KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 29, 2023

School of Art and Design’s Zuckerman Museum offers exhibition of work from Afro-Caribbean artists

Kennesaw State University’s Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art (ZMA), a unit of the School of Art and Design, is proud to present “{UNDER}flow,” a new exhibition featuring the work of five internationally celebrated Afro-Caribbean artists. Curated by Cynthia Nourse Thompson, Associate Professor of Fine Art and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the ZMA, the free exhibition runs Aug. 29 to Dec. 9. 

Celebrating Afro-Caribbean Artists

On display at the Don Russell Clayton Gallery in the ZMA, the group exhibition—and associated educational programming—celebrates the work of Josué Azor, Firelei Báez, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, David Antonio Cruz, and Didier William. Thompson states, “It is my hope that introducing new regional audiences to these important contemporary artists will prompt valuable discussions regarding conceptions of history, cultural geography, race, gender, and identity.” 

Fluidity and Struggle
Underflow, another term for the word undercurrent, serves to metaphorically suggest underlying themes of fluidity and struggle. Examples of these themes include power and control, diasporic experiences, perceived histories, and sexuality. These themes often lie just below the surface—both visually and conceptually—in the works presented, thus unifying them in compelling ways. 

Personal Perspectives
Although these artists share mutual geography, each artist uniquely addresses their own personal affiliations with place and memory as presented through figuration, abstraction, and realism. Moreover, a shared interest in the representation of the body—and the contentious relations it introduces between subject and power—positions viewers to consider their own perspectives. This is particularly true when placed under the eye of a confrontational gaze.

Educational Programming
As part of the ZMA’s mission to offer educational programming, exhibiting artist David Antonio Cruz will present a lecture about his work on Sunday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. as part of Atlanta Art Week. The artist will speak about his artistic practices and discuss his paintings currently on view in “{UNDER}flow.” Held in Morgan Concert Hall in the Bailey Performance Center, the lecture is free with registration. 

Closing Reception
A closing reception will be held on Sat., Dec. 9, 4-6 p.m. and is free with a simple reservation.  The reception will also feature a live dance performance from 4-5 p.m. by students of Artistic Director and Associate Professor of Dance, Lisa K. Lock, of Kennesaw State’s Department of Dance. Inspired by the works in the exhibition, the performance will be developed and choreographed over the fall semester. 

Learn more about the Zuckerman Museum of Art or the School or Art and Design. 

--Kathie Beckett