Alumni hosts Annual Homecoming Art Exhibition

The Alumni of Southern University hosts their seventh annual Homecoming Art Exhibition in Frank Hayden Hall on Monday night, October 13 to showcase a few of the many pieces from their own art collection. This year the rotating art gallery was filled with a plethora of admirers of art, students of Southern University and of course, the artist of the art showcased on display. The person responsible for putting together the art alumni Art exhibition was our own Gallery Director and Associate Professor of Visual Arts, Robert Cox.
Cox a Cincinnati, Ohio native, graduated from both the University of Cincinnati and Howard University where he studied Art, and worked at the oldest corporate gallery of art known in Washington D.C. before becoming a professor at Southern University. “By the time I was born, my drive for art has been with me this whole time. I would produce it, teach it and travel to go see it,” said Cox. Cox says that every chance he has he would bring his students on trips to see art and how important is to not only for their influence, but to the admirers. According to Cox, there are about 21 Alumni graduates from the years of 1964 to 2013 that are in the exhibition. Cox with the help of staff and alumni brought the gallery to life to share their passion and unique skills of art to the public and also to inspire future upcoming artist to come.
Cox commented, “Our exhibition has quite a range from terms of age, diversity, skill and subject matter. It’s a very great exhibition.”
To name a few Alumni artist featured in this year’s exhibition, are Antoine “Ghost” Mitchell, Osereime Joseph Aimua, Jared Alcorn, Earnest Baylor, Jeanne E. Brown, Tommie Warren, Jade Meyers and Eugene Eda Wade. Mitchell. a 2007 Graduate of Southern University from the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
“Art is my job, my belief, my spirituality. I love using my art to make people happy,” said Mitchell. Aimua. a 2006 graduate of Southern University and a 2013 graduate of Howard University.
“I feel that I’m the window to more or less the world. I have a gift and what’s the use of holding on to God given talent when if the world cannot see it,” said Aimua. Wade, a 1974 graduate of SU, retired City Councilman from Chicago, and a current professor at SU better known as “Eda” in the world of art.
“Learn your craft, learn how to draw, to be a visual artist, learn about anatomy, learn your composition design, the balance of unity, the language of art,” said Wade.
Cox also added that there will be more exhibitions to come starting with the campus wide student exhibition. Students will be able to showcase some of their collection of art on a professional setting in the Hayden Hall art gallery and get a chance to be admire by peers and local art buffs. Cox says it will be the second year in row they will have it done and the students will have their work framed and mounted on the wall. He continued by saying that there will be a black history exhibition coming up soon. “Every semester we’ll have something new,” said Cox.