‘Historical Trauma’ with Textiles
By Cameron Morsberger - The Lowell Sun, March 22, 2022
LOWELL — Karen Hampton traveled 1,000 miles to St. Augustine, Fla., where she rented a boat, looked out at the shoreline and imagined her ancestors’ traveling there some 200 years ago.
And while standing there, after tracing her family back to this exact spot, she acquired a truth and understanding beyond what any historical document could provide.
“I like to experience things as much as I can,” Hampton said. “I like to feel it, to feel it in my body.”
For more than 20 years, the Lowell textile artist has studied her lineage, tracing her relatives’ journey to America, in order to create works that reflect the complex narratives surrounding her genealogy and identity.
Her years of in-depth research and a passionate search for meaning has culminated in a 21-piece art exhibition showcasing decades of textile-based works that integrate the Black-American experience in and the unique history of St. Augustine. The collection, titled “Origins,” will be on display at Flagler College’s Crisp-Ellert Art Museum through April 23.