Issues of the past, present and future were on display through sculpture, drawing, painting, poetry, music and video last night in the John D. O’Bryant African-American Institute.
The gallery was displayed as part of the African American Master Artists-in-Residence Program’s (AAMARP) 30th anniversary celebration. The program provides studio space in Jamaica Plain for African-American artists who are connected with the university.
Last night’s showcase featured 15 artists from AAMARP currently located in the Boston area. When attendees walked into the African American Institute (AAI), they found the artwork spread along the sides of the room, encasing a centerpiece of food and tables.
Alongside the artists, last night featured speeches from Richard O’Bryant, director of the AAI; Gloretta Baynes, a past chair for AAMARP; Kay Bournean, an adjunct scholar at Northeastern; and music and African American studies assistant professor Emmett Price, who also performed two songs on the piano, one before his speech and one after.
Price invited people to walk around and take in the artwork as he performed.
When he gave his speech, Price described art as something that can give people joy, sanity and comfort.
“You can look at art once and then if you blink and look at it again, you may catch something different,” he said. “I try to let folks know that art is not just about entertainment. You cannot celebrate African American culture without this right here, in this room.”
Price spoke of the need to empower the youth of today and to address the many disconnected elements within society.
“Art is the common lingual ground in the world. Art can bring people together,” he said. “Art will slap you in the face, poke you in the eyes and make you see what’s there.”
One of last night’s showcased pieces was a painting by Ralph Beach, a self-taught artist from Boston. Beach’s oil painting with the name “A Visual Response to Violence” was a large, colorful face with the word “Stop!” painted over the mouth. The slogan, “Absent Dads. Absent role-models. Absent me. Absent you,” was written down the side of the painting, alongside bits and pieces of newspaper that were pasted around the piece.
Another painting that incorporated mixed-media was Susan Thompsan’s “Gbohanzin,” which showcased a glittery green shark centered amid pasted objects like keys and a pendant. In her speech, Thompsan said it was a part of a series she completed after a trip to Africa. Each animal she painted was a symbol that had been used by an African king.
L’Merchie Frazier, a visual and performance artist, educator and consultant originally from Jacksonville, Fla., had a mixed media sculpture featured last night. It contained multi-colored beads hanging amid a background of yellows, reds and greens presented in an open metal box.
Frazier also had another mixed media piece featured, which was laid out on silk with a photo from photographer John Keys transferred onto it, and used colors of turquoise, purples, light blues and greens that portrayed her message of family.
O’Bryant said the goal of the night was to make people aware of AAMARP and the work that the members do.
“Cultural expression through art and through music is something that has been very important to the African American community and it has been something that has been very important to the Institute,” he said. “This night is about connecting people through the arts.”