SUMA exhibits art in Baton Rouge Gallery

“In Africa, art is a celebration of life,” said Leon Tarver, president of the Southern University system.
Over two dozen art appreciators receive a glimpse into this celebration Sunday, January 24 at the Baton Rouge Gallery located at City Park.
The exhibit, entitled “African Rhythms,” is the brainchild of Southern University fine arts professor Randall Henry.
“I chose these pieces for their geometric figures. They all have strong patterns. The sculptures relate to the quilts and everything just blends,” Henry said.
Those active patterns can be seen in the sculptures, paintings, carvings, masks, metal pieces, quilts and stained glass pieces.
Randall Henry obtained permission to display the artwork from Vivian Kerr, executive director of the Southern University Museum of Art.
Both Kerr and Henry spoke on the importance and the details of African Art.
Tarver also shared his experiences of traveling to Africa numerous times, learning of the importance of the continent’s artwork.
“In Africa, the younger adults created art to pay homage and respect to the elders of the family,” Tarver said.
“African art is very important because it provides a foray to cultural understanding and is reflection of ancestry. After I started collecting art, I knew that Southern deserved to have an African art museum. I did a lot of research dealing with the structure of museums and we began to work.”
He also urged those in attendance to see more than the surface of the art.
“When viewing the artwork, look past the art. Get real close to see the details. Think about the ancestry and the time,” Tarver said.
With different nationalities and a range of ages in attendance, Kerr and Tarver spoke about the treasures we have here on campus, also known as the bluff.
“The art here is only a small portion of what we have to offer on the bluff. If you want to do yourself a favor, visit SUMA and we know you will want to come back. In the future we would love for some of our art to be a permanent fixture, in Baton Rouge Galleries,” Tarver said.
The art exhibit, “African Rhythms,” is scheduled to end February 31. The Baton Rouge Gallery is open Tuesday-Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.