Artist-in-Residence Tawny Chatmon Inspires SCH Community with Workshops, Talks, and Collaborative Artwork

Class of 1957 Artist-in-Residence Tawny Chatmon spent two action-packed days on the SCH campus last week speaking at Lower and Middle School Assemblies, giving gallery talks to Upper School art students, enjoying lunch with the Black Student Union, and leading workshops for our 2nd-grade students.

A photography-based artist residing in MD, Chatmon spoke to students about finding her vocation. After documenting her father’s battle with cancer, Chatmon shared that she was personally motivated to create imagery that celebrates and honors the beauty of Black childhood.

Chatmon’s work often combines overlappings of digital collage and illustration. Members from the Class of 1957 visited campus to observe a workshop where Chatmon worked on a collaborative piece with 2nd-grade students, adding illustrated symbols to an original photograph by Chatmon who shared, "My artwork is about my hopes for my children, the kind of world I wish for them to grow up in, and the world I want all children to grow up in. So, the symbols I have used in my artwork represent hope, harmony, ancestry, life, positivity, and love."

She then asked students what they wanted to put out into the world and the responses varied from “more love” to “more friendship” to “more peace and care for nature and animals.” This artwork will be unveiled at the closing of Perspective On The Past on March 10. Those interested in attending can reserve a space here. One of the artist’s pieces, Deeply Embedded / Thoroughly Rooted, is currently on display at the Barbara Crawford Art Gallery through March 8 as part of the Perspective on the Past spring art exhibition. See more photos here.

Members from the Class of 1957 visit campus to observe a workshop where Chatmon worked on a collaborate piece with 2nd-grade students.