“Ebony Embodiment: The Fusion of Art and Expression” is an exhibition at Roberta’s Art Gallery in the University Center on the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Campus that explores Black culture through both the everyday lives of Black individuals and Black excellence. and aims to demonstrate black excellence. success. On Friday, February 27, four panelists discussed these topics and how they came together to form the exhibit.
This art exhibit shows black culture in several different ways. The first is a display in the center of the table with plates of food labeled “Soul Food Sunday.” Honey Cawthorn, president of Leaders Igniting Transformation and lead curator of the exhibit, explained that food in the Black community is important because it symbolizes warmth and creativity.
“In a Black household, you can give someone the bare minimum of ingredients, and they cook it with so much love that they give you more than what you offer.” said Cawthorn.
Another panelist focused on the barbershop set up in one corner of the exhibit. Lee Burns Jr. is a UW-W junior who is a member of the football team, vice president of Athletic Black Excellence, Inc., and a barber.
Burns pointed out that barbershops are about more than just getting hair done. He described it as an outlet and a type of therapy, saying that relaxing in a barber’s chair and talking to the barber can help black men’s mental health.
“My client might fall asleep, or we might end up having a long conversation,” Burns said. “If any of those things happen, I know I’m doing my job.”
One of the panelists, Deron Blanks, defined Black excellence this way: “Black excellence is when Black people demonstrate success through resilience.” Blanks is a recent graduate of the University of Whitewater and served as president of the university’s Zeta Iota chapter. President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc., and membership liaison for the Black Student Union while on campus.
Dr. Micah Jade Stanback, professor of literature, writing, and film at Wisconsin State University, spoke about the musical aspects of the exhibit. Among the records hanging on the wall was “Hard Core” by Lil’ Kim, an artist Stanback had been teaching students.
“This is the representation of Black women and how we can tell our stories without shame,” Stanback said of female artists like Lil’ Kim.
At the time the album was released, black female artists were not seen as flattering by the mainstream, but for her, “they are extremely important in defining and talking about the truth about black women in America.” It was,” he added.
“Ebony of Ebony” debuts on February 15th and runs through March 20th. From April 3rd,“Garden of a Thousand Faces: Behind the Garden Wall” will be on display at Roberta’s Art Gallery.
This artist is called Green Goodies, or simply GG. The exhibit follows her mental health journey as she navigates her diagnosis of bipolar I disorder through the lens of her environment. There will be a reception on April 16, with an artist talk from 6 p.m., and an open house from 7 to 8 p.m.
