By Kelley Gray
Due to unfortunate circumstances, the senior show exhibition has been put online along with the rest of classes at Valdosta State University. The Coronavirus, or COVID-19, has ravaged the world and has managed to put everything at a halt. Classes have been fully moved to online, stores are being closed or put on tight restriction, and shortages of necessities are scaring masses of people. Despite all these setbacks, students are living on and working around the challenges of the virus.
I had the opportunity to interview one of the seniors for the senior show at Valdosta State University. I had the pleasure of interviewing Kyana Calhoun, a 22-year-old African American woman in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program here at VSU. After sitting down and interviewing her, I learned a lot about herself and her artwork.
After listening to Calhoun discuss her artwork, one can see how passionate she is about the issues she addresses in her pieces. Her artworks deal with how African American women deal with internal battles and how stereotypes are forced upon them. A few big themes Calhoun explores in her works, she explains, are loneliness, oppression and stereotypes, body dysmorphia, and repression of feelings. Her works also heavily focus on the eyes of the people she is portraying. The artworks Calhoun has submitted to the senior show all feature an African American woman who resembles herself, facing the stereotypes and the internal struggles they may face.
One of the pieces that stands out is a black and white lithograph titled, “Can You Hear Me Now?” This piece features an African American woman with her eyes all white and what seems to be tears or possibly blood oozing out of them. Her mouth is also completely gone from the lithograph. This piece is strong and successful in ways that bring up questions about the piece. The audience is left to wonder why her eyes are altered in such a way and why her mouth is gone. African American women are often silenced, their voice and opinions being completely ignored. Her mouth being gone could be a good reference to this reason. Her eyes could be altered and oozing liquid because of the sadness she feels from being unheard and being seen as unimportant.
After speaking with Calhoun about her reasoning behind altering the mouths and eyes in her pieces, her motives are deep. She explains that the mouth alterations are to show their voices being ignored and forgotten. She also explains that the eye alterations are to avoid individuality among the paintings and to allow a stronger connection and relatability with the audience.
Another piece to discuss would be the painting, “Never Alone” This oil painting features an African American woman sitting, holding her knees to her chest and holding herself. Behind her is a dark shadow watching over her. This piece tackles the theme of loneliness as she discussed before. The woman in the painting is visibly distraught, comforting herself as the dark figure behind her is crouched and consoles her. Calhoun explains that the meaning behind this piece is that no matter how lonely you think you are; you are never actually alone.
Calhoun’s pieces focus heavily on the eyes because the eyes are an important part of who you are as an individual. Calhoun explains the eyes allow someone to see themselves as ugly or alone. She also explains that if you were to look at your situation from a different point of view, those problems one would see could disappear. The eyes are more important than we may think, and Calhoun tackles this issue successfully in her pieces.
Calhoun’s artworks excite and bring about questions with each piece, each discussing the different themes. Her artworks are a progression of changing the perspective and truly seeing for the first time. Calhoun states that with each piece, she made the woman resemble her. This shows that she also struggles with these issues presented, and as she worked with each, she began to change her perspective and see herself for the first time. Her artworks are relatable and provide a positive message to young women to love themselves and stand up for what they believe in.
My name is Kelley Gray and I am a BFA major at Valdosta State University. After I graduate I plan on becoming an animator and a tattoo artist on the side. I am a huge fan of classic rock music and enjoy singing. A few of my hobbies include painting, singing, and playing guitar.