Senior Art Exhibitions – Art Criticism

Senior Show Profile: Elliott Ingram

Rina Ramsey

Elliott Ingram was born in Decatur, Alabama, before moving to Valdosta, Georgia where he was raised for the remainder of his childhood. Ingram was raised in church being influenced by the Southern Black community. He was taught there was a specific way to be successful. He noticed a pattern within the Black community of people following in their parent’s footsteps, pursuing the medical industry or the military, for example. Ingram wanted to pursue his own path and art is that path. He aims to communicate his experience of growing up in the Black community and how that has impacted his pursuit of art.

Spring 2021 Senior Exhibition: Say Their Names

By: Lindsay Sebastian

The summer of 2020 had been the moment society witnessed with their own eyes the injustice of police brutality faced by the Black community, which would ignite civil unrest and protests that are still ongoing. Even when the summer of 2020 had come and gone, it marked the start of transforming the age-old discussion of what could be done to end the injustice into protests for immediate changes within the police departments. When speaking with Nalla Roberts, one of the twenty featured artists in this year’s senior exhibition “Living in Color” on VSU’s Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery webpage, as well as looking through her works featured within the exhibition, it was made clear that the fight for justice and equality was not and would not be over for her. Growing up between the northern states of Maryland and Virginia and the southern state of Georgia, Roberts was taught to love herself as a Black woman. In my interview with Roberts, she stated, “I make work inspired by Black people because Black people are legally discriminated against for a large part of their identity and self-care”.

An Artists Exploratory Journey

by DaMea Hughes

Jadah Alford was born in Bamberg, Germany and moved to Hinesville, Georgia when she was four years old. She uses features such as the Holocaust and issues and or characteristics dealing with social, political and emotional aspects such as gender and sexuality and what comes along with it and how it can be interpreted by the audience.

I began by asking the artist to describe her art before she began to flourish into the artist she is today. She illustrated her work as being “stiff and unbalanced, having no sense of purpose, really just task oriented.” The artist felt as if the work she was composing was “boring to the extent of knowing I have more potential” she went on to say. Her previous works consisted of graffiting elements, facial features and “50 cent tattoos.” Alford now narrates her artwork as being “ more free, fluid, semi-realistic with cartoon elements, direct and meaningful.” She now believes that her art has transcended into having a purpose and trying to connect with the audience and make connections with the people who have not been depicted or represented enough in life such as the LGBTQ+ community. Her goal for her artwork is to deliver a message and help the world observe her vision.

Family Ties

By Avery Barnett

“My body of work is about establishing family ties. All of my photographs are from Maine, which is an important place to my family and I.”
Hannah Wynn

Hannah Wynn has spent her time at Valdosta State University broadening her horizons while also maintaining a deep connection to her familial roots. As she graduates with the VSU Class of 2021, her photographic exploration of growth and bond left a lasting impact on the Spring 2021 Senior Art Exhibition, titled “Living in Color.”

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.

Seeing Yourself For The First Time

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.