Black Beaches During Segregation by Rik Freeman
Show Dates: August 22, 2024 - September 28, 2024

Artist Talk: August 31, 2024; 5-6pm - RSVP HERE

SERIES DESCRIPTION

"These paintings focus on the Atlantic Seaboard and how segregation and "Jim Crow" laws, which were meant to degrade the humanity of Black people, instead inspired the creation of these Black beaches and recreational areas. I did onsite research at six beaches, from Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, to American Beach, Florida. Five of these are still in existence as primarily Black-owned beaches and/or municipalities.

With the paintings, all oil on canvas, I am depicting in a narrative style the history, joy, and comradery of a shared beach experience. With the exception of "Wade In," which addresses the confrontational racism of the era and the riot that led President Johnson to sign the Civil Rights Bill less than a month later. The paintings pay attention to the uniqueness of each beach and the similarities. They emphasize characters' interactions and the compositional flow of scenes, referencing the periods of each beach's respective histories. This series was made possible with the support of the Honfleur Artist in Residence Program."
- Rik Freeman