FREDERICK, Md. — Margaret Dowell’s journey from growing up on a Calvert County tobacco farm to becoming a celebrated artist is brought vividly to life in her solo exhibition, “Dowell Farm: Past and Present,” on display through Dec. 29 at the Delaplaine Arts Center. The series of oil paintings captures the history and essence of the 77-acre family farm in Sunderland, Maryland, which has been in Dowell’s family since the 1700s.
“My father was a tobacco farmer, and we grew up on what was the sort of ancestral farm,” said Dowell. “It has been in my family since the 1700s. We had tobacco, vegetables, animals, and firewood. It was a lot of hard work, but I treasure that upbringing.”
Dowell, the eldest of three siblings, worked on the farm alongside her parents, Leroy Dowell and Margaret Stevens Dowell, as well as her younger brother, James Leroy “Jimmy” Dowell Jr., and her late sister, Mary Dowell Herring. Tobacco farming, a cornerstone of Calvert County’s economy for centuries, was central to her childhood.
“We planted tobacco, picked the beds, hoed it, topped it, cut it, and hung it in the barn,” Dowell recalled. “That life was school, farm work, and church.”
Her artistic journey began modestly. Dowell found inspiration in the pen-and-ink drawings that adorned the Calvert Independent newspaper, especially during the Christmas season. “This was in the 50s, mid-late fifties; they didn’t have photos and really cool, flashy stuff,” she said. “It was all pen and ink drawings, and I was just fascinated with the imagery from that time period.”
“And some of my relatives worked for the Calvert Independent. That made it even more special that they were involved,” Dowell continued.
After earning scholarships that supported her education, Dowell obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. She later returned to Calvert County in 2011 to care for her aging father, Leroy Dowell, who passed away five months later. Dowell chose to remain on the family farm, where she continues to grow vegetables and keep chickens.
Her paintings, many inspired by her personal history, offer viewers a unique perspective. In “Leroy’s Gifts,” she captures the essence of her father, who brought home fresh vegetables from the garden. “That one is the anchor for the whole series,” said Dowell. “My dad’s hands carrying those vegetables—it always felt like a present.”
Another standout piece, “Self-Portrait with Bush Hog and Ancestor,” depicts Dowell reclaiming overgrown fields with a bush hog, an homage to her ancestors. “The skull in the background represents all the ancestors I felt were watching over me,” she explained.
Among the standout pieces in the exhibit are Margaret Dowell’s self-portraits, where she appears in a striking red dress—a vivid contrast to the earthy tones of the farm scenes surrounding her. The dress, though impractical for farming, symbolizes her dual identity as both an artist and a steward of her family’s agricultural heritage.
“I didn’t really dress like that when I was bush hogging,” Dowell admitted with a laugh. “I would wear regular farming clothes, but because I’m an artist and not a real farmer, I put myself in this red dress.”
Dowell’s exhibit also touches on the intersection of art and history. In “Dr. Margaret Dowell (2022) and Dr. Nathanial Carroll (circa 1850s),” she paints herself alongside Carroll, a young man who worked on her family’s land in the 19th century to earn money to purchase his father’s freedom. Both Dowell and Carroll, despite living centuries apart, achieved the remarkable accomplishment of earning Ph.D.s.
Other works in the exhibit include “Heritage Roses,” a painting inspired by the two thornless rose bushes on the farm that have bloomed with a beautiful aroma since Dowell was a child, serving as a symbol of resilience and beauty amidst time’s passage.
“Tea Time” offers a whimsical narrative, depicting a wolf at a tea party on Dowell’s farmhouse porch. The piece was inspired by a Halloween memory during the COVID-19 pandemic when Dowell hosted an outdoor gathering for her young great-niece, who was captivated by a friend’s wolf mask.
Meanwhile, “Searching for Glory” explores the complex legacy of tobacco, a crop deeply intertwined with Calvert County’s history. The flowering tobacco plant, rendered in bright, green tones, contrasted with a galaxy background that suggest transformation and hope. Dowell reflects on tobacco’s dual role in history, from its economic importance to its association with addiction and modern scientific advancements, such as its use in vaccine development.
“I worked with addiction scientists from Johns Hopkins, and we did a book called “Addiction and Art,” and I also did some shows on that topic. So I had both of those things going on,” Dowell said. “I still champion my heritage 100%, but I also championed the people who were trying to give up on addiction.”
“I hope viewers take away that I did this for them,” said Dowell. “I wanted to tell little stories with my art. I believe the magic happens when the artist’s history meets the viewer’s history, and then there’s a spark.”
To learn more about the exhibition, visit Delaplaine Arts Center. A closer look at Dowell’s work is available on her website, margaretdowell.com.
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