Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development officially kicked off its annual Black History Month Art Exhibit on Feb. 7 with a reception at its home on Madison’s South Side.
Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development (LOUD) is a statewide initiative centered on promoting collaboration between Latino arts and service organizations, artists and the communities they operate in. The gallery is a dedicated space for Black artists in Wisconsin to showcase their works.
Four artists displayed their works at Omega School, 835 W. Badger Road, heavily inspired by their experiences as artists of color. Artists included Matthew Bruanginn, Jerry Butler, Sophia Voelker and Jerry Jordan.
Voelker took the time to highlight a personal hero of hers with the sole painting she had on display in the gallery. Her piece titled “Be the Star” celebrates being the star of whatever career you take to influence the world.
“In this case, it has to do with science, astronomy, astrology, you name it, anything that has to do with science and how African Americans have contributed to it,” Volker said.
Her piece is inspired by Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space. Every day Volker would see a poster of Jemison in her fifth-grade classroom. Her teacher felt it was important for her students to know that they could accomplish the seemingly impossible and influence others to “be the star,” as Voelker described it.
“Everyone knows Neil deGrasse Tyson. Everyone knows him, but she’s the main reason why I painted this, because female scientists and astronauts, women of science, African Americans … we have to go through the [sic] coders, you name it, and still, even today, they don’t get enough credit,” Voelker said.
Butler brought multiple pieces of his highly textured works to the gallery. Most shown at the gallery were of historical women or women who have impacted his life — part of a larger series he’s working on — but highlighted his largest piece “Burning Bush.”
The piece depicts Moses in the classical religious rendition of the burning bush coupled with his unique overlaid texture style. “Burning Bush” is a commentary on the current state of our democracy, Butler said, and how “If we don’t do something, it’s on us.”
Braunginn is featuring two of his abstract expressionist pieces at the exhibit.
“My artwork rejects ideas of destruction within my creations and, instead, infused with my emotional experiences, presents a radical act of masculine creation and a celebration of Black art. Each piece is created within Black music’s vibrant and soulful sound— be it soul, R&B, jazz, funk, or Hip-Hop,” Braunginn told Madison365. “It is a celebration of life, while living in a time where the very idea of diversity, my existence is being targeted, and masculinity is embraced when it’s in its most destructive forms. I repudiate those notions and ideas through this work, embracing their inversion.”
Jordan did not make an appearance at the gallery’s opening, but two of his pieces are featured. His work is best described as a contemporary reinterpretation of classical paintings.
The gallery will stay up until the end of February. It is free to view, but booking is required via contacting Omega School at 608-256-4650.
