SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Nov. 9, 2020 — A new exhibit in at Drury University’s Pool Art Center Gallery explores what it means to live as a person of color in America.
“Race in America” is the brainchild of Drury student Nikki Pastor, a double major in psychology and music who wanted to explore the topic through art that evokes conversation and critical discourse. This national juried exhibition asked artists to explore the idea of what it is like to live as a person of color, whether personally or systematically, and how all Americans can work together to improve racial equality.
“This was something we needed here at Drury and in our community,” says Pastor, noting the Ozarks small minority population makes the area less diverse overall. “This exhibit allows for the exchange of ideas and telling of different perspectives. The pieces say so much, and it takes a while to understand what they’re trying to tell you. The artists poured their hearts into these pieces in hopes that we can listen to their stories.”
The exhibit runs through Nov. 25 and features the works of 19 artists from across the country, including Drury communication professor Greg Booker, Ashley McLaughlin, Jym Wilson and Rex Ybanez of Springfield; as well as artists from Georgia, South Carolina, California, Florida, New York, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Arizona. Drury students Jalen Shaw-Johnson and Dre Hill also have works in the exhibit; both are officers in the Black United Independent Collegians (BUIC) group on campus.
Artist Charvis Harrell of Macon, Georgia was the juror. The exhibit includes his piece titled, “Id, Ego, and Super Ego of a Negro.” Harrell describes it as an “autobiographic self-portrait that deals with the labels that are given to us and the labels we give each other as black males.”
“It was an honor to have Charvis Harrell choose the pieces for this powerful exhibition of artists from across the nation,” says Rebecca Miller, professor of art and art history and the director of the Pool Art Center Gallery. “The work is diverse and speaks to the power of the visual arts in bringing relevant and timely conversations to our community.”
Pool Art Center Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/PoolArtCenter/
