Feeling less alone: Mary Baldwin's exhibit by Black artists helps some find solidarity

STAUNTON — Akeilah George looked around the Hunt Gallery, pondering the question she had just been asked. Works from Black artists covered the walls in the Mary Baldwin University art gallery, part of an exhibit by the Black American Artists Alliance of Richmond that opened in January.

George, a Mary Baldwin senior, settled on one that was right in front of her. The acrylic painting by Richmond-based artist Jowarnise shows a woman seated, her right leg bent so that her chin can rest on her knee. The other leg is folded under her. The background is various patterns of red and white. One gallery where the work had been displayed called it a "reversed American flag."

The title is "Am I Not American?."

George chose the painting because she's been told she's not an American. Born in the United States Virgin Islands, George has heard that she's not a real American because she wasn't born in one of the 50 states. Yet, she is a citizen by virtue of being born in U.S. territory.

So, for those who have been told similar things or feel like they are less than American, George understands. The painting helps make her feel less alone in that experience.

"I'm seeing that other people have experienced that same thing," she said. "Maybe not in the same way, but to some degree, and it makes me know that, OK, this isn't just a me thing. I'm not by myself when it comes to this experience."

Seeing the painting doesn't necessarily make her feel better because she doesn't like that anyone has to go through that experience.

"But it makes me feel like I could find solidarity in someone else having that same experience," she said.

Jowarnise's work, along with many others, is part of "BAAAR: Stories and Histories" and will be on display in Hunt Gallery through Feb. 23. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. A closing reception for the artists will be held Feb. 23 from 4:30 - 6 p.m. That is also open to the public. Drea Howenstein, the Hunt Gallery director, said nine of the artists are scheduled to appear.

The artists will also be doing a mentorship with some of the Mary Baldwin students.

"I think in this day and age, we need mentorship," Howenstein said. "It's the one thing that is not happening with online learning. Mentorship has to be with a real person. It has to be face to face."

Christina Harris, who works in Mary Baldwin's McCree Center for Life Success, stopped by on a recent Thursday morning to look at the exhibit. One of the works to which she was drawn was "The Penumbra Experience," by Yhayha A. Hargrove.

Not only did the colors grab Harris's attention, but the message. "The Penumbra Experience" depicts the brown paper bag test, a discriminatory practice in which an African American's skin tone is compared to a brown paper bag which was displayed at the entrance of social functions. If the individual's skin was darker than the brown paper bag, entrance was denied.

On her work, Hargrove included a quote from pioneering Black politician Shirley Chisholm, who said "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair."

As Harris looked at that work, she felt just how important the message was to Black people like herself.

"It's a great way to turn it around on what people expect others to do versus just staying in the corner being quiet," Harris said. "No, bring your own chair, bring your own. Bring yourself to these opportunities and don't let anyone try to keep you out or gatekeep opportunties."

David McLeod is an artist and also a freshman at Mary Baldwin.

"I like how it allows more Black artists to show their artwork because, what I've seen, a lot of times they don't have their art shown," McLeod said. "And it's great to see different artworks that express their culture, their likes, their history. It's a great chance to put their stuff out there."

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Mary Baldwin displaying exhibit by Black artists through February