by: Elijah Nail
On Monday, February 14 Valdosta State University’s Department of Art & Design exhibited “Black Is …” in the Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery which concludes this Friday, March 4. The exhibition features works by award-winning artists Samuel Dunson and Traci Mims. For the VSU press release gallery director, Julie Bowland stated, “Black Is …” is a “powerful dual exhibition that addresses social and personal concerns including racism, sexism, and family. Through the use of mixed media, painting, collage, drawing, and printmaking, the artists explore diverse themes of Black identity.”
Dunson is a professor of art at his alma mater Tennessee State University. He received a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Savannah College of Art and Design and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from TSU. His work is regularly featured in solo and group exhibits, art journals, and newspapers. During VSU’s 2021 Valdosta National his mixed media on canvas titled “Self-Portrait” won first-place. This year he served as judge for the National.
Mims lives and works in Jacksonville, Florida. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Florida A&M University and a Master of Arts from Temple University. She says that her artwork focuses on black identity and is expressed in “cultural allegories and social realism.”2 Mims says “I am motivated by art that has an underlying message that engages the viewer in a way they can relate to. Art, for me, is many things, but mainly it is my passion and my voice when I have a statement to make. It has also been my protest when circumstances of injustice arise. I never grow weary creating, only resentful that there is not more time in a day to print, draw, or paint.”
Bewildered is a mixed pigment painting on canvas by Dunson. This painting is part of the series Scorched Earth. Dunson says, Scorched earth, in nature, means fighting fire with fire; by literally scorching an area of earth with fire, there is far less fuel for the fire to burn. It is also a military strategy that targets and destroys anything beneficial to the enemy while advancing through an area or withdrawing. 4Dunson says “This series grew out of previous works which dealt with the violence that was so prevalent in 2016. I consider Scorched Earth as an answer to the ugliness. Once the world, as it is, has burned away, a new one will grow in its wake. I question what that new world will look like in my most recent paintings, drawings, sculpture, and video.” 5
In Dunson’s painting three people with grey skin, grimacing faces, and the big guy in the back walking on his hands like a primate are being portrayed as beasts playing with virtual reality googles. I would argue that the three figures are black because black people are often depicted as beasts and because of the extravagant and stylish clothes they are wearing. The smiles on each of their faces indicate their fun and joy. However, they are walking towards the edge of a cliff and they are on the verge of falling. Judging by the birds flying just above the leader’s arm they may be high up and if they fall, they will be severely hurt or worse. In addition to the people being portrayed as happy, the vibrant colors make for a beautiful setting. It is ironic that this beautiful setting is also a dangerous one.
I would argue that Bewildered uses postmodern pluralism because of the motivation of this work Dunson explained in the Scorched Earth series. However, while it was on display there was no artist statement to explain what the artwork is or the motivation. When I first saw it at the gallery, I had to draw my own conclusions about the artwork. I initially thought the scene portrayed happiness. I never would have imagined this to be further from the truth. To someone’s first time seeing this they may view it as expressionism.
Not a Threat is an acrylic painting on canvas by Traci Mims. It is a portrait of a black woman wearing a mask and a t-shirt that says, “IF YOU CAN READ THIS YOU’RE STANDING TOO CLOSE.”
I would interpret the meaning of Not a Threat is that black people are not a threat to society. This painting was inspired by the events of 2020. At that time there was a lot of unrest amongst black which was in response to the death of George Floyd. News stations covered everything that happened. Some people believed that because of the pandemic that was in full effect black people were making pandemic numbers surge. I would argue this painting of a women shows that is not the case. She is wearing a mask in support of the movement, but she is also wearing it for safety, which explains the shirt.
This woman portrays the modern world we currently live in. This painting uses realism because of the depiction and this is something I could relate to because I could see my mom and sister wearing it. It also uses postmodern pluralism because of the current events captured in the painting.
Valdosta State University’s Department of Art & Design exhibited “Black Is …” featuring works by Samuel Dunson and Traci Mims. There are many more artworks in the exhibition that adhere to this topic. Each artwork makes us think, talk, and reflect about what the artists wanted to convey
Elijah Nail: Valdosta State University junior in Art, 2022.