Freedmen’s Town Welcome Center: A Hub for Art and Cultural Experiences
The Row House Galleries: A Journey Through Time
When you walk into the Freedmen’s Town welcome center, you may not expect to be walking into an art gallery. However, through the Freedmen’s Town Rebirth in Action Project, two Row House galleries were born, offering a unique opportunity to experience the story of freedom through art and cultural experiences.
A Blast from the Past
The three homes, built in the 1920s, are original structures of Freedmen’s Town and now stand as permanent exhibition spaces on the campus of the Welcome Center. According to Sharon Fletcher, executive director of the Freedman’s Town Conservancy, "We have been so honored to be able to work with the Houston Public Library and the City of Houston to repurpose these homes. These are three homes that have been re-established for adaptive reuse. So, the thought process for these three houses was really to represent the past, present, and future."
Art Exhibitions
Freedmen’s Town Rebirth in Action Project’s first exhibit, "This Way," began in May 2024, featuring 12 artists who told 12 different stories, highlighting different events or happenings in Freedmen’s Town. Currently, the Row Houses are hosting art pieces from two Houston natives and former NFL players, Martellus (Marty) Bennett and Michael Bennett.
A Journey Through Time
The first structure, by Michael, represents the future and showcases more modern art pieces. "We thought it would be great to have the Bennett brothers to be able to come in and do their exhibition," says Fletcher. "Their exhibition here is really Black labor with the thought process of imagination. How do you do Black labor imagination, right? And so, you’ll see that a lot throughout the artwork."
The second house, which features artwork from Martellus, is a blast from the past. "You have the original shellac wood on the walls, which really gives you, like, this nostalgic feeling, like if you’ve ever visited, like your grandmother in a country. But that’s the intention around this space. And in this space, we have the exhibition from Martellus Bennett," Fletcher explains. "It’s really a human experience, if you will, a place to dive into like joy. As you can tell, he is like an animation creative artist. A lot of his work is inspired by his daughter."
Future Exhibitions
Although the Bennet’s exhibitions end at the end of Black History Month, Fletcher said the Row Houses are booked with different artists until 2027. "We’re always looking to work with artists. So if artists want to be able to exhibit in this space and there’s an opportunity to do so, all they have to do is reach out to us via email, and then we can begin those discussions about how their artwork could be featured here in the Rowhouse galleries," she said.
Visiting the Exhibits
Anyone looking to visit the exhibits at Freedmen’s Town Welcome Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FAQs
Q: What is the Freedmen’s Town Rebirth in Action Project?
A: The Freedmen’s Town Rebirth in Action Project is an initiative to help tell the story of freedom through art and cultural experiences.
Q: What is the purpose of the Row House Galleries?
A: The Row House Galleries are a unique opportunity to experience the story of freedom through art and cultural experiences, showcasing the past, present, and future of Freedmen’s Town.
Q: How can I visit the exhibits?
A: The exhibits at Freedmen’s Town Welcome Center are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Q: How can I exhibit my artwork in the Row House Galleries?
A: If you’re an artist interested in exhibiting your artwork in the Row House Galleries, simply reach out to us via email, and we can begin discussions about how your artwork could be featured in the galleries.
