Antoinette’s ‘Tignon’ Examines Headwraps as Self-Expression for Black Women
Wright Gallery presents Chesley Antoinette’s exhibition “Tignon” starting Jan. 23 and continuing through March 9.
The Texas-based artist examines the Tignon Law of 1786 in Louisiana, which forced free women of color to cover their hair with a cloth known as a tignon. The women reappropriated the tignon as a symbol of rebellion by embellishing the headwraps in decorative fabrics, feathers and jewels. Through contemporary photography and textile sculpture, the exhibit explores headwraps as a form of self-expression and empowerment for black women.
“Tignon” includes photography of contemporary women in 18th century clothing that reference historic paintings and drawings of women wearing tignons, along with essays, textile sculpture and headwraps on display.
A reception with Antoinette will be Feb. 8 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the gallery.
Wright Gallery is part of Texas A&M’s School of Performance, Visualization & Fine Arts and School of Architecture. It is located in the Langford Architecture Building A, and is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free and open to the public. For more information, visit arch.tamu.edu/inside/services/wright-gallery.
