became a subject of fascination for photographer Bruce Mozert (1916-2015), who documented happenings at both recreation areas.
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| “Taking Flight” (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inches |
“Motown in Motion,” for example, depicts a group of young people gathered on the beach, and “I Will Follow You My Dear” trails two women swimming underwater—another nod to Mozert’s work as a pioneer in underwater photography.
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| “When We Were Young” (2022), acrylic, oil, and metal leaf on panel, 40 x 40 inches |
The figures in Towns’ paintings are more posed, drawn directly from Bruce Mozert’s snapshots, depicting smiling kids at play. Towns often uses reflective materials like metal leaf that emanate light back toward the viewer, reiterating a sense of brightness. “I want people to feel that warm, reflective energy when they see the show,” he says.
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| “A Taste of Lemonade” (2024), natural and synthetic fabric, polyester and cotton thread, crystal glass beads, metal and resin buttons, 55.5 x 68 inches |
Explore more on Towns’ website and Instagram, and if you’re in New York, you can see Private Paradise in Corning through January 19.
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| Photograph of visitors at Paradise Park by Bruce Mozert |
2 minute video by the artist, Stephen Towns, below.
From the Land of Earthquakes and Fire
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| huge flames, dark clouds |
When the wind was 90+, the fires are an inevitability, we just don't know where. The wind can change course so quickly it is hard for the firemen and first responders to anticipate and be where needed.
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| new homeless |
No containment and two days so far, this is a fast moving vicious fire. They say it is the worst ever.
So many have lost homes and Insurance companies in California are not often offering fire insurance.
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| formerly a home |
I am hoping that you might include a prayer to your God, for the victims & firefighters who risk their lives to save lives.
Throwback Thursday ...
36 faces from 2017
57th Annual Inter-dojo Karate-do Championships
Just because ...
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| Double-banded Courser |
Friday's Smiles ...
4 comments:
I'm so sorry for the people who suffer from these fires and lost everything. It's such a tragedy.
Your last smile of Friday is so true. The earlier we accept the change the better for us, but very often this won't be easy at all.
Let's be grateful we still have a warm and intact home.
Have a peaceful weekend and, please, stay safe, Jacki.
Hello Jacki,
Last eve on youtube there was a good 10 minute video by a reporter named Lawrence.I have watched him often on other topics. But this one was on the current fires and why they exist. He talks about the most dangerous natural phenomenon, the wind. It is what creates danger in hurricanes, tornados, and fires. It is well worth watching. Your video and information about the paintings and quilts showing black history, from a man thinking about his own connections was so beautiful. It set my day to be calm, thoughtful, and also optimistic, rather then the pessimistic that I have been experiencing with these fires.
Thank you, Elenor you are so kind. It is indeed difficult to be positive about such devastation, the wind got up to 100 mph and was erratic. So sad.
Thanks Carrol, I love to hear from you. Yes, I have tried to provide some relief in the form of features etc that focus away from the fires. Back in 1973, we move from Riverside to Yorba Linda and we had 85 mph winds that blew down a sturdy fence. Our neighbors were out od town, and their patio furniture was about to fly away. We went over to save them, and Dave did but I had to hold on a supporting post, as it almost blew me into their pool. Winds can be so erratic and powerful.
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