Buy a Woven Scarf and Help Support the KCAI Black Student Union
September for KCAI Black Student Union
During the month of September, Debbie Barrett-Jones is teaming up with The Leedy Foundation to help kickstart raising funds for the next 2021 KCAI BSU's Exhibition hosted by the Leedy Foundation. All proceeds of a Debbie Barrett-Jones woven scarf online or in the Leedy Gift Shop will go towards marketing, award money, and more.
Please take the time to visit Leedy-Voulkos Art Center online to read more about these amazingly talented young artists.
Kevin Hopkins, I Gotta Make It, 18 x 22 inches, pen drawing with white acrylic paint, 2020
The piece, I Gotta Make It, is a pen drawing with white acrylic paint. The drawing is intended to depict a black youth staring at the viewer, envious of their privilege. Galleries and museums often filter out black work and for the most part-only appeal to the white demographic. For a black youth in the art world, to be white is to be successful.
Instagram | @beebro_irl
Website | https://www.seesaltexhibition.com/
Due to COVID the KCAI BSU: Black History Month Exhibition "WE HAVE OUR SEAT, NOW WHAT?", has been an exhibition at my workplace that I have been able to enjoy since February. The art center is very large with six gallery spaces and ever since March it has been a pretty lonely place but I have been so thankful for the art on the walls, especially the work by these hard-working, extremely talented KCAI students.
One-piece, in particular, has personally struck me, and every time I have walked through the Opie Gallery where it has been hung, I have had to stop and take a few seconds to pause and look at the young black man drawn staring back at me. There has been something so emotionally compiling and moving by Kevin Hopkins' I GOTTA Make It, that I decided I had to own it.
I am so proud of all the hard work Kevin has put in his first year at KCAI and I am excited to see what is next for him for in school and beyond.
Please visit LVAC's website to read more about Kevin Hopkins as he is the Leedy Foundation's first featured KCAI BSU Artist. Learn more about this group and how you can help.
Congratulations Kevin and all the students of the KCAI BSU for putting together an amazing exhibition!