Artwork by Rodrecas Davis, head of the department of visual and performing arts at Grambling State University, is being featured in an exhibition at the Masur Museum in Monroe. The show, “Many Rooms: The South Got Something to Say,” also features the works of GSU VAPA alumna Benicia King.
The exhibition is a collaborative effort between Davis, King, K’shana Hall-Davis and Vitus Shell — all members of the Black Creatives Circle of North Louisiana (BCCNL).
“In discussing what the exhibition could be, we knew that we wanted something that was more than just a glorified showcase,” Davis said. “We obviously wanted to present works that were reflective of our individuality, but also indicative of the aim of the BCC.”
When it came to deciding on the title “Many Rooms,” Davis said it was clear that they were not just addressing the layout of the Masur Museum (which is a former residence), and the compartmentalization of the Black experience, but the psychological impact of living a challenged existence during perilous times.
The works that Davis presents are three distinct approaches considering the psychological and emotional toll on being of American of African descent in the 21st Century.
“All of the ‘suites’ (inspired by songs), like a lot of my work, deal with the spiritual, the tangible/intangible, and the layers that make up individual realities,” he said. “A Room for Living is just that. Space. Space to breathe, be and be seen.”
One series is completely digital, and the other two are collage-based. King’s photo contributions to the exhibition include “How It Feels to Be Colored Me” based on the essay by Zora Neale Hurston.
The self-portrait series of inkjet digital photos focuses on being different from stereotypical images of black women and being yourself.
Her other piece, “Church Attire”, is a 35-millimeter film series that focuses on the forgotten history of the Black church and looks at fashion attire. The gelatin silver prints are striking black and white images of churchgoers.
“My grandfather was a reverend and I grew up in the church,” said King, who was raised in Grambling.
Davis said his work and the work of his fellow BCCNL artists is important for several reasons.
“First, to my knowledge, this is the first exhibition at the Masur Museum of Art to feature solely a diverse group of local African American artists — both emerging and established,” he said, adding that the exhibition “aids in dispelling the myths that Black America is a monolith, that there is one way to be an artist, or that there is some barrier to entry for understanding and appreciating the work.”
According to data by the Masur Museum, Davis said “Many Rooms” boasts the largest exhibition attendance in about 15 years. It is drawing museum-goers from across Ouachita, Tensas and Lincoln parishes.
A native of Monroe, Georgia, Davis is a graduate of the University of Georgia Fine Arts program with an emphasis in drawing and painting. His work has been featured in the Politics Issue of Callaloo: A Journal of African Diaspora Arts and Letters, ColorLines, and over 60 exhibitions.
King has studied photography and business at the Art Institute of Seattle and Seattle Central Community College. She also attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and completed her bachelor’s degree in digital art at Grambling State. She has photography experience in the fashion industry and has worked with marketing companies abroad in Milano and Sicilia. While the “Many Rooms” exhibition is best experienced in person, those that are unable to visit the museum in person can view it virtually at https://masurmuseum.wixsite.com/manyrooms.
