Professor Ron Bechet’s Piece…
Congratulations!
Dean’s List Fall 2014 Honorees:
Inside this Issue:
Adam Albrecht
Kara Crowley
Diquan Forcell
Ashley Fournette
Ashley Gragg
Leah Labat
The legendary John T. Scott’s “Separate But Equal’
Restored in Celebration of Black History Month
Congratulations! XUArt Honorees:
Dean’s List Fall 2014
Nicholas Davison, Art Major
Prestigious Kemper Scholar Nominee
and Graphic Designs Receives
Grammy Award Winning Recognition
1
Department of Art Newsletter
The
Gestalt
ISSUE
01
February
2015
Black History Month
Congratulations Nicholas Davison, nominated for the
prestigious Kemper Foundation Scholarship in his first semester as an XUArt
1 major and “his graphic design artwork recognized via social media from Grammy-nominated singer and
songwriter Ameriie and multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and actress Jordin Sparks, who tweeted out his
designs to her 4.2 million followers on Twitter.”
2 “Nicholas Davison, a Freshman Art Major at Xavier University
of Louisiana from Grand Bay, Alabama has a bright future
set for creating art in the entertainment industry. With creating
his own graphic design and digital branding business
Creat1ve Creations at the age of 13, Mr. Davison has received
“Separate But Equal”: An iconic work by
2 acclaim and accolades through his work, creating digital art for
clients such as Grammy Award-winning artist Mýa and
the legendary John T. Scott is restored
Disney Channel actor, singer and producer Roshon Fegan.
just in time for Black History Month.
Along with these great achievements, Mr. Davison is also
Xavier University of Louisiana
3 a former Senior Class Treasurer, Design Editor for Yearbook,
‘CALL TO ARTISTS’…
Dance Crew President, Multicultural Club Co-President,
“Contemporary Artists’ Response to the
Ambassador, Residential Life Support Team Member,
“New Orleans Baby Dolls”
and Peer Mentor at The Alabama School of Mathematics
Artist selected notification: February 21st
& Science. Mr. Davison was also an active member in
Kim M. Vaz-Deville, Ph.D.,
3 National Honor Society Club, Key Club, National Beta Club,
Black Student Union, Gospel Choir, and recipient of the
Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
Author of The ‘Baby Dolls’: Breaking the
President’s Award for Artistry at his alma mater. Upon arriving
Race and Gender Barriers of the New
to Xavier University of Louisiana, Mr. Davison has since
Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition
received the leadership positions of Freshman Class Treasurer
for the Class of 2018, St. Michael’s Residential Hall Secretary,
Congratulations!
4 and is a member of the Xavier Herald design team, creating and
Student Artist of the Month:
being featured in various cover designs for the school
Kasefera A. Gunter
newspaper publication since Fall 2014. Mr. Davison
is a recipient of the Xavier University Art Scholarship and
Introduction: Xavier Graduate Art Exhibit 4
Xavier University Academic Scholarship.
“A Larger Than Life Installation” by
Xavier’s Black History Month Events:
African American
& Diaspora Studies Presents:
“An Evening Salon: Celebrating the
Harlem Renaissance”
Von Paul Osborne-Reeves ‘13
XUArt Departmental Meeting:
Tuesday, February 3,2015 - 12:15P
The Art Village, Building 43 –Rm 112
Mandatory Attendance: Art Majors
The Art Village
3520 Pine Street
(across from Main Campus)
Business Mailing Address
Xavier University of Louisiana
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125
Phone: 504-520-7556
Fax: 504-520-7949
www.xula.edu/art
Graphic Design and Photo Credits: Nicholas Davison
On June 9, 2014, Mr. Davison received the honor
of being selected as a participant in the 10th annual
GRAMMY Camp program in the career field of
video editing, being 1 of the overall 167 talented high school
students selected from 125 U.S. cities and 31 U.S. states.
Mr. Davison portfolio of graphic design and digital branding
work can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/1z3fGFp”
Graphic Design and Photo Credits: Nicholas Davison
T h e G es t a lt
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F e b r u ar y 2 01 5
Xavier University of Louisiana
African American & Diaspora Studies Presents
“An Evening Salon: Celebrating the Harlem Renaissance”
Black History Month Event
February 3rd
“An Evening Salon: Celebrating the Harlem Renaissance”
Music Building 2nd Floor 6pm—8 pm
“During the Harlem Renaissance writers, artists, performers, musicians, and educators
from Harlem and Greenwich Village, as well as visiting African and European royalty
often gathered in meetings known as salons, where they discussed assorted ideas and
often displayed their work. These parties were held in the homes of upper class
African Americans and were a showcase for the regal African inspired beauty, lavish
clothing and glamorous lifestyles of the New Negro movement. Ideas generated at these
salons inspired poets, painters and sculptors. Such meetings formed an integral and
substantial part of the Harlem Renaissance.
Photo Credit: Michael Roberts
Xavier students, staff and faculty are invited to an Evening Salon that celebrates this incredible tradition of artistic and intellectual collaboration
and innovation. The event is free and open to the public with the only request being that guests and participants dress in elegant attire inspired by the
Harlem Renaissance era.
During the Harlem Renaissance a number of black composers like William Grant Still, Margaret Bonds, Florence Price and H. T. Burleigh collaborated
with poets like Langston Hughes and created great works of art or art songs for voice and piano.”
The Evening Salon features:
Ms. Dara Rahming, Vocalist
Dr. Wilfred Delphin, Pianist
Songs of Separation.............................................William Grant Still
Idolatry (Arna Bontemps)
Poѐme (Philippe Thoby Marcelin)
Parted (Paul Laurence Dunbar)
If You Should Go (Countee Cullen)
A Black Pierrot (Langston Hughes)
Dr. Ronald Dorris, African American and Diaspora Studies
“The Harlem Renaissance and the Globalization of African American Culture”
*For a sneak peek of the ‘Evening Salon’ tune in to
the Sally-Ann Roberts WWL-TV/Channel 4
“Eyewitness Morning News”
on February 3rd at 7:30 am.
For further information contact:
Sarah Anita Clunis, PhD.
Interim Director of African American and Diaspora Studies
Xavier University of Louisiana
Office Phone: 504-520-5020
saclunis@xula.edu
Please visit www.xula.edu for a complete list of
Xavier’s Black History Month Events
Dr. Sarah Clunis, Art
“Passing and the Liminal Female Body”
Dr. James Dunson, Philosophy
"A Tale of Two Lockes: The Harlem Renaissance 'Declaration of Independence”
Ms. Kasafera Gunter, Dancer and Xavier Student
Josephine Baker
“An iconic work by the legendary John T. Scott is restored just in time for
Black History Month. The stunning calligraphy print, entitled “Separate But Equal”, sustained
significant damage in the flooding following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Depicting Ruby Bridges, the 6-year old girl who
became the first black child to attend an all-white elementary school in the South, this print was chosen to be the first work to
be restored under the direction of the Xavier University Art Collections Committee. Over two weekends in January, Restorer
Bridget Broadley worked to both clean the print and properly conserve it. Today, it is being prepared for framing and will be
unveiled later this month during the University’s Black History Month celebrations.”
~ Daniele Gair, Art Collections Manager & Registrar
Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art
“Separate But Equal” by John T. Scott
www.xula.edu/art
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Xavier University of Louisiana ‘CALL TO ARTISTS’…
“Contemporary Artists’ Response to the New Orleans Baby Dolls”
“Contemporary Artists’ Respond to the New Orleans Baby Dolls” is an exhibition of art about, and inspired by,
the Baby Doll masking tradition. There are few artistic representations of this little-known yet significant New Orleans
tradition. Selected artists will create works that make reference to this visually-undocumented practice. The show engages
in the important work of educating, preserving and ensuring the contemporary relevance of a cultural heritage
that has gone virtually ignored. The goal of the exhibition is to convey the story and contemporary relevance of the
New Orleans Baby Dolls through the visual arts and to show how they exemplify an aesthetics of satire.
The artists selected are scheduled to be notified on February 21, 2015.
The show will open with a masquerade gala on March 27, 2015 at the George & Leah McKenna Museum
of African American Art in New Orleans, an institution that collects, interprets and preserves the visual aesthetic
of people of African descent in North America and beyond committed to the preservation of distinct culture found within
the African American community of Louisiana.
Exhibit Organizers: Kim Vaz-Deville, Ph.D., Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences
is the Author of The ‘Baby Dolls’: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New
Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition (Louisiana State University Press). Dean Vaz-Deville’s
book served as the basis for a 2013 major installation on the Baby Doll tradition
at the Presbyter unit of the Louisiana State Museum as part of the museum’s permanent
display on the history of Carnival in Louisiana, our very own renowned artist
Ron Bechet, Professor of Art, and Jennifer Williams, Museum Director and Curator
of The McKenna Museum of African American Art.
Photo Credit: Kim M. Vaz-Deville, Ph.D.
Baby Dolls
Of
New Orleans
Photo: Courtesy of Story Sloane Gallery
Research & Photo Credit: Kim M. Vaz-Deville, Ph.D.
History:
The Baby Dolls are groups of black women and men who used New Orleans street-making tradition as unique
form of fun and self-expression. Wearing short dresses, bloomers, bonnets, garters with money tucked tight, they strutted,
sang ribald songs, changed and danced on Mardi Gras Day and on St. Joseph feast night. The practice emerged around
1912 and, while it waxed and waned, has endured to the present day.”
Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art
www.xula.edu/art
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F e b r u ar y 2 01 5
XUArt ‘Student Artist’ of the Month features artwork by Kasefera A. Gunter...
“Kasefera A. Gunter was born and raised in Chicago Illinois. Since Kasefera was young she was
surrounded by creativity. At the age of 5 she started dancing, at 9 she began her classical training for
piano. Kasefera graduated from high school with a concentration in art, and by this time she was a
certified professional trained dancer in African, Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop, and Caribbean. Her work has
been displayed at Malcolm X College in Chicago (dance), North Lawndale Park District (Piano),
Lounge Vue House & Gardens in New Orleans (Drawing), and Xavier University of Louisiana (Painting).
Currently she is working on her YouTube channel for natural hair and selling earrings and yarn hats,
pillows, and scarfs. Kasefera never wants to be labeled as a one material artist; she plans on grouping all of
her artistic talents together once receiving her Doctors of Physical Therapy Degree. She plans on creating an
all-around therapy center that includes medical treatment mixed with dance, musical instruments, and art.”
Kasefera A. Gunter debuts as ‘Josephine Baker ‘in
AADS Presents: “An Evening Salon: Celebrating the Harlem Renaissance” February 3rd
"Global Stare"
Oil Painting Depicts the causes of pollution and the results of it thru the eye of a woman.
"Leafy"
Graphite Drawing Depicts a baby boys first days of life (Series)
"The IV"
Graphite Drawing Depicts a baby boys first days of life (Series)
Entrepreneur: Kasefera A. Gunter
"Standing Tall"
Marker Drawing Depicts a tall man standing in front of the tall magnificent Chicago Skyline.
"The Monk"
Oil Painting Depicts Thelonliness Monk deepest vision, his piano.
Artwork and Photo Credit: Kasefera A. Gunter
A “Larger than Life Installation” by Von Paul Osborne-Reeves ‘13
Opened at the White on Burgundy Gallery January 29, 2015
The work that I create is a representation of my yearning to
capture the struggles contained in the human condition. I am drawn
to abnormally objective forms that could be perceived as
products of self-configuration, romanticized humanism, or
surrealism. The imagination is marvelous element to the human
experience. By conjoining factual reality with improbable
compositions I attempt to complete pieces of work that is not
only meant to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but also acts as
a catalyst for discourse pertaining to the subjects viewed. Much
of my work could be categorized as either impressionistic or
surreal. A few of my inspirational artists are Diane Arbus,
Takashi Murakami, and Romare Bearden.
Artwork Display by appointments only.
Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art
Artwork & Photo Credit: Von Paul Osborne-Reeves
www.xula.edu/art