Shawn Towey, Which Side Are You On?, fiber, 2012, William Way LGBT Community Center 8th Annual Juried Art Show
Shawn Towey, Which Side Are You On?, fiber, 2012, William Way LGBT Community Center 8th Annual Juried Art Show
Shawn Towey, Which Side Are You On?, fiber, 2012, William Way LGBT Community Center 8th Annual Juried Art Show
Shawn Towey, Which Side Are You On?, fiber, $600.00, 2012, William Way LGBT Community Center 8th Annual Juried Art Show
Inspired by the song of Florence Reece 1900 – 1986.
The William Way LGBT Community Center 8th Annual Juried Art Show drew 80 entries from artists winnowed to a show of twenty-five outstanding works of art by Philadelphia artists. The three top award winners will have a group show in 2014. The art show is in the lobby of the historic gay community center in Philly’s famous Gayborhood.
Shawn Towey‘s fiber wall hanging is rife with information and infinite inter-changing patterns. Each of the diamonds flips to reveal a different image. The collage effect drives a strong argument with it’s flipping photos but the beads attaching the tips are bead letters saying the words, “Which Side Are You On?“. Spelling out the ultimate question of the day. The story never ends.
“Which Side Are You On?” is a song written by Florence Reece in 1931. Reece was the wife of Sam Reece, a union organizer for the United Mine Workers in Harlan County, Kentucky. In 1931, the miners of that region were locked in a bitter and violent struggle with the mine owners called the Harlan County War. In an attempt to intimidate the Reece family, Sheriff J. H. Blair and his men (hired by the mining company) illegally entered their family home in search of Sam Reece. Sam had been warned in advance and escaped, but Florence and their children were terrorized in his place. That night, after the men had gone, Florence wrote the lyrics to “Which Side Are You On?” on a calendar that hung in the kitchen of her home. She took the melody from a traditional Baptist hymn, “Lay the Lily Low”, or the traditional ballad “Jack Munro“.[1] Florence recorded the song, which can be heard on the CD Coal Mining Women.'” – Wikipedia
Come all of you good workers
Good news to you I’ll tell
Of how that good old union
Has come in here to dwellChorus
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on? – Florence Reece
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