Events

Common Ground is an autobiographical two-woman show featuring the work of two friends, Selina Akter and Anna Rowan. Both artists come from vastly different backgrounds and view their upbringings differently; one with positivity and nostalgia, and the other with bittersweet, smoldering beauty, tempered with almost frenetic energy. As with most things, it is complicated. The study in contrasts is fascinating. Common Ground traces key moments in artists’ life and culminates in a large collaborative piece symbolizing their current friendship.

Anna Rowan holds a BFA from Louisiana Tech, while Selina Akter holds a BFA from the University of Colorado, Denver. Rowan has exhibited and curated many projects in Monroe at the Upstairs and Big Room Galleries. She also taught art for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, and Parkview Housing Project. Akter has exhibited extensively in the Denver and Monroe area, as well as in Bangladesh.

Told You Not to Bring That Ball showcases Pat Phillip’s initial work on a yet-to-be-named series he began recently while attending the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. The work on view deals with the complexities of coming of age using references as diverse as Bambi and Boyz N The Hood. Told You Not to Bring That Ball is loosely autobiographical, primarily focusing on moments in Phillips’ life when the joy of youth gives way to growing up black in America. Phillips was recently a fellow at the Vermont Studio Center, as well as Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Solo exhibitions of his work were mounted by Northwestern State University (Natchitoches, LA), Antenna Gallery (New Orleans, LA), and the Acadiana Center for the Arts (Lafayette, LA).

Terence C. Williams II’s artistic practice provides satirical insight into a variety of topics including online culture, history, hip hop, current events, and more. His paintings often have the appearance of graphic novels and other forms of popular culture he critiques. His willingness to adopt this visual strategy illustrates his elevated understanding of his subject matter and content. Williams holds a BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design and has shown extensively in Northeast Louisiana. Williams is also a staff member at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana.