Centrum is thrilled to announce an installation, Beyond the Fade: Exploring Black Masculinity through Art, by visual artist Jevon Brown as part of its In the Making residency program. Please join us February 6^th for an opening reception of the work, which will be on view from February 6 – 21, 2025. The artist will also host two informal walkthroughs of the installation. 

The Barbershop is a social place that connects the intergenerational lineage of Black men, linking from boyhood to manhood. Through his barbershop installation, Brown aims to highlight the Black barbershop aesthetic as a cornerstone of Black masculinity, connecting generations of Black boys and men through hairstyles. Brown uses hair chart grids as symbols and icons, superimposing hair symbols with knitted, woven, and silkscreened fabrics and prints, dyed materials, sculptural headdresses, and other found objects, with checkered floor tiles to convey the Barbershop aesthetic. The colors of this work mirror an exterior Miami Caribbean landscape, rich with tapestries full of symbology. Each strand evokes memories and emotions, signifying a unique journey from boyhood to manhood. This work is a celebration of Black people’s deeply symbolic relationship to hair care. Hair holds spiritual energy for Black communities across the Caribbean diaspora. It allows them to express power, respect, individuality, and connect with their roots.  

Jevon Brown is an American-born Bahamian/Jamaican visual artist and textile designer from Miami, FL. His work explores the intersections of barbershop culture, boyhood memories, and masculinity from the perspective of a queer man. Graduating with a BFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design, he draws upon Miami’s Black barbershop experience to weave narratives of Caribbean identity and honor the cultural significance of hair aesthetics. Central to his artistic process is the gathering of symbolic materials: clippers, combs, and capes, each resonating with the cultural aura of the barbershop. These elements serve as the foundation; he then blends abstract forms with a vivid color palette inspired by the Miami-Caribbean landscape. Brown’s creations not only celebrate the artifacts of barbershop culture but also serve as a visual testament to the inclusivity and empowerment found within these spaces. He aims to create a welcoming environment where queer and LGBTQIA+ individuals of the Caribbean diaspora can see themselves reflected with pride and authenticity. 

His sculptural compositions reimagine childhood sanctuaries, where color, texture, and form converge to evoke a sense of belonging and celebration. Brown holds a BFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design. 
 

ABOUT CENTRUM 

Through inter-generational immersive workshops, Centrum brings together aspiring and master artists to foster creativity, find and provide mentorship, and build community. Centrum is headquartered within the majestic Washington seaside landscape of Fort Worden State Park. Centrum’s workshops, artist residencies, performances, exhibitions, and readings attract more than 15,000 people of all ages each year, from 77% of all Washington counties, 46 of the 50 states in America, and dozens of foreign countries. Nearly one-third of those it serves are age 18 and under. For more information, please visit www.centrum.org 

Centrum operates as a 501(c)3 organization. Its Residency Programs and exhibitions are made possible through the generosity of Sally Warren & Jeff Jackson, Cathy Sarkowsky, Cat Clifford, and numerous granting agencies.