Student Union exhibit looks at the black experience in celebration of Black History Month

Portraits of African-Americans with natural hair and dark skin, and portrayals of slavery and poverty are both stereotypical images associated with black art — but a group of local artists are determined to change that perception.

Sponsored by UNC’s Black Student Movement in celebration of Black History Month, “Black Like This?,” on display through March in the Student Union Art Gallery, features paintings and photographs created by local African-American artists and students.

“We really wanted to display black local artists,” said sophomore Elaine Stackhouse, co-chairwoman of the Black Student Movement’s Black History Month events.“I personally believe their artwork should be shown more often because they’re part of the American culture.”

Stackhouse contacted local artist William Thomas, who got his Master of Fine Arts degree from UNC in 2013, to organize the exhibition. He gathered works from five artists, including himself, to be displayed.

“The show was titled ‘Black Like This?’ with a question mark to question if this is the expectation people have when they approach work by black artists,” Thomas said.

Lamar Whidbee, an N. C. Central University graduate, is one of the contributing artists. He said people often harbor stereotypes on the subject of black art.

“If there is an African-American that is the subject of the picture a lot of times it’s going to be seen as black art,” Whidbee said.

Both Thomas and Whidbee attempt to challenge that notion by painting portraits of people who don’t fit the typical portrayals of African-Americans.

One of Thomas’s portraits is of a UNC student he met on the way to his studio in the Hanes Art Center.

“Olivia was passing by and her hair color struck me — she has a reddish-colored hair,” Thomas said. “Most people I paint have been black people with lighter skin — her complexion and hair color drew me to paint her portrait.”

Whidbee painted a portrait of a girl with multi-racial traits.

“I produce images that defy the stereotype of black art — I have one image of a young lady, her mom is Caucasian and Native American, her dad is African-American,” Whidbee said. “Her ethnicity is often confused.”

Three photos were also chosen for the exhibit from a photography competition organized by the BSM.

Stackhouse said response toward the exhibition has been positive so far and that she often sits in the Union Art Gallery to watch people stop and observe the art.

“It just generated a lot of conversation,” she said. “People often overlook or forget the Black History Month.”

Whidbee said he hopes the images will broaden the general perspective on campus about African-American art.

“I just want to people to see this show and think that there is more to the African-American culture than just what the society portrays.”

arts@dailytarheel.com