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.”
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.
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.
