May 2020 – Art Criticism

Rising Above

By Erica Thrift

2020 is turning out to be a crazy year for the entire world. A year that is forcing humanity to awaken from their normal. A year that is challenging traditions. As the world was forced into social distancing, school closures and canceling of large gatherings and events, humanity is forced to become creative problem solvers. Companies became innovative and creative with work from home solutions. Educational institutions created effective transitions to operating classes completely online, making traditional college graduation activities a challenge. Valdosta State University College of Arts provides graduating seniors an opportunity to showcase their work at the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery, but this year the 2020 Student Exhibition titled “In Bold” is offered as a virtual exhibition online. Traditions forced to be broken can have devasting effects on people but not this group of seniors. This global pandemic presented them with an opportunity to rise above the negative circumstances.

Tatyana Jackson is one of the senior art graduates who is conscious of her energy, a positive, colorful energy that allows him go inside herself and rise above the struggles. This energy is obvious in person and obvious in his acrylic on canvas titled Rose That Grew From Concrete. The vertical brushstrokes of orange, yellow, red and olive green are explosive and intense providing a contrasting background for the single purple rose growing through broken cement. Jackson said, “At the time, I was going through a lot. I was feeling down. I was telling myself to overcome what I was going through to build myself back up. Making that painting I released a lot of stress and I felt good after the fact.”

Tatyana Jackson, *A Rose That Grew From Concrete*, Acrylic on Canvas, “18 x 24”, 2019

Her chosen quote for the virtual exhibition also displays this energy. “Why would I quit today when tomorrow might be the day I win?”, Her ability to shift perspectives in times of adversity allows him to regain control of his happiness. When asked if she was disappointed by the change of physical venue to virtual venue she described it as “bittersweet.” Her plan to showcase her most recent works, created within the studio classes, did not work out because she had not completed the pieces before the school closures. She found it disappointing at first but then realized she had an opportunity to showcase the graphic art she has been creating for years, along with a couple personal pieces.

Jackson has been working as a freelance graphic artist for the last four years. She was part of the graphic design team in the marketing department at the Valdosta State University Recreation Center for two years and did an internship for a record label in Atlanta, GA. Her graphic work is mostly created for clients. Her passion is creating visual art for her client’s concepts and ideas. Creating a visual expression for her clients’ message they want to express to the world gives her great satisfaction. Her family also gives her satisfaction as well and provides most of her inspiration. She comes from a family of artist and musicians. Her uncle, who passed away from bone cancer, was an artist and is who sparked her interest in art. As a child she loved drawing things she saw, like pictures in comic books or in his words “little crazy drawings something like graffiti.” Eventually these interests grew into graphic art. She says, “I embraced what I thought I knew and began to invest and practice until I got good at it and found a passion for it.” The piece in the Senior Exhibition she feels the most proud of is Reasons, created with Adobe Illustrator. Reasons is an illustrated group portrait of her niece and nephews. The background contains small objects of the kids’ personal interests. Jackson said she does not have kids, but her niece and nephews feel like her kids. Showing that his family will always be his driving motivation.

Tatyana Jackson, *Reasons*, Adobe Illustrator, 2020

Overall, 2020 has been a rough year for everyone. People have to find ways to continue to live their lives. The previous statement holds true for Tatyana Jackson as she will not be able to experience a graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jackson’s colorful positive energy and family will continue to help her rise above any adversity.

Erica Thrift is a Bachelor of Arts major at Valdosta State University.

Watching isn’t Enough

by: Blake Wise

What does it take to get people to listen when all of their backs are turned?

Mirakal Jackson answers that question unapologetically and loud. What we as an audience are being told to listen to is immediately clear once we finally spot her work at a moment’s glance within the senior show at Valdosta State University. Jackson is a very bright and outspoken student from Springfield Massachusetts. Her talents don’t reach just into the creative field, she is earning minors in psychology, entrepreneurship and aerospace studies. Among her studies in the university, Jackson is also seen around the campus as an active speaker for many events and represents the school as a role model for public speaking. Her large paintings are impossible to skip over in this exhibition, and it’s made abundantly clear what the topic for discussion will be around the paintings, regardless of what the viewer might bring to the table. In her own words, Jackson’s describes the objective of her paintings and other works as:

“Conversations about cyclical, racial, and socio-economic issues that minorities face within the judicial and social justice systems of America.”

A Bold Bittersweet End

By Sophie Anderson

“BECAUSE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CORONAVIRUS “ are the first words that draw my eye on the page of the senior exhibition and they ring loud through the whole virtual exhibition. There can be no doubt that this senior class has been challenged like no other. The senior show is something that every VSU art student looks forward to and simultaneously dreads their whole college career. The stress of finding the location to exhibit, designing the pamphlets to be printed and passed out, laying out all the artworks to create a cohesive show has been taken away for the students exhibiting in “In Bold” and replaced with a far greater pressure : a literal pandemic.

Overcoming all obstacles

by: Tony Coates

Tatyana Jackson, a senior this year at Valdosta State University, Majoring in Fine arts, is a Graphic Designer primarily but whose mediums can also include painting. Coming from Carrollton, Georgia Jackson started her creative journey in highschool but truly refined her path during college. Jackson said that the inspiration of her art comes from experiences before and during college, saying that it is an easy way to express herself and other emotions through her art, as well as being very inspired by family too.

Life and Death

By Jonathon H. Staten

Celeste Civis, *Opossum Skull Top*, Digital Color Photography

With the current issue of the COVID-19, the Valdosta State University’s Senior Exhibition transitioned to an online platform. Some may see this as an unfortunate tragedy while others see it as a easier way to display their works while also reaching a wider audience. The Department of Art & Design presents In Bold where the artists seek to convey the truth of life experiences. Using radical, social, and political ideas to drive their work, they intend to spark conversation and understanding in their art to express their individual truths.

Women Taking Ownership

By: Alyse Bowman

The artist, A’Niecia De Four was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She and her family moved to Georgia when she was in the third grade. As a child she did many craft projects with her dad which created an interest for the arts at a young age. As her passion for art began to grow she began teaching herself how to draw. Once she reached high school, A’Niecia De Four started experimenting with drawing women in various poses and even combined them with nature and animals. She also focused on a meticulous AP art project centered around creating realistic reflections of metal and water with pastels and watercolor as her materials.

Faith in the Process

By Christian Perry

Finally, for Tony Coates, there is something to look forward to during these strange times. What’s certain for him is the completion of his senior year, acquiring a Bachelor’s of Arts degree, at Valdosta State University. The artist, from Gwinnett county, Ga, is featured in Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery exhibition, “In Bold”, along with the rest of his senior class.