Arnika Dawkins Gallery: “On Being Black”

Arnika Dawkins Gallery: “On Being Black”

by Aspen Evans.

The room was literally buzzing at the Arnika Dawkins Gallery Friday, October 16th for the exhibition’s opening reception. The “On Being Black” exhibition attracted SCAD students and photo enthusiasts alike. The show opening featured quite a few pieces from SCAD Atlanta students, alumni and faculty such as graduate student Joshua McFadden, alumni Ervin A. Johnson and photography professor Allen Cooley. Big names in the exhibition included Deborah Willis, Sheila Pree bright, Delphine Fawundu, Renee Cox and more. “On Being Black” is a visual representation that is centered around the ongoing conversation of what it means to be black in America in this day and age.

Pieces such as Renee Cox’s “Liberation of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben,” Le’Andra Leseur’s interactive “Trayvon” and Delphine Fawundu’s “What Do They Call Me? My Name is Aunt Sarah?” were some of the most talked about images at the show.

The event itself felt like a gathering of old friends with the warm reception seen around the gallery, possibly due to the event space being a two-story house in south Atlanta. It was easy to go up and talk directly to the artists about the inspiration, concept and technique behind their images. It was also discussed how their work related back to the context of the exhibition which was being black in America.

Overall, the exhibition brought together a community of artists who, although may not have the same views on what needs to be done in the black community today, conveyed a unified theme of how the outside world sees them. Head out and see the imagery before it closes January 22nd, 2016.

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