Art
of the African World
Student Artists Showcase Their Creativity Inherited for the Past
by Michael Marcelin
In America’s determination to assimilate Africans into their world, the
cultural and artistic
creativity of African Americans was severely repressed.
Although allowed to weave
their artistic magic via intricate quilting designs, they were not allowed any
other form
of artistic expression. Gradually,
from early post-slavery years to the present, African-American
artists began reclaiming their lost heritage through magnificent drawings,
paintings, sculptures and collages. Carrying
on the traditions of their ancestors are
two talented student artists, Ivory Cainon and Brandon Zackery, both full of artistic
versatility.
Ivory Cainon
Ivory Cainon is in her first year of graduate studies
in the field of visual arts at the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Since
high school, Cainon had taken a keen interest
in art. She focused on ceramics
(still her focus today), and enjoyed it immensely, but
things weren’t always shiny for her in school, “There wasn’t a lot of
encouragement for
me to take up art at the time because of the lack of money the field had to
offer.” Because
of this, Cainon attended college and earned her bachelor's degree in psychology. However,
her passion for art never abated, so she decided to pursue a graduate degree in the
very subject, where she is currently honing her skills to become a better artist.
Cainon also has a few accomplishments under her belt. She was showcased
in a solo
show for the Women’s Center in Milwaukee, and has won a scholarship through
her art
department as well as an AOP fellowship, which is given to students
underrepresented in
the school. Cainon says her work is
created “to commemorate the spirit of African Americans
and show their joys…to show the African-American culture.
The works shown here, “Gathering Place,” “Trees of the
Ancestors,” and Ethiopian
Coffee Ceremony” are just a few of this artist’s works.
Brandon Zackery
Wilberforce University senior and Ohio native Brandon
Zackery is a fine arts major
and has been creating art for many years. “I’ve
been drawing since the first grade. I
would draw all the time on the desks, the ground…anything that could be drawn
on." But
it was in 12th grade that he decided he wanted to make art a career.
Zackery’s main
focus is on water color and acrylics, and he likes to create scenery and
portraits with them.
Zackery’s immediate plan after graduation is to attend graduate school
to learn further
skills to improve his craft.. His
ultimate goal, however, is to become a college professor,
and teach art to other budding young artists.
He credits his high school art teacher
Carol Becci-Young and college instructor Professor James Padgett for giving him inspiration
and guidance along the way. He also
praises God for giving him his great talent.
Since entering college, Zackery's artistic work has been showcased at
school
every year. His creative works have appeared in galleries in Washington, D.C., Atlanta,
and Detroit, plus he has sold some of his art work. Samples of his artistic talents
are shown here in “Joy Comes to Morning,” “Paradise,” and
“Fantasia.”
Michael Marcelin is an editorial intern at THE
BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.
