Student Artist Perspective: 2023 National Day of Racial Healing Art Lab Exhibition

Written by Brisa Orlando

It was the first day of class on January 17, 2023. ACC Highland’s Building 4000 was bustling with faculty, staff, community members, and students, as people gathered to see the TAG Art Lab exhibition for the 2023 National Day of Racial Healing. 

I was fortunate to be one of the students whose work was chosen for this exhibition, which was coordinated by The Art Galleries at ACC and the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Center. As I walked around the Art Lab admiring the artwork, I could hear questions and conversations about the artworks circulating around the gallery. In this moment, I realized how incredibly talented and diverse the group was, and I felt a sense of  gratitude to be a part of the exhibition, which was sparking so many important questions and conversations about racial healing. 

 

 

 

 

The 30 artworks chosen for the exhibition consisted of paintings, prints, collages, and ceramics under the theme of the exhibition, “ Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Begins with Me.” Even under this common theme, the artworks communicated a sense of individuality unique to each artist. Some paintings explored the concept of identity, while some works explored the importance of culture. Other artworks even explored empathy and lived experience. For example, Jennifer L. Conroy’s digital photography describes stories of Austin residents, narrating the lives and courage of these individuals that transpire towards transformation and truth.

My acrylic painting in the exhibition, To Belong, was based on the concept of finding peace and healing within our own environments. I created the surroundings, such as the black and white floor and the floral background, from an imaginative setting to express the transformation and envision a theme of “belonging.” Art certainly plays a huge role in my life, and I wanted to communicate that to viewers and connect with them through my artwork.

I had a conversation about my work with the exhibition’s juror and ACC alumni Cindy Elizabeth, a documentary photographer whose work documents Black community events in Austin and communicates themes of social justice. (See Cindy Elizabeth’s full bio here) In speaking with Elizabeth, I found her successful story to be a great motivation for maintaining a voice for the people within our communities. 

 

 

 

At the end of the exhibition, visitors had a choice to share their thoughts through an Artful Response board which had prompts such as, “What role does art play in racial healing, transformation, and truth?” in which visitors could write their thoughts on index cards and post them in the gallery. The board filled up with responses from visitors and artists all sharing their unique thoughts and leaving us with the lingering question: How can art help us understand each other’s experiences?

Through this experience walking through and participating as an artist in this exhibition, I have come to realize that art is versatile and can speak different languages to each person – and ultimately art has the power to give a voice to those that feel they don’t have one.

The Art Lab located on the first floor of Building 4000 hosts gallery events that display artworks by members of the ACC community and is open for all. For more information, visit the TAG Art Lab webpage.