Through the Lens of Owens Daniels – A Creative Perspective on Arts and Health

By Shannon Stokes

Owens Daniels, a photographer and visual artist with a distinct photographic style that evokes passion, creativity and contemplation. With vibrant colors, text overlay and bold portraiture, Daniels’ photography fuses together art and storytelling to reflect today’s culture. “The stories I tell through my images, whether documenting social issues, capturing emotions, or conveying a specific message, reflect my unique perspective and voice,” said Daniels. “Life experiences, my cultural background, and personal interests influence the way I approach photography and the subjects I choose to photograph”.

In 2022, Daniels was commissioned by Triad Cultural Arts to present The Wellness Keepers, an exhibition that celebrated Black healthcare professionals of past and present through art, photography, and their narratives. I had the pleasure of curating The Wellness Keepers exhibition as a part of Triad Cultural Arts’ Juneteenth Celebration and theme of Black Health and Wellness: Rituals and Healing Traditions. The photography produced by Daniels featured Black doctors and dentists from the Twin City Medical Society, and medical professionals who graduated from or worked at the Kate B. Reynolds Memorial Hospital.

The Twin City Medical Society has been an ever-present force in Winston-Salem since its inception in 1904. Born out of a need of community support for African American Physicians due to segregation, the Twin City Medical Society has been instrumental in providing access to healthcare for the African American residents of Winston-Salem. Former president Dr. Harvey T. Allen and the leadership of the Twin City Medical Society lead efforts in advocating for there to be a hospital built to properly care for the residents of East Winston and beyond. The Kate B. Reynolds Memorial Hospital served that purpose from 1938 – 1970. Today the Twin City Medical Society is the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County branch of the National Medical Association and commits to improving the quality of health among minorities and disadvantaged people through membership, professional development, community health education, advocacy, and research and partnerships with local and private agencies.

An iteration of The Wellness Keepers will be on display at the Enterprise Center this year as a part of the Juneteenth Celebrations produced by Triad Cultural Arts. Black health and wellness and the traditions of healing practices is about being able to nurture, grow, and thrive as an individual and community. Arts and culture have played a significant role in leading to improved mental wellbeing, increased quality of life, and better health outcomes. In the spirit of the Sankofa, we must educate ourselves of the past to move forward purposefully. Preserving the history and culture of Black health through the lens of arts and culture is one-way collective healing can begin.