Shannon Tatum
Blue&White Flash/Graduate Student
Unique, creative and bold are just a few ways to describe the pieces currently on display in the “It Slipped Away From Me” Art exhibition held on April 11, 2013 in the College of Liberal Arts Art Gallery.
Senior art majors showcased various works including: sculptures, ceramics, graphic designs, paintings, drawings, photographs and motion/sound graphics as a requirement for their ART 454 Portfolio Development class. The course is designed to prepare students to meet the challenges of professional practice within the arts. Components of the class include building a resume, writing an artist’s statement, portfolio development, strategies for a web presence, grant funding, self-promotion, marketing strategies, presentation, and senior exhibition.
Issac Jones, a senior graphic design major from Vicksburg, Miss. with six items on display, stated that he drew most of his inspiration from his Christian beliefs.
Jones’ acrylic painting of Jesus was a big attraction during the showing.
“Because of my religious background, I wanted to show and give other young people an example to follow. I wanted to introduce Christianity to those who are not Christian and I wanted to show that even for young people, Christianity is not just a lifestyle, it’s a choice.”
Trerica Roberson, a senior graphic design major from Louin, Miss., who had eight pieces on display, also drew inspiration from life experiences.
Her works included an acrylic painting entitled, “Psychedelic Spider,” which was inspired by a garden spider she saw on the side of her house. The black spider in the painting is surrounded by a bold, colorful web that glows in the dark. She stated that her graphic design piece entitled, “For More Years” was inspired by President Barack Obama’s reelection.
In Roberson’s “Forging the Legacy” graphic design piece, she stated that she was inspired by an interview with Charles S. Jones, a Buffalo Soldier who served in the United States Army. Buffalo Soldiers was a moniker given to the first peace-time African-American soldiers who served in United States Army.
Many historians believe that the men were dubbed Buffalo Soldiers by the Indians they met in battle during the expansion of the West. However, the soldiers participated in many other military campaigns, including: The Spanish American War, The Phillippine Insurrection, The Mexican Expedition, World War I, World War II, and the Korean Police Action.
Roberson stated that Jones was a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment sent to fight in the Korean War, the last infantry regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers. In 1953, he was discharged from the Army after finishing his tour in Germany. He then enlisted in the Air Force from 1954 until his discharge in 1959.
“I believe that the life of Jones’ and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers is a story that needs to be told,” said Roberson. “I wanted my piece to inspire questions so that I could then tell the story of the Buffalo Soldiers and Mr. Jones’ participation in the historical group,” said Roberson. “Mr. Jones led a fascinating life because we was not just an engine pilot for the Army, he was also a saxophone player for the group, The Untouchables, that was later renamed The Ohio Players.
Roberson hopes Jones can make a trip from his Bay Springs, Miss. home to see the piece.
There are 148 items on display in the exhibit that will be on display until May 3, 2013.
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