"The Gestalt" XULA Art & Performance Studies | In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Highlights, Opportunities, and Upcoming Events_120221

AND PERFORMANCE STUDIES Congratulations Kaitlyn! The Gestalt Senior Show “Constant Movement” by Kaitlyn Nguyen ‘21 In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance The ever shifting, ever changing world is constantly on the move. For what the past has brought to the future is a mysterious and often confusing present. However, with each and every day, life’s up and down brings wit it new experiences a and moments to remember. “Music in Space “is the featured work. It is a ceramic zoetrope featuring 24 pianos on various stands circling a human heart. The old saying goes “in space no one can hear you scream”, but the heart provides a constant beat which then leads to music within human life, wherever they may go. For human nature to hit those beats and feel their highs and lows Kaitlyn Nguyen, Music in Space, Ceramic, Wood because if it’s not beat- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvF4nyMRjqQ ing then that’s when we flat-line. Welcome Class of 2025! Senior Show “Constant Movement\" Opening reception Art Village—Building 43 hosted by Kaitlyn’s parents Mr. & Mrs. Nguyen “PASS IT ON”... Departmental Photo 2021 by Tyler Hailstorm, Yearbook Photographer, Freshmen The Department of Art Joan Ulmer '85, Administrative Assistant; Deanea Boykins, Art Major; The Art Village Kaila Maurice, Art Major; Ryan Melson Redfern, Art Major; Bruce France, Lecturer, John T. Scott Sculpture Garden 3520 Pine Street Performance Studies; Amaya Cooper, Art Major; Gabriella Gilchriese, Art Major; Business Mailing Address Irvin Washington, Art Major; Ron Bechet, Professor of Art; Xavier University of Louisiana 1 Drexel Drive Megan Mitchell, History Instructor; Augustus \"Gus\" Jenkins '04, Lecturer of Art; New Orleans, LA 70125 Kyle Salandy, Art Major; Josiah Atkins, Art Major; Saaliyah Johnson, Art Major; Phone: 504-520-7556 Fax: 504-520-7949 MaPo Kinnord, Department Head & Associate Professor of Art; Dr. Ayshia Stephenson-Mackie, Assistant Professor of Performance Studies; Stay connected xula.edu/art &@FineArtsXULA: Social Media Sites: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Sheleen Jones '91, Art Instructor

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 2 XULA Art & Performance Studies Presents: Faculty Introductions Fall 2021 Dr. Ayshia Mackie-Stephenson is an intimacy director, activist and award-winning writer from Brooklyn, NY. She writes and directs stories on intimacy and sexuality for the stage. With an MFA from the California Institute of Arts and a PhD from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; Dr. Ayshia uses performance to investigate human rights, race and sexuality. Her works appears in Howlround, Black Camera, Qualitative Inquiry, Boston University Press, International Review of Qualitative Research, Black Lives Have Always Mattere forthcoming in Research in Drama Education and Theatre Topics. Dr. Mackie-Stephenson has directed productions at The Huntington, Fresh Ink Theatre, UMass Amherst Fine Arts Center, and Jewel Box Theatre in NYC, Arts at the Armory (Boston), Davis Square Theatre, The Rockwell, and the DC Black Theatre & Arts Festival. She is Assistant Professor of Art & Performance Studies at Xavier University of Louisiana. www.AyshiaStephenson.com Barbara Johanna Mileto, New Orleans-based multidisciplinary artist integrates photography and printmaking, assemblage and textiles, video, and digital. Informed by her Argentinian roots, her work explores cultural and personal identity formation, addressing the importance of heritage, ancestors, and religion in South American culture while establishing her own deities, spiritual space, and iconography. Strongly autobiographical, her work often features family members and expresses her lived experience as a subject. Mileto has received numerous awards, including a 2020 Art Award for her Cyanotype work from the Homer L. Hitt Society. In 2010 Mileto founded and served as CEO for Estampería de Autor in Argentina, a graphic design and printmaking company that helped entrepreneurs and small design companies scale their businesses. Over the past thirteen years, she has also taught Art and Design in both Argentina and the United States. She earned her Bachelor of degree, in Textile and Fashion Design from Universidad de Morón and earned her Master of Fine Arts in Fine Arts at the University of New Orleans in 2021. Mileto participates in Community Engagement projects, being an artistic partnership with NET: Gentilly one of her most recent ones. http://www.bmileto.com Megan Koza Mitchell is an independent curator and scholar. She also serves as Development Director for the New Orleans Film Society and Director of Guns in the Hands of Artists Foundation based in New Orleans, she is also the Project Manager for Big State Art, in Central New York. As a curator and scholar, Koza Mitchell’s research focuses on the reformation of community identity in the wake of trauma, specifically regarding public art and public space. Koza Mitchell is interested in the ways that visual interpretations of trauma can create, or recreate, collective cultural identity following catastrophic events, as well as the overall social and cultural ramifications of public art. She is a co-editor of the Public Art Dialogue Newsletter and The Feminist Art Project Regional Coordinator for Louisiana. Koza Mitchell has contributed to various exhibition catalogues and outlets for contemporary art criticism. She is ABD in Art History form the University of Kansas, holds an MA in Art History from the University of Alabama, and will complete her MPS in the Business of Art and Design from the Maryland Institute College of Art in December 2021. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 3 Just Thoughts, Linocut Cut Congratulations Augustus Jenkins ‘04! Going Home After the Storm: Winter Promoted to Lecturer of Art: Art Appreciation; Design; Drawing; Lecturer Augustus Jenkins, Drawing Studio and Printmaking The Art Village—Building 39 Lecturer Augustus Jenkins, Jr., www.xula.edu/art native of New Orleanian, received a B.A. in Art from Xavier University of Louisiana, studied under the guidance of his mentor, John T. Scott ‘62, who encouraged, then Senior Mr. Jenkins, to accept a Summer internship as a Sculptor on a design team with General Motors. Mr. Jenkins holds a M.F. A. from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale in Illinois. After receiving his M.F..A., he returned to his alma mater to begin his teaching career as an Adjunct Professor of Art. \"What drives my work is a sense of history\" that was passed on to me in the form of stories that I heard while growing up in New Orleans. In these narratives, the lives of everyday people who worked, struggled, sacrificed, lived, built the city and shaped the community, were remembered and shared…I became interested in the power of storytelling, and began to use the narrative as a way of reflecting not only their experiences, but also my own.\" Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 4 “Repetitious Transportation” Mixed Media Sculpture by Barriane Franks ‘21 XULA Art Sculpture Studio Project Installation Summer 2021 This piece is a painful reminder of the historic ships that enforced Repetitious Transportation enslaved migration of African peoples 2019-2021 from their homeland to a foreign, brutal Mixed Media Sculpture new reality. These decades are depicted 120.0” x 84.0” x 72.0” by the weathered ship model unable to even stand alone. The added planks and stands symbolize the evolution and attempted perpetuation of this system in order to disenfranchise their descendants long after freedom had been “granted.” This serves as a physical representation of the horrible efforts taken by those who wish to maintain a racial divide amongst the peoples in this nation; however, if united, this ship can be forced to retire once and for all. Photo front left: XULA Art Instructors: Sculptor Sheleen Jones ‘91; Sculptor, Jennifer Odem; Mrs. Kathleen McKinney-Franks (mother); Photo front right: Artist Barriane Franks ‘21; Artist Ron Bechet, Professor of Art Xavier University of Louisiana Photos courtesy of Joan Ulmer 85, Administrative Assistant Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 5 Jeanne's Take |May 21, 2021 Opening Reception Dear Crosstowners, Xavier University Ever wonder where all the art students that went Xavier South,1st Floor to our New Orleans colleges and universities are? I have. And I keep asking various arts faculty and fellow students. It will be great to get hard data on this, but in the meantime, the answers I tend to get are that most have left the city. A lack of opportunities and market seem to be contributing factors. These are addressed in part by the new grant program just announced by the Mayor's Office of Cultural Economy and the New Orleans Tourism and Culture Fund. Barriane Franks '20, XULA Art Major, interviews with Jeanne Nathan, Host & Executive Producer (Executive Director Creative Alliance of New Orleans) Crosstown Conversations, \"What New Orleans is Talking About\" WBOK 1230AM Education Columbia University in the City of New York Master of Arts - MA Art History 2021 - Present Photo courtesy of Barriane Franks ‘21 featured Xavier University of Louisiana with her parents Kathleen McKinney-Franks & Barron Franks Bachelor of Arts - BA Visual Arts 2017 - 2020 New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Certificate of Artistry Visual Arts 2013 - 2017 St. Mary's Academy High School Diploma Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 6 Congratulations Barriane Franks 21’! XULA Art Alum Accepts Masters Program Academic Scholarship ... My first semester at Columbia University in the City of New York was eye-opening and exposed me to the many art historic methods of analysis and conducting and presenting research that will doubtlessly be integral to my future aspirations in the arts field. This fall I took three courses: MA Methods Colloquium, Italian Renaissance Portraiture, and Surrealism, the second of which directly correlated with my research interests in the arts of the Italian Renaissance. In my Renaissance Portraiture course, we took two class trips, the first at the MET to visit their Medici: Portraits and Politics exhibition and later to the Wadsworth Athenaeum at Hartford, CT for By Her Hand: Artemisia Gentileschi and Women Artists in Italy, 1500–1800. I eagerly anticipate my future studies this Spring Photo courtesy of Barriane Franks ‘21 and look forward to my research that will result from my enrollment in these and my courses next semester. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 7 Kimberly Dummon ‘95 April 9, 2021–June 4, 2021 “For several years my work has explored the concept of home, through sculpture, prints and collage. In my two-dimensional work, I am using color, pattern and texture to create prints and collage to talk about place, both literally and figuratively. I am simultaneously influenced by and reference quilt structure, with some pattern codes directing paths on the underground railroad.” – Dummons Diamond in Amber, 2021, A Murfreesboro, TN resident since 2004, Associate Professor monotype collage of Art and Design at Middle Tennessee State University, 11 x 18 inches Dummons primarily teaches two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Originally from Baton Rouge, LA, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, and her Master of Fine Arts in studio art, with a sculpture concentration, from the University of New Orleans. Her work has been on view for nearly 20 years across Louisiana and now Tennessee in solo and group exhibitions. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 8 Celebrating Our 25th Anniversary Year! Black & Latinx Group Exhibition COMPLEXION REFLECTIONS Exhibition: May 1 – July 30, 2021 EXTENDED Jourdan Barnes ‘17 This GROUP EXHIBITION explores the changing Kara Crowley ‘17 complexion of Black and Latinx solidarity in Louisiana and beyond. www.xula.edu/art The exhibition highlights the creative work and advocacy of individuals that are building Black and Latinx power through common struggle and unity. The exhibition includes drawings, paint- ings, photography, and a short film. Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 9 CURATED CONVERSATION WITH MAPÓ KINNORD FEATURED IN THE SOLO EXHIBITION, \"OUTSIDE IN, IMPROVISATIONS OF SPACE\" /// MAY 20, 2021| EXHIBITIONS, O BLOG The ceramic work of New Orleans artist MaPó Kinnord is firmly rooted in the act of improvisation and explores space and form – both internally and externally – literally and symbolically. Through technical mastery and irreverent experimentation, Kinnord’s work in clay expands the traditional boundaries of the medium. Her studio practice pushes the potential of clay, as well as her own imagination, testing the limit of clay’s malleability and strength with her large-scale sculptures. By incorporating assemblage, collage, light, drawing and painting into her practice, she challenges the very definition of ceramic art. Outside In, Improvisations of Space brings together works from throughout Kinnord’s career to illustrate her practice in clay. Allowing herself to be led by the material, she finds her greatest joy in the physical act of creation “I work with clay because I love the physical interaction with the material,” she explains. “My current work embodies the technical challenges and creative dynamic of improvisation.” Her organic clay improvisations can be considered three-dimensional drawings in space, and the resulting forms represent the physical evidence of that act of creation. Through the building of architectural forms, Kinnord creates empty spaces within her sculptures. Dark internal spaces become a platform for further improvisation and creation, a place where she builds internal worlds through collage, painting, drawing, assemblage and light. It is through bringing light to the darkness of inner-space that Kinnord deepens the narrative elements of her work, creating intimate landscapes to comment on history, culture, identity, spirituality and social issues. MaPó Kinnord, Inheritance (detail), 2018 Stoneware and acrylic paint, Collection of the artist Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 10 XULA Art Annual “Celebration of Life” June 2021 The Helis Foundation John Scott Center John T. Scott, raised in New Orleans's Lower Ninth Ward, is best known for his vibrantly colored kinetic art. BY JOHN R. KEMP Winner of a prestigious “genius grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 1992 at the apex of his career, artist John Scott was born in New Orleans and raised in the city’s Lower Ninth Ward. He taught at Xavier University for more than forty years and was known for creating vibrant kinetic sculptures that often explored themes such as the “diddlie-bow” string instrument from West African culture, or the rhythms and movements inspired by early nineteenth-century slave dances in the New Orleans’s famed Congo Square. John T. Scott ‘62 His large woodcuts drew heavily upon life in city, especially its rich African-Caribbean culture and musical heritage. John Scott was praised as “a New Orleans sculptor whose vibrantly colored kinetic art filtered the spirit of the African diaspora through a modernist lens,” according to his obituary in the New York Times (September 4, 2007). Scott was born June 30, 1940, to Thomas Scott and Mary Mabel Scott on a farm in the Gentilly section of New Orleans and raised in the city’s Lower Ninth Ward. He attended Xavier University, a Roman Catholic and historically black college, and then Michigan State University where he studied with the painter Charles Pollock, Jackson Pollock’s brother. After completing his master of fine arts degree in 1965, he returned to Xavier to teach, and he remained on the faculty until...John Scott - 64 Parishes Artist Erin Elizabeth Wright ‘Commentary Excerpts’ by Mark Wright – June 26, 2004 erinelizabethwright.com “First and foremost, Erin found a passion in art. We can learn so much by her discovery and development as an artist. It was her gift, and she gave it to others, expecting nothing in return. For her, creating, through drawing, painting, sculpture, making crafts, and especially teaching others how to do the same, was a joy pursued for its own sake. It is an example we can draw upon as we allow ourselves to endlessly pursue so many things for transitory purposes. Her acts were a participation in the primary act of our God – creation..” “Everything is art. Your life is art. XUArt faculty, staff, and students extend a special thank you to Clifford Wright, It can be easy or hard.” Professor Division of Business for his generosity in establishing a scholarship in artwork & quote honor of his beloved daughter— by Erin Elizabeth Wright The “Erin Elizabeth Wright Art Scholarship” 2021—2022 Recipient: Kennedi Andrus, Art Major Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 11 Introduction to Performance Studies PERF 1000_01 & 03 Dr. Ayshia Mackie-Stephensen, Assistant Professor Students created a final performance on Black power and Black love for Introduction to Performance Studies. In groups, they collaborated to write and perform original pieces based upon their personal experiences and performance studies theory “Black Power and Black Love” Finals Performance The Introduction to Performance Studies class took a field trip to the Ogden Museum to see the “8TH ANNUAL HBCU ART SHOWCASE” exhibit which featured Xavier University students and faculty... Photos courtesy of Dr. Ayshia Mackie-Stephensen, Assistant Professor of Performance Studies Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 12 8TH ANNUAL HBCU ART SHOWCASEPRESENTED BY THE NEW ORLEANS (LA) CHAPTER OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED JUNE 5—DECEMBER 12, 2021 Kennedi Andrus Sugar Plum, Relief print Xavier University Untitled, Monotype I began my journey as a visual artist from a young age; Untitled, Monotype print drawing, sculpting, and painting with whatever objects I could find around the house. I was a second grader www.xula.edu/art when I was placed into my first visual arts program, and have continued to study art in a classroom setting ever since. I am appreciative of my time in the classroom. I learned patience from exploring new media, picked up on new techniques from teachers and professors, gained inspiration from art history lessons, and sharpened my artistic eye with dozens of still lives. As I grew technically, I saw myself begin to slip back into phases of exploration and childlike creation. Building these technical skills has also taught me how to break them down. I began to use them to my advantage in some of my abstract work, and sometimes completely abandoned them. As a perfectionist by nature, I strive for sharpness, focus and likeness in my work. This process is both taxing and rewarding. However, as I continue to explore abstraction, I learn that process has always been what drives my creativity; from the focus it takes to perfect a busy still life, to the abandonment of thought it takes to make an automatic drawing or painting. With the work I created this year, I explored both, letting each process give and take from the other. I continue to see the beauty to be found in embracing the part of my mind that hones in on details for hours. And I continue to explore the endless process of creating without thought, which I have learned to be the ultimate reflection of the subconscious. Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 13 Kadeshia Bellard Xavier University Over the past 10 years I have been creating art with the intentions of expressing the beauty of oneself and social issues within my community. Sitting on Glory is derived from a series I created called the Golden Hour. This series embarks on the idea of one’s true beauty and self- appreciation. I try to exhibit elements and overall vision that touches others’ hearts. My inspiration is derived from many things. Most of my ideas come from life choices, revelations, social issues and many forms of creative expressions. Sitting on Glory is a mixed media piece using acrylics, metallic markers and gold leaf flakes on canvas. Being appreciated is a way to feel that we’re important to others, and are valued, or even cherished. It is validating and meaningful to hear that you are appreciated for who you are. It makes people feel valued while also helping with the well-being and mental health of that individual. Xavier University of Louisiana Sitting on Glory, Mixed media Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 14 Photography has been an interest of mine ever since I took my first photography class as an elective my freshman year in high school. I was drawn to it because of all of the layers within the entire process. To me, photography isn’t just about taking a simple picture. It’s about learning the an- gles of your subjects, employing different Untitled exposures, and mastering the settings on each photo to capture the perfect image. My first photography course was traditional, using film cameras. I learned how to best use the settings on a analog camera, as well as how to develop film in a dark room. Working with analog cameras was an enjoyable lesson and great basis for fine tuning my photography skill set. Although at times it was difficult and time consuming, I loved coming to class and developing my photos. My sophomore year I took courses in digital photography, which is the medium that I now primarily use for my artwork. Gazing at the Sky My first digital photo is one that I consider to be one of my best works. This portfolio also contains a variety of other photos that I feel best express my photography style. Every now and then I capture scenery in nature because when I see a breathtaking view, I just have to capture it so it can last forever. My style typically lends itself to Raindrops portraits the majority of the time, however, because I enjoy capturing Digital Photography the emotions on people faces. by Deanea Boykins I stage my photos and create images to portray socially conscious messages. My opinions regarding different topics of conversation n society (stereotypes--for example, the photo on slide 9) are what motivate me to create the images I stage and capture. My work s conceived by the thoughts that come to my mind whether I am given a topic or just photographing things that mean something to me. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 15 Amaya Cooper Photography has always been an outlet for me to produce art that reflects the reality that I face every day. While much of my work in- cludes a great number of illusive edits, the overall subject of the composition is based on genuine experiences as a member of today’s youth. The central idea, throughout much of my work, reflects the youth of the nation. My work’s intention is to showcase how distinct the culture among the youth of America is compared to previous generations. Through different editorial techniques, I capture the struggle of coming-of-age and the obstacles that come with coming into one’s own skin. My concentration emphasizes the importance of our youth and our vast influence over our future. Among my photographs, you will notice a theme of heavy layering and collaging. This element of my work serves to embody the action of constant change and movement, which encompasses the entire transition to adulthood. Color is also a key element that is present in all my photographs as well. To me, the incorporation of vivid and lively color serves as a symbol of how vibrant and energetic our generation is. My pieces illustrate the inner chaos of the young generation and how in turn that chaos is our beauty. Lovers or Friends Live to Ride Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 16 I choose to recreate my favorite sunglasses for my ordinary object. This piece was inspired by a trip to Miami. The sigh of Miami’s city I got while joyriding was beyond liberating. Society make people think life is supposed to be filled with suffering that we just have to learn to get through, hence the dark lens beneath the city lights. City Lights, Ceramic Teddie Reid Xavier University One must recognize the courage, strength and resilience immersed in the being of a woman. Women are direct portals for mere thoughts and emotions to transcend into new consciousness or new beings. The evolution of creatures within this world thrives upon the existence of women. Women are the patient spirit, the nurturing spirit, and the unconditionally loving spirit. She is mother of nature itself. Xavier University of Louisiana Mother’s Nature, Ceramics Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 17 Xavier University of Louisiana Since 1619, Mixed media Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 18 Jody Trevinge Xavier University The purpose of this project is to show appreciation for and the beauty in urban culture. When people see urban styles or places they often judge or label it as being “tacky”. For this project I gathered students from Xavier University of Louisiana with a unique urban style and placed them in an urban environment that made them standout. The location was decided based upon the attire of each individual. My overall goal was to capture something dramatic. Something that would make someone stop and really analyze not only the person and their urban style, but also their surroundings, and how beautiful the combination of the two are. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 19 Irvin Washington Xavier University The purpose of my work is to provide an unfiltered perspective to the skate scene of New Orleans. As an African American skater, I always had a desire to help disprove the negative stereotypes that are associated with skaters. As I began to skate and linger around other skaters, I started to develop a deep respect for them. That respect came from the discipline that they have when it comes to applying themselves to their craft, much like many artists. From my time spent with them, I began creating images and my photography has evolved as a way to give people a look into the different personalities that exist within the New Orleans skate community. By documenting the passion, talent and drive that these skaters possess, this body of work serves as a catalyst that begins to close the gap between skaters and the outside world. My process focuses on capturing the raw emotion of the moment by isolating the skaters to emphasize what is happening in the art. Untitled., Archival Inkjet Print, Untitled., Archival Inkjet Print Untitled, Archival Inkjet Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 20 Erica Williams Xavier University Intimacy in a time of separation is something that many long for. Trying to remain connected to who you are. These images reflect an intimate moment that occurs while you are in your own bath tub. Xavier University of Louisiana Renewal by Erica Williams Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 21 Hannah Williams, Ngady Mask Inspired, Ceramic Hannah Williams Xavier University Mask Culture The Ngady Mwash mask from the Kuba Kingdom in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The bulging forehead of the mask or the bwoom supposedly manifests a hydrocephalic prince or spirit. Kuba history gives credit to a queen Ngokady for inventing this mask. This mask honors the role of women in Kuba life. While it portrays a woman, it is only by a man. The people of Kuba are agriculturalist and are a part of the Bantu ethnic group. They are known for the elaborate masks and distinctive geometric patterns. Modern cubism was highly influenced by Kuba arts. The people of Kuba speak Bushong, which belongs to the Bantu language. Hannah Williams, Watering Can – Elephant, Ceramic www.xula.edu/art Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 22 Saaliyah Johnson ARTIST Xavier University STATEMENT Art is the passion that drives my life force. Going into Art as my major I was afraid, but here I found hope and I grew to believe in my talent. Every stroke of my brush, I gave life to and I let it flow however my heart chose to guide it. This piece is titled “Afro King and His ancestors”. This had no thought behind it, I let my pencil guide the way to my soul and this spoke Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 23 Curled Up, Chalked Pastels Makeda Wells Xavier University ARTIST STATEMENT is a well rounded artist with experience in drawing, painting, printmaking sculpture, and ceramics. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri and is attending Xavier University of Louisiana pursuing a B.A. in Art with a minor in Entrepreneurship in Spring 2022. Her work is often full of color and explores such themes as societies interpretation of emotions, and the human body. Keep up with latest art and life’s journey... Instagram @makeda.wells.art The Masked Lady, Chalked Pastels Venus, Ink Relief Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 25 “The President of XpressU offered me a place on their Executive Board”... \"XAC\" Exciting News! Message from M. Machiya, XULA Physics Major: The Xavier Art Club goal is to form a club that allows for the artists on campus to expose their work as well as find opportunities to advance their artistic pursuits...let's come together to spread our artistic vision Xavier. campus-wide. Interested in joining \"XAC\", and/or serving on the board, please contact [email protected] TODAY for additional information. Photo courtesy of M. Machiya Graphics & Announcement by M. Machiya XULA Physics Major Physics Major The President of XpressU (an art club existing on campus already) offered me a place on their executive board to allow for us to merge our ideas. After consulting with the students who came to me, we decided merging our ideas was the best way forward because forming a club is a lengthy process at Xavier which would not be advantageous to students who are about to graduate. XPRESS U Club offers a workspace for creatives to collaborate and give back to their community. Our Goals Are:  Liberation • community • expres- sion of identity • innovative creativity • music & arts • leadership I'm excited for what's to come. This semester we look for- ward to hosting a booth in the Black Joy Matters SGA Well- ness Day event and much more… Thank you. Nia-Hyatt Eldosougi, Neuroscience Major Department of Psychology Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 26 The Unconscious Mind... ARTIST STATEMENT The unconscious mind has often been seen as a space of fanciful illogic. That part of the mind, in my view, is also the depository for our most honest selves, The selves that speak with the most vivid candor about our identity, our loves, our pains and our hopes. Through my work, which as time has progressed has taken on surrealist tones, I study the expression of this part of our minds to tackle my own personal identity and the identity of us as people. Through the use of pencil, ink and paper, my work examines the convoluted nature of human identity and aims to provide catharsis for the audience at large. My ever present answer to the question of why I do my art is that it allows me to scream and the more I put on paper, the more I can scream. This is what my work Photo courtesy of M. Machiya, aims to provide for my audience - a space to scream about the often confusing, XULA Physics Major painful, oddly endearing parts of being human. “The Judge” “Of Chaos & Order” “Pieces” “Sandman” Xavier University of Louisiana Artwork by M. Machiya www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies Physics Major

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 24 NEWS July 7, 2021 MAYOR'S OFFICE OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES CELEBRATES SECOND YEAR OF 'SUMMER SUCCESS' CONNECTING HIGH-RISK YOUTH TO EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Photos courtesy of Joan Ulmer ‘85, Administrative Assistant Community Arts Programing XULA Art & Performance Studies The Art Village Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies 3520 Pine Street XULA West hosted by Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord & Professor Ron Bechet www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 27 Summer Programming— The Art Village, www.xula.edu/art Xavier University of Louisiana June 7thJuly 9th Monday — Friday 10:00am to 2:00pm. Contact persons Lana Meyon, Program Manager, The Black School [email protected] Shani Peters, Co-Director, The Black School [email protected] Joseph Cuillier, Co-Director, The Black School [email protected] The Black School theblack.school https://www.instagram.com/the blackschool/ Note— programming will continue Fall 2021 Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 28 Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 29 Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 30 Congratulations Kennedi Andrus Curatorial Fellow \"The Matrix of Creativity: Where the River Meets the Sea\" Featuring Jameel Paulin '13, Assistant Professor of Art! https://www.noaam.org/events Featuring: Khalid Abdelrahman, Langston Allston, Kennedi Andrus, Curatorial Fellow, Art Major, Xavier University of Louisiana, Dianne “Mimi” Baquet, Didier Civil, Rodrecas Davis, Eseosa Edebiri, Sokari Ekine, Ashley Firstley, Myesha Francis, Jacq Francois, Cherice Harrison-Nelson, Cheryiah Hill, Tatiana Kitchen, Soraya Jean Louis, Gael Jean Louis, Lance Minto-Strouse, Steven Montinar, John Jahni Moore, Jameel Paulin '13, Assistant Professor, Colorado College, Schetauna Powell, Nik Richard, Ryann Sterling, Khalid Thompson, Bianca Walker, Sly Watts Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 31 CURATED CONVERSATION WITH EDDIE LANIERI FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION, \"REVELATIONS II: RECENT PHOTOGRAPHY ACQUISITIONS /// JULY 7, 2021 Enjoy this new Curated Conversation with Revelations II: Recent Photography Acquisitions artist, Eddie Lanieri, and Richard McCabe, Ogden Museum Curator of Photography. During this talk, Lanieri discusses her photography practice and photographs from her projects, Dress as Girl, Southern Bells and A Communion of Saints. You can view Gizelle, which is a part of Lanieri’s Dress As Girl series, in the exhibition Revelations II, on view through September 5, 2021. About Eddie Lanieri Eddie Lanieri is a Salzburg Global Seminar Fellow, and was on the board of the New Orleans Photo Alliance. Complex Magazine named her one of the top 20 artists from New Orleans that you should know, and recently British Airways working with New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, named her one of the 6 artists you have to see when visiting New Orleans. Her work has been exhibited internationally and nationally including shows at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, The Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans, Lucie Foundation, The Center for Fine Art Photography, Goldsmith College, and Kinsey Institute. Her work is held in both private and public collections, and has been supported by funding from the Mellon Foundation and Louisiana State Division of the Arts. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 32 Artist Sheleen Jones '91 Sculptor, XULA Art Instructor & Artist Jennifer Odem, Sculptor, XULA Art Instructor: Walter Anderson Museum of Art Exhibition Opening Reception Time & Location Jul 22, 2021 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Walter Anderson Museum of Art, 510 Washington Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA About The Event https://www.walterandersonmuseum.org/.../exhibition... We are excited to gather and celebrate the work of bold female artists during our opening reception honoring both of our current exhibitions, Steel Magnolias and Everyday Exultations. Steel Magnolias showcases the work of six contemporary female artists from Mississippi and Louisiana working in metal. The works displayed in Everyday Exultations features 16 artists from the Mississippi State Committee of the National Museum for Women in the Arts. Xavier University of Louisiana Louisiana State Museum Department of Art & Performance Studies at The Presbytere. An exciting new addition to the arcade of the Presbytère was installed this week by artist Sheleen Jones! ’91 These three flowing fabric crescents reveal spiritual influences within the masking traditions of the Black community in New Orleans—the subject of the exhibition, “Mystery in Motion: African American Masking and Spirituality in Mardi Gras,” currently on view at the Presbytère in Jackson Square. Sheleen Jones ’91 brings out the mystic motion of Black masking Indians, the Northside Skull and Bone Gang, Voodoo queens, and Yoruba spirits, called orishas. Each of the richly textured sculptural shapes is based on the movement of Voodoo queens flaring out their skirts. To learn more about these sacred traditions, please visit this wonderful new exhibition in the heart of the French Quarter! https://www.facebook.com/LaStateMuseum /videos/10158990825490926/?t=10 www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 33 Photo courtsey of Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord, Monday, August 30, 2021 Department Head facilitated faculty departmental meeting Message from MaPo Kinnord check-in via Zoom on campus in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida Associate Professor of Art The & Department Head: Art Village Before Greetings Everyone, Hurricane Ida What a way to start the school year! Hope that you all have made it through Hurricane Ida's impact without harm or major damage. Please check-in to let me /us know how you are doing by sending an email to MaPo Kinnord, [email protected] with a cc to Joan Ulmer, [email protected]. If you need assistance and/or speak with your advisor, we are here for you… Thank you. Keep safe, MaPo Kinnord Congratulations & Thank you Mr. Ben! Enjoy your retirement; like a priceless work of art; you are irreplaceable... The Art Village After Hurricane Ida Xavier University of Louisiana Photos by Joan Ulmer ‘85, Administrative Assistant Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 34 Exciting News! Delaney George '19 Opening Exhibitions & Billboard! Edna Lanieri, Photography Instructor shares former student © Delaney George Delaney George ‘19 current exhibitions & artwork... She has been included in 3 exhibitions, one opening today with Save Space. She has a billboard via Save Art Space exhibition on Gender Violence. Here is the link https://www.saveartspace.org/gbv. She is also exhibiting at Women Made Gallery in Chicago https://womanmade.org/artwork/laneslense/. Then she will be part of an annual photo exhibition at MSU in Kentucky. Location: S Brandon St & Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA Delaney George aka Laneslense is a New Orleans-based photographer, director, and visual artist operating under her brand LANESLENSE. Delaney's work aspires to extract feeling from the viewer by consistently portraying themes of nostalgia, femininity, vibrancy, and glamour. Vintage/'Golden age' themes are used in each photoshoot to create timeless visuals that evoke a sense of inclusion and re-imagination. Creating images that are both a contemporary ode to the past AND a safe space to display modern figures in spaces they aren't commonly represented or historically welcomed. This piece tells the story of New Orleans Makeup Artist and Domestic Violence survivor Ebony Malika. Through prosthetics and recalls of some of the most challenging times in life, Ebony translates her talents to the canvas of models Brandy and Devon to depict the battles she's overcome. I am honored to have been the photographer to capture and direct such an important story. I feel this piece is the plight of so many in domestic and gender based violence. This piece is standing up to abusers, not being silent, not enabling or accepting the lies and excuses. This piece is knowing when to say when. ARTIST STATEMENT Growing up in a church we were always told there is spiritual purification by water. Water is looked at as a healer or calming agent, once you come out of it all is well. The Ave series represents the calming and pure sensations water gives using a black subject. The woman photographed is her most docile, her most pure, her most cleansed and vulnerable self at the time these photos were taken. These photos represent a time to be STILL and indulge in the water. ABOUT THE ARTIST Delaney George is a New Orleans-based photographer, director, and visual artist operating under her brand LANESLENSE. Her work aspires to extract feeling from the viewer by consistently portraying themes of nostalgia, femininity, vibrancy, and glamour. Vintage/’Golden age’ themes are used in each photoshoot to create timeless visuals that evoke a sense of inclusion and re-imagination. She creates images that are both a contemporary ode to the past AND a safe space to display modern figures in spaces they aren’t commonly represented or historically welcomed. Recent exhibitions include: Femmisance, Stella Jones Fine Art Gallery, Laneslense Essence x Coca-Cola’s Sisterhood Exhibition, and more. Ave 1 (2019) digital photography artist’s website 21 x 31 in. @Laneslense www.xula.edu/art Xavier University of Louisiana Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 35 Congratulations Artist Ron Bechet! Professor of Art Xavier University of Louisiana Susan Brennan Co-Artistic Director of Prospect.5 Naima Keith traveled to New Orleans this week, along with P.5 artists Adriana Corral, Kevin Beasley, and Sharon Hayes. We have just three months to go until Prospect.5 Yesterday We Said Tomorrow opens to the public on October 23rd... Pictured: P.5 artists Kevin Beasley, Ron Bechet, Anastasia Pelias, Keni Anwar, Malcolm Peacock, & Adriana Corral with Susan Brennan Co-Artistic Director of Prospect.5 Naima Keith, Curatorial Associate, Lucia Momoh, and P.5 Programs & Community Engagement Manager, Taylor Holloway. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance PROSPECT.5: YESTERDAY WE SAID TOMORROW Newcomb Art Museum Saturday! https://newcombartmuseum.tulane.edu/.../prospect October 23, 2021 - January 23, 2022... Featuring new artwork by Artist Ron Bechet, Professor of Art, XULA Art & Performance Studies, “Yesterday We Said Tomorrow” at the Newcomb Art Museum, cu- rated by Artistic Directors Naima J. Keith and Diana Nawi, is the fifth iteration of Prospect New Orleans. This citywide contemporary art triennial will feature more than fif- ty artists in over fifteen venues throughout New Orleans and will include newly commissioned works alongside the work of historically significant artists. P.5 will investigate how history informs the present – particularly in relation to New Orleans, a uniquely American city that embodies so many urgent issues of today, but which remains deeply invested in and subject to its recent and historical past. Taking the city as a mandate, this exhibition will examine history as both document and fiction, exploring the idea that our moment feels both unprecedented and familiar. Featured artists include Ron Bechet, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Elliott Hundley, Mimi Lauter and Naudline Pierre. Xavier University of Louisiana Also featuring Gabrielle Tolliver '20 Department of Art & Performance Studies XULA Art Graduate leading the event... www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 36 Ayo Scott ‘02 Lessons New Orleans, October 2021 Ayo Scott – The Helis Foundation Ayo Scott’s originally painted as a means of letting go of life’s curveballs, such as the death of his father, grad school and post-Katrina New Orleans. Those curveballs brought grief, but also a purpose, to Scott’s art. After seeing the face of a city change so quickly, he began creating to preserve and magnify pieces what makes the city special. While much of his work is abstract, his subject is now focused on ways to celebrate the defenders of the spirit of New Orleans. As the son of the late artist, Xavier professor, and MacArthur Genius, John T. Scott, his mural is an ode to generations of New Orleanians, with depictions of his father’s well-known public sculptures Spirit House and Ocean Song, and his young daughter dressed as Wonder Woman holding a daisy as tribute to his mother. About Ayo Scott Born and raised in New Orleans, Ayo Scott is a graduate of Ben Franklin High School and Xavier University. He entered graduate school at The Institute of Design in Chicago before taking a year off to create a series of paintings inspired by the tsunami of 2004. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans the year after, prompting Scott to immediately return to New Orleans. While living in his parents gutted home in the Gentilly neighborhood, he started a clothing and design company which continued for several years until he began to drift from commercial work toward his own artistic projects. 620 O’Keefe St, New Orleans, LA 70113 Photo courtesy of Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord, Department Head Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 39 BUOYANCY: Love in Joy MaPó Kinnord 2021 | NEW ORLEANS MATERIAL: PAINTED BISQUED STONEWARE This Friday, October 1, MaPó Kinnord, sculptor and Xavier professor, will install Love in Joy: BUOYANCY a monumental ceramic piece fabricated after her recent exhibition at Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Kinnord's sculpture will be located across from the Hale Boggs Federal Building on Poydras Street, facing Lonnie Holley's Headed to the Land We Were Promised (Glory). “BUOYANCY: LOVE IN JOY IS A PAINTED HAND-BUILT CERAMIC SCULPTURE CELEBRATING MY LOVE FOR THE CITY AND PEOPLE OF NEW ORLEANS BUOYANCY IS AN ACT OF FLOATING AND A STATE OF OPTIMISM. MY NEW ORLEANS IS A CITY OF BODIES IN INTERACTIVE MOTION AND SPIRITS IN REGULAR CYCLES OF ABSORPTION AND ASCENSION. FOR OVER 25 YEARS I HAVE DANCED MANY DANCES WITH NEW ORLEANS, FROM MY FIRST EXPERIENCE AT CONGO SQUARE WITH DRUMMERS RELEASING ANCESTOR CALLS TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR PAST, TO THE UNION OF CHILDREN AND ELDERS FEAR FREE IN THE SYNCOPATED STEPS OF A SECOND LINE. THROUGH STORMS OF LOSS AND THE REBIRTH OF HEALING WE FLOAT WITH THE POWER OF A TUGBOAT. WE DANCE STRONG AND BRIGHT WITH LIFE. MY INTENTION IS TO CREATE AN INVITATION TO JOIN A MOMENT OF JOY.” – MAPÓ KINNORD MaPó Kinnord grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She received her first training in ceramics through Cleveland’s Quaker-founded alternative high school, the School on Magnolia. She apprenticed with several production potters before receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Art in 1984. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1994. Arriving in New Orleans in 1995, she now serves as an Associate Professor of Art at Xavier University. A well-respected educator, Kinnord has taught workshops in Matsue, Japan, as well as the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine and the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. Her Contemplative Clay Project explores clay-working as a meditative practice. Her solo exhibition, Outside In, Improvisations of Space: The Ceramic Work of MaPó Kinnord, was mounted at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in 2021. A lifelong scholar, she has researched the traditional and contemporary art of Ghana extensively, and has produced video documentation of the traditional pottery, kiln building and ceramic architecture of West Africa. Photos courtesy of Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord Department Head Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 40 Closing Celebration featuring remarks Photos courtesy of Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord by Dr. Kim Vaz-Deville & Ron Bechet, Artist & Professor of Art, Xavier University of Louisiana Mystery in Motion: African American Masking and Spirituality in Mardi Gras Located in: Jackson Square Address: 751 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70116 https://louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/presbytere Exhibition Mystery in Motion: African American Masking and Spirituality in Mardi Gras, which is on display at the Presbytère through November 28. It has been a wonderful exhibition with dynamic programming online and in-person, made especially meaningful because of the incredible creators, artists, and culture bearers involved. The museum is excited to celebrate this exhibition with a closing event this Thursday, November 18, 2021 6:00-8:00 p.m., in-person at the Presbytère! Attendees will explore the exhibition, enjoy refreshments, hear closing remarks from co-curators Kim Vaz-Deville and Ron Bechet, and mark the celebration with blessings from Peteh Muhammad Haroon, Trail Chief of the Golden Feather Hunters, and Ausettua AmorAmen- kum, New Orleans spiritualist and Big Queen of the Washitaw Nation. The program will include performances from Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Big Chief of the Northside Skull and Bone Gang; Zohar Israel; Big Chief Shaka Zulu of the Golden Feather Hunters; award-winning percussionist Bill Summers; and Kalea Cook, Xavier University music major. This program is made possible by the Friends of the Cabildo and the Louisiana Museum Foundation. It is free and open to the public, and guests are invited to wear festive attire. You can find more information about the event on our website: https://louisianastatemuseum.org/.../closing-celebration.... Thank you for your participation! Sara Lowenburg Manager of Education Louisiana State Museum Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 38 Interview with Louise Mouton Johnson ‘76 New Orleans Fiber Artist The Newcomb Art Museum invited artist Louise Mouton Johnson and anthropologist Dr. Helen Regis to have a con- versation about Louise's work as an artist and culture bearer with life long roots in New Orleans, within the context of Laura Ander- son Barbata's \"Transcommunality\". The conversation highlights the importance of ethical and sustainable collaborations in the arts and learning. Louise Mouton Johnson is a visual artist and arts instructor who was born and educated in New Orleans, Louisiana. She studied Fine Arts at Tulane University before transferring to Xavier University, where she graduated cum laude from Xavier in 1976 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She earned her Master of Fine Arts degree in 1980 from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She taught visual arts in the New Orleans public schools system for 33 years, 14 of which were spent at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Audubon Charter School, and Eleanor McMain Secondary School, from which she retired in May 2016. In addition to her teaching career, Louise Mouton Johnson continues to practice professionally, exhibit, and sell her work. Her prints, drawings, and quilts are in the perma- nent collections of The City of New Orleans through commissions from the Arts Council of New Orleans (City Hall, New Orleans Public Library Main Branch, Milne Boys Home, and Martin Luther King, Jr. School), Ashé Cultural Arts Center, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Amistad Research Center, private collections, and others. Her work also appears on albums covers with Rounder Records, on book covers by New Orleans authors, and on the official 1990 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Poster. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 41 Artist Talk: Judy’s Hands Community Arts Venues: hosted by Associated Professor MaPo Xavier University of Louisiana Gallery Administration Building, 1 Drexel Drive Kinnord & Professor Ron Bechet Xavier University of Louisiana The Art Village The Art Village Building (s) 39—43—51, 3520 Pine Street Building 43, Lecture Room 112 November 13, 2021 Ceramics Workshop hosted by Associated Professor MaPo Kinnord Xavier University of Louisiana The Art Village—Building 51 \"Root Wisdom\" Women's Group: Dahlia El-Shafei,Florentina Staiger Cruz, Rodneka Shelbia, Ellenie Cruz, Kimberly Doley, Amelie Prescott, and Dolores Watson. \"Working with a group of Black, indigenous, women of color healing practitioners and we have not met together in person since the pan- demic. We are now looking to do something together that is fun to reunite. I’m wondering if we could schedule some time with you for you to guide us in using clay as a Healing medium.\" Part of my responsibilities as GAP Director for NCECA was to explore ways of promoting diverse communi- ties within the ceramics. As a part of my projects I initiated the formation of the Gulf South Clay Connection. Meetings: https://www.facebook.com/groups/797701800878929 —Florentina Staiger Cruz Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 42 ECoSTEM: Environmental Computing and Community Engagement in STEM Education ECoSTEM https://instesre.org/ECoSTEM/ is a three-year project funded by the National Science Foundation through its Improving Undergraduate STEM Education program and directed by Xavier University of Louisi- ana, starting in February, 2021. Under the direction of PI Dr. Gasseller and Co-PI Dr. Timothy Glaude from Xavier, ECoSTEM will en- large and diversify student participation in STEM-related courses. All Xavier student participants will build, deploy, and analyze particulate counters and other environmental monitoring equipment. They will also work with middle and secondary teachers and students in partner schools around Xavier in New Orleans, Louisiana, to expand the monitoring network.( Within the Xavier campus , sensors are at: 1. The Art Center, 2. The Uni- versity center and 3 close to the Library) Airborne particulates are highly variable in space and time and are almost always undersampled. They pose significant health challenges that are especially prevalent in minority and other underserved communities, in- cluding communities around Xavier in New Orleans. Hence, this is an ideal focus for expanding STEM educa- tion at Xavier by encouraging community engagement by its students and broadening the range of possibilities for STEM-related careers. Thanks Morewell ECoSTEM Principal Partners  PI, Dr. Morewell Gasseller  Co-PI. Dr. Timothy Glaude  Project Consultant, Dr. David R. Brooks  Dr. Brooks is founder and president of the Institute for Earth Science Research and Education. He holds a PhD in atmospheric physics from Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of Lon- don. As a former principal scientist for atmosphere protocols in the federally funded GLOBE program, he developed a sun photometer for measuring atmospheric optical depth – the first instrument developed spe- cifically for use by GLOBE participants – and has worked with students and teachers around the world. His development of microcontroller-based instruments for monitoring airborne particulates and other envi- ronmental parameters provided the science focus central to ECoSTEM. His 2020 book, Exploring Your Environment with Arduino Microcontrollers, is used as a text in ECoSTEM-supported courses at Xavier. Xavier University of Louisiana Photos courtesy of Joan Ulmer ‘85, Administrative Assistant Department of Art & Performance Studies www.xula.edu/art

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 43 PhotoNOLA Workshop and Darkroom at the Photo Alliance Polaroid Transfer Workshop with Edna Lanieri, Photographer December 10, 2021 https://photonola.org/photonola-2021/workshops/... I have also worked with the New Orleans Photo Alliance in getting their public darkroom ready this past year. I am going to be teaching a lot of darkroom classes at the Photo Alliance next year. I will send out information when it becomes available. Best, Eddie Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 44 Tiona Nekkia McClodden | tionam.com Xavier University of Louisiana Gallery Presents PGP: She/Her Filmmaker / Artist / Curator Tiona Nekkia McClodden, Be Alarmed: The Black Americana Epic, Founder + Director of Conceptual Fade Movement I - The Visions, 2014. Single-channel video, HD 1920 x 1080, 10 min., 48 sec. © Tiona Nekkia McClodden. Courtesy of the artist VENUE Xavier University Of Louisiana Art Gallery 1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana Wednesday–Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM OPENING SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11 NEIGHBORHOOD Mid-City/Bayou St. John ABOUT THE ARTIST Tiona Nekkia McClodden is a visual artist, filmmaker, and curator whose work explores, and critiques issues at the Intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and social commentary. McClodden’s interdisciplinary approach traverses documentary film, experimental video, sculpture, and sound installations. Themes explored in McClodden's films and works have been re-memory and more recently narrative biomythography. Her work has been featured in exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; and MoMA PS1, New York, among others. She recently exhibited work in the Whitney Biennial (2019), for which she received the Bucksbaum Award. McClodden has been the recipient of several awards and fellowships, including the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award, the Keith Haring Fellowship in Art and Activism from the Center for Photo courtesy of Associate Professor MaPo Kinnord, Curatorial Studies at Bard College, and the Department Head 2019 Guggenheim Fellowship in Fine Arts. Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 44 Thank you our beloved Donors! Let's keep giving \"For the Love of Xavier” https://givelove.xula.edu/donate Message from Harold W. Wright, Jr. Class of 1973 Gift:$200 I'm proud to give to Xavier Art Department because without the scholarship I received, I wouldn't have been able to attend. Please keep supporting education! Why I Am a Proud Xavierite! Visit https://givelove.xula.edu/p2p/185171/joan-ulmer '85 Donate TODAY! #GLX2021 @XULAalumni \"I give to Xavier in support of the Art Village & the John T. Scott ’62 Sculpture Garden an academic art studio space where talented student artists learn, develop, create, & exhibit their amazing artwork” - Joan Ulmer ‘85 Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies

The Gestalt In Retrospect 2021: The Art of Perseverance Page 44 Xavier University of Louisiana www.xula.edu/art Department of Art & Performance Studies