Elements of Creation: A powerhouse movement showcase

On Tuesday, April 17, 2018, E.O.C. Studios hosted their 2nd annual Art Extravaganza.
When some people think about art they imagine paintings, sculptures, and drawings. Art is defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.
Elements of Creation, also known as E.O.C., did an exceptional job showcasing the creation of art that Southern University has to offer.
Taking the stage at Varsity Theatre Tuesday night were singers, rappers, poets, and dancers, hailing from Baton Rouge, St. Louis, and even Jamaica; their commonality being Southern University.
Major Goldman is a senior Music Performance major from Beaumont, Texas. Being one of the performers in the showcase, Goldman was asked how has this experience helped him develop a path for his major. He answered by saying, “Being able to perform on stage was a great experience for me. It gave me insight on what to expect once I have graduated, and I am in my field of study.”
Tyjus Brantley and Joseph Knox Jr. are both senior Music Performance majors from New Orleans, Louisiana, but they are also the masterminds behind Elements of Creation, and the Art Extravaganza.
“[…] Southern has career fairs, but there are not opportunities for art majors or music majors. Other majors have those things presented to them,” answered Brantley when asked what was the inspiration behind the creation of the group.
The artists for the showcases are chosen from a talent evaluation. This is done because some artists encompass more than one talent, and it’s important to see what separates one artist from another.
Jeremih Cornelius, otherwise known as ‘JC’, was the first artist to hit the stage. He performed a spoken word piece, and rapped another with a style that sounded just like rhythmic poetry.
Darien Williams was the second poet. He spoke about being black in America in his first poem, mentioning realistic references to many things that are happening in today’s society. He also talked about a crush that stole his heart, which won the hearts of the ladies in the crowd.
Brantley and Knox are not rookies when it comes to music. Both have been apart of Southern University’s Human Jukebox and have been in love with the art for a number of years.
The motto of Elements of Creation, is “Your music, your art, your vision, your element of creation.”
Knox currently holds the position of Vice CEO of E.O.C., and he handles anything that has to do with the stage and performances, while Brantley is the founder and CEO of the group.
They are currently in the works of getting their showcase on different college campuses, so students at Southern and different HBCUs can look forward to seeing Elements of Creation and their Art Extravaganzas in the near future.
“We are actually working on trying to branch out to different HBCUs. In the fall, we should be going to different colleges and putting on small events throughout the city,” Knox revealed.
Anyone who is interested in being showcased through Elements of Creation can follow their instagram @eocstudios or email them at [email protected].

Gallery • 2 Photos

Former Southern University student, ‘King Bronze’ performs a trombone solo during his performance of his original song “Dreams” at the EOC showcase on Tuesday, April 17,2018 at the Varsity Theatre. (Jamilah Stith/DIGEST)