Tile Mural Diptych of Harriet Tillison and James Lamb Bowers
“I've completed my tile mural diptych of Harriet Tillison and James Lamb Bowers who were tar-&- feathered in Kent County on June 23, 1858 by a mob who believed they assisted in the escape of enslaved people. While Tillison (a free Black) disappeared from the historical record without a trace, Bowers (a White Quaker) performed the unheard-of action of naming and filing assault charges against his aggressors. Bowers told his story in a narrative that was published widely in abolitionist newspapers. Although his brave and rare act of calling-out injustice against the status quo has gone largely unnoticed in our time, this significant local historical moment created a powerful catalyst that sparked numerous disagreements that characterized Maryland’s complex identity before the Civil War. Bowers and his family returned to live-out their lives in Kent County after the Civil War.”
By Mike Pugh
Harriet Tillison Was Not Allowed to Speak for Herself When She Was Tarred & Feathered for Helping the Enslaved to Escape: June 23, 1858, Chestertown, Maryland.
James Lamb Bowers Was Able to Speak for Himself When He was Tarred & Feathered for Helping the Enslaved to Escape: June 23, 1858, Worton, Maryland
The Making of the Murals
Traditional slip decoration for the color of the individual pieces. Black will be the dominant color (referring to tar and the trauma of the tar-&-feather event). Mustard yellow (a period color called “Chestertown buff”) and a creamy white will highlight elements in the mural.
Feathers still will dominate this panel: symbolic as Bower’s tool for telling his story.
Process sketch of the Bowers mural laid-out and blocked-out for construction. For Bowers, the emphasis is on the written narrative. The Quaker grid is now emerging into three-dimensional boxes that represent the Archive and accumulating archival material that piece together the historical narrative.
Harriet Tillison's mural design.
Research and Sources
