A Solo Show by Artist Jawan Townsend
Opening Reception: June 17th from 6-9 pm with Artist Talk at 8:30 pm
Studio ArtFarm 120 E 4th Ave. Mount Dora, FL
How does culture affect a person? Ancestry plays an important role in how customs and practices are passed down among generations. So what happens when cultures collide and new generations start creating their own sense of identity?
Enculturation seeks to explore the juxtaposition of traditional cultural expectations, pop culture influence, language, and self-expression.
As a young black man, I often feel the pressures of cultural stereotypes but I believe that I am more than what society says I am or should be. I love a variety of music and film, including anime, and it has had a heavy influence on my artistic style. I was drawn to the genre of anime since childhood and often felt connected to the characters. The collection that I created for Enculturation showcases the strength of black characters alongside anime protagonists and their associated story as it relates to the figures in each piece.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jawan Townsend is a young emerging artist based in Central Florida. During high school, he helped set up art classes, camps, and exhibitions as an intern for the Leesburg Center for the Arts. After graduating high school, he became an intern at Studio ArtFarm in Mount Dora where he was mentored by PJ Svedja, a professional oil painter and art instructor. While at Studio ArtFarm, Townsend became the primary instructor for the young adult art classes. Townsend’s mixed media approach to contemporary portraiture has developed over the past year as his interests in anime and traditional oil painting collide. His paintings represent people of color with strong influences of pop culture. You can see his work at Studio ArtFarm, City Arts Orlando, Leesburg Center for the Arts, and Artist with a Purpose in Leesburg.
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