An Evening of Art & R'n'B

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What is Afro-ARTivism?

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In February 2022, we kicked off something truly special at the Student Center for Social Justice & Identity (SCSJI) with An Evening of Art & Jazz. From that spark, Afro-ARTivism was born—a movement close to our hearts, celebrating the intersection of art and activism within the Black community at Vanderbilt University and Nashville.

This year, we're back with An Evening of Art & R’n’B, shining a spotlight on the incredible impact of the arts. It's about showcasing the talents of our Black creatives while sparking important conversations about liberation.

Join us as we groove, connect, and uplift each other through Afro-ARTivism. It's more than just an event; it's a reflection of who we are and what we stand for.

An Evening of Art & R’n’B An Evening of Art & R’n’B

An Evening of Art & R’n’B celebrates the artistic contributions of Black Vanderbilt and Nashville community members while highlighting the concept of African Americans and the Arts, the 2024 national theme of Black History Month. Additionally, this event introduces the practice of artivism and allows participants to engage in meaningful reflection as they discover the innovative ways social justice work can be pursued through diverse mediums of creativity.

SCSJI would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the featured artists of this evening's program. These artivists are comprised of Vanderbilt and Nashville community members dedicated to empowering those around them through their respective talents and passion for inclusivity.

Featured Artists

Britney Drake

Chidinma Onukwuru

Dani Wilson

Devashani Sharma

Elise Kendrick

Hermella Kassaye

Kauthar Gaber

Megan Jordan

Portia Jones

Qwynn Foster

Rachel Keva Johnson

Shea Moore

Sydney Featherstone

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Britney Drake

Nashville Community Member

Blue Flame (Painting)

She is the calm in the mist of storms. The beauty in the mist of adversity.

Purple Heart (Painting)

She is royalty, a reminder of the greatness that lives within us all.

Power (Painting)

She is the confidence, the fly girl, never shying away from challenges. Confident in all her ways especially her mind, spirit, and body

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Chidinma Onukwuru

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Ode to Girlhood (Selected Frames from Larger 2023 Installation)

With this project, I hope to bring the viewer to a place where they can glimpse into the complexities of Black girlhood. I wrestle with ideas of play, perceptions, perfection, beauty, and innocence. Using a collage of new and old materials, I seek to form imagery replicating the complex experiences of many Black girls like myself. Throughout the installation, I wondered how to address the good, frankly the great, and the bad experiences of growing up as a little Black girl. Some in the audience will only know what I show, but I hope that for those like me, this work speaks to their inner child and their future self.

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Dani Wilson

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Dying From Exposure (Painting)

This piece is a reference to the struggles that Black women face in America. Dying from exposure means death resulting from lack of protection over prolonged periods to extreme temperatures, environmental conditions, or dangerous substances. While “dying of exposure” is a blanket term used to describe various ways people die from the elements (weather, climate), substances (mold, toxic chemicals), etc; the term can also be used to magnify the devastating consequences of being exposed to the toxic fallout of racism & sexism.

Furthermore, the physical representation of a seemingly “raw” and “skinless” Black woman highlights how exposure affects Black women by deterioration, & her lack of protection as a result of this “stripping.”

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Devashani Sharma

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

And Yet We Are (Spoken Word)

This poem reflects my experience of growing up in Dominica, where I lived for 13 years. I compare my journey of self-acceptance to the island's black sand, which is formed by volcanic activity, unlike the white sand of many other islands. It is a story of race and identity.

Untitled (Digital Art- Print)

This is a digital portrait of my baby cousin.

Untitled (Sketched Portrait- Print)

This portrait is of a woman in a traditional headdress.

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Elise Kendrick

Nashville Community Member

Black Butterfly (Mixed Media- $2500)

Black is Excellence (Mixed Media- $900)

Be M (Linocut Original on Birch Panel- $950)

I Cried My Last Tear, Yesterday (Linocut Original on Paper and Birch Panel- $950)

I Am Revolutionary (Linocut Original on Paper and Birch Panel- $1100)

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Hermella Kassaye

Nashville Community Member & Vanderbilt Alumna

Inibla (Digital Art)

Let’s eat (2020) is a digital art piece commemorating an Ethiopian tradition of feeding one another as a display of affection.

Element (2021 Digital Ink- Print)

This piece highlights Black beauty and its flamboyance, especially since it is not celebrated as such.

Beyoncé (Charcoal Portrait)

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Kauthar Gaber

Vanderbilt Staff Member

Representation Matters (Acrylic Painting)

Growing up there was little representation for Black characters that did not perpetuate stereotypes or common tropes. This piece is a holistic representation of Black identities that existed during my childhood. While Yami is not black, he represents a part of my Egyptian identity that wasn’t often shown in the media. The characters emphasize the importance of having Black representation in media, even Black-coded ones. They are a reminder that building positive images of Black identities for children is imperative to transform the future. To me, representation will always be important and powerful.

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Megan Jordan

Nashville Community Member

Woman of Colors. (Mixed Media Oil and Acrylic Canvas)

This painting is about the emotional complexity of being a woman of color.

Portia Jones

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

How Do I Speak (Digital Art- Print)

"How Do I Speak" challenges the damaging stereotypes surrounding Black speech and the unjust expectation that educated speech equates to "speaking white." Through this poignant artwork, Jones confronts societal prejudices and explores the complexities of identity and language within the Black experience.

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Portia Jones (cont.)

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Not Black (Digital Art- Print) Afr

Not Black" is a thought-provoking graphic illustration that challenges conventional notions of racial identity and perception. Jones, who identifies as Black, explores the complex interplay between race and self-definition, this captivating piece invites viewers into a world where the simplicity of color labels belies the depth of personal experience. Drawing from childhood memories and the innocence of categorization through a crayon's color spectrum, the artist confronts the societal pressures and negative stereotypes associated with being labeled "Black."

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Qwynn Foster

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Longing (Painting)

This piece is called “Longing”. I’m originally from Florida and growing up I would watch the sunsets at the beach to cope with things. When I had a bad day I longed to watch the sunset it was a reminder that everything, all things, come to an end, whether good or bad… and that some with whom we make peace, like the setting sun. This piece was created as I was contemplating whether I should stay in a relationship that was actively breaking me. I found that with every brushstroke, I was reminded of the lesson the sunset had taught me so long ago. I found myself longing to stay in the relationship and the end I found peace with the reality that it had to end. The piece continues to be a reminder that, even the most beautiful things end, but never forever. The sun will always rise again even and in terms of my heart, I will find love again…one day.

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Rachel Keva Johnson

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Accent (Spoken Word)

This poetic narrative piece describes the overbearing pain of mixing between cultures. It analyzes and highlights the cultural instincts of being both Black and Caribbean and questions the generality of white oppression and Black subjugation amongst the Caribbean islands from a firsthand account.

Shea Moore

Nashville Community Member

Lena Horne (Watercolor on Paper)

Painted this image of her after reading about her as a singer, actor & activist, and all that she accomplished during her time.

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Shea Moore (cont.)

Nashville Community Member

Self Portrait 2024 (Watercolor on Paper)

Painted this self-portrait, since going natural 10 yrs ago I rarely wear it like this and decided while my hair was straightened to do a portrait.

Lisa Bonet (Watercolor on Paper)

One of my goals was to work on painting Locs and facial structure, using color instead of black paint.

Sade (Watercolor on Paper)

Sade is my all-time favorite singer and this painting pays homage to her music, her style, and her whole vibe.

Howard Odom & Juanita Odom (Watercolor on Paper)

After reading The Warmth Of Other Suns, I knew I had to paint my grandparents, in honor of them, not just for their survival during Jim Crow and segregation but also that they chose to Live, and grow their family.

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Shea Moore (cont.)

Nashville Community Member

The Bennett Brothers (Watercolor on Paper)

My brothers, (Chico Sr. & Lonell) are dynamic fathers, sons, husbands, uncles, brothers.

Rachel (Watercolor on Paper)

Study painting using my niece who is also a singer in St Louis. My main goal was to paint deeper skin tone , using color and not black and white.

Tracee Ellis Ross (Watercolor on Paper)

She is an actress, and style icon. This painting is different for me because its such a saturation of vibrant color.

Pat Cleveland (Watercolor on Paper)

More than a muse, more than just a beauty, she is a trailblazer in the fashion and beauty industry.

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Sydney Featherstone

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Student

Lader of the American Dream (Sculpture) Afr

This clay sculpture captures the tumultuous journey of navigating the elusive American Dream, particularly for Black individuals. The sculpture embodies the relentless whirlwind of obstacles and shifting pathways faced by those striving for success in a society where the endpoint seems to morph endlessly.

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Thank YOU!

The Student Center for Social Justice and Identity (SCSJI) would like to thank you for celebrating Black History Month by attending our Evening of Art & R’n’B.

A Special Thank You To The Following Campus & Community Partners:

Artists: Britney Drake, Chidinma Onukwuru, Dani Wilson, Devashani Sharma, Elise Kendrick, Hermella Kassaye, Kauthar Gaber, Megan Jordan, Portia Jones

Qwynn Foster, Rachel Keva Johnson, Shea Moore, Sydney Featherstone

Vanderbilt Student Affairs Administration

Vanderbilt Printing Services

Vanderbilt Parking & Transportation Services

Vanderbilt Bishop Johnson Black Cultural Center (BCC)

Darren Benjamin- IKue Productions

Henry Chaney- Photographer

Pepper Pott- Caterer