Current Exhibition Schedule
Join us for Artist Talks with our Spring 2021 Virtual Artists in Residence
Learn more about the Artist in Residence program here
The Visual and Performing Arts presents the second artist talk of Spring Semester 2021 featuring virtual artist in residency Kirk Maynard. The artist talk will be given at 1:15 PM on February 23rd. This event is free and open to the public.
Click here for a Zoom link to the live event on Tuesday February 23rd at 1:15new window.
Says Maynard about his work:
I was inspired to create this piece based on articles I read of police and other authorities
being called on black people for existing in certain spaces. The constant suspicion
of black bodies for existing in certain spaces has personally made me aware of my
own existence in society, and how I am perceived as a black man in America. The subjects
in my work are copies of myself, without my face presented.
This dual presentation, shown without facial features, is a commentary on the marginalization of black people in certain spaces that ignore our full humanity in the presence of stereotypes. The hand positions that are seen in my poses symbolize an introspective look at existing in unwelcome spaces. Existing in these hostile spaces can cause people of color to shrink themselves because of societal pressure to behave and present themselves as innocently as possible to the public.