In Focus: Representations of Black Womanhood from February 8, 2021 to March 27, 2021 at The Stamp Gallery | University of Maryland, College Park | Written by Kayla Conklin

The term “art” encompasses countless mediums, thousands of years of history, and millions of creators. What happens when two art media converge? Every week, the student docents at the UMD Stamp Gallery curate a playlist of music that represents the current exhibit. Each docent takes a different approach to their DJ duties, which produces a wide variety of musical interpretations of the visual arts.

This week, I produced a playlist for the current exhibit which is titled “In Focus: Representations of Black Womanhood.” Inspired by André Terrel Jackson’s hair pieces, my playlist is about Black womanhood and hair. I noticed that the Black woman’s relationship to her hair is a theme that courses through Jackson’s work, so I selected songs that approach this topic. 

I include songs like Solange’s “Don’t Touch My Hair,” India.Arie’s “I am Not My Hair,” and Willow’s “Whip My Hair” to understand and illustrate the story of Black female empowerment and beauty. This playlist is designed to be listened to as you walk through the current exhibit. Take an extra moment of reflection as you look closely at Jackson’s hair pieces and listen to the playlist.

Next time you visit the gallery, be sure to pack a pair of headphones so you might view the exhibition while you listen to the Art Hour playlists. The playlists are posted on Facebook, the Stamp Gallery Blog, and will air on WMUC in the future. As you listen and look, consider how the music changes the meaning of the artwork. Does the exhibition make you think of any other songs? How would you describe the connection between music and visual art? 

In a moment when empathy is so critical, making room for voices of Black women is so important. Hear and see many diverse stories as you consume art and media in order to get a more robust understanding of the history of art and culture.