April 2024 – Page 2 – Art Criticism

Valdosta National 2024: “Art Spoken” Gallery Review

Written By: Torri Byrd

Valdosta State University’s Dedo Maranville Gallery recently hosted their annual showing of “Valdosta National”, an exhibition of work submitted from artists all over the country regarding a similar topic. This year’s theme was due to the cancellation of 2024’s “Art Spoken”, and aimed to merge the two. “Art Spoken” was an event held across campus in different settings that highlighted BIPOC students and artists: emphasizing diversity and racial injustices within the exhibition. “Valdosta National: Art Spoken” had a variety of artists like Larry Sheffield, Seongmin Yoo, Paul C. Blake and others who were representative of BIPOC work. Regardless, as someone who was lucky enough to see one of the prior “Art Spoken” exhibits, I would argue that the “Valdosta National ” though lovely and entertaining, did not have the same impact as the previous “Art Spoken”.

Art Spoken: The Valdosta National Exhibition

Noa-Sage Patrick

The Valdosta National Annual Juried Exhibition is being shown in the Dedo Maranville Gallery on the campus of Valdosta State University. According to the Juror of Art Spoken, Olivia Richardson shared that Art Spoken is, “a show shedding light onto the underrepresented voices and perspectives of artists across the United States and showcasing the talented students at Valdosta State University.”^[1] The exhibition featured artists such as Rick Yasko, Christine Hunt, and Stanley Obert and VSU students such as A’Shadrian Clayton, Vanessa I. Chavez, and Simon Gunnarson.

“Art Spoken -The Valdosta National Exhibition”

By. Valencia Fussell

The Exhibition, “Art Spoken – The Valdosta National ” takes place in Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery in the Fine Arts building from January 10th, to February 9th, 2024. This exhibition occurs annually and showcases contemporary art. It does not limit artists’ choice of media-it encourages art in all forms. “Art Spoken – The Valdosta National Exhibition” is specifically a celebration of African American Arts that occurs annually. When the invite for Art Spoken was first released, it was a call for art that speaks to the power of BIPOC inclusivity, education, and celebration of Black Culture. The Juror of this exhibition is Olivia Richardson. After understanding the intent of the Art spoken Exhibition, readers may be surprised at the content of the juror’s statement. Olivia Richardson does not directly speak on African American Arts, a celebration of Black culture, or BIPOC inclusivity. Instead, she inclines the statement to more general terms of artist perspective, underrepresented voices, and “individualism”. It is important to note that even as she dances around the intended design of the exhibition, she makes a bold statement at the end. The juror references Lebanon and the extreme violence happening in the Middle East. If Olivia Richardson decided to self-censor at the beginning, why be so bold with a statement during the conclusion?

“ART SPOKEN” Exhibition Review

by Katie Holton

What is Art Spoken? Art Spoken is a term that allows artists in minorities, or artists who create things under controversial topics, a chance to showcase their art. An “Art Spoken” exhibition is open from January 10th-February 9th in the Dedo Maranville Art Gallery. The theme for this “Art Spoken” exhibition is a celebration of black art and artists. This was stated on the Gallery’s Instagram page; however, it was stated in the juror’s statement by Olivia Richardson that the exhibition was inclusive to everyone. Therefore, there was a wide range of artists featured in the gallery. One such artist is Aimee Fresia who creates art based on controversial topics, which can be seen on her Instagram page, and her painting Running Away is Always a Possibility was featured in the gallery. There were also artworks by Larry Sheffields, Study of a Kintuar-1, and A’Shadrian Claytons, Eden, who represented the theme of African American artists and art.

“SPECTRUM” Senior Exhibition Review

By Katie Holton

The “Spectrum” exhibition is being held in the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery April 7th through the 25th. This exhibition is for the senior Art majors at Valdosta State University to showcase their art accomplishments throughout their time at VSU. The name “Spectrum” was chosen to represent the students due to the wide array of talent and vibrant array of colors in the exhibition. I will argue that the different artists in the exhibition were successful, and whether or not the exhibition was successful.