The faces of 30 educators, activists, government officials and faith leaders line the walls of Murphy Gallery in the University YMCA. Each portrait is accompanied by a story of service to the Champaign-Urbana African American community.
“The Black Gaze: Portraits of Community through an African American Lens” is a photography exhibition by University alum Dwayne Banks Jr.. The exhibition uses photojournalism to draw attention to success within the African American community in C-U.
“The Black Gaze” held its reception on April 23 and featured live music as Banks discussed the inspiration behind the project and the community figures pictured on the walls.
The exhibition was brought to the University YMCA as part of the Art @ the Y program, which hosts several art exhibitions throughout the year that are free and open to the public. According to Ann Rasmus, associate director of the University YMCA, artwork is selected by a committee, in this case, a committee member who recommended that Banks’ artwork be shown at the University YMCA.
Rasmus said “The Black Gaze” was selected because it adheres to the values of the program.
“One of the things we are interested in showing with the Art @ the Y program are the values of social justice, environmental work, faith and cultural understanding,” Rasmus said. “The committee felt like this piece was strong work, and highlighted the community not on campus.”
According to Banks, the exhibition grew out of a desire to preserve African American history in a contemporary way, while resisting the tendency to define narratives solely through negatives.
“In order to get to Black joy, we always present the story of slavery, post-Civil War, emancipation — and that’s fine, that is what makes our story unique,” Banks said. “There’s not always a focus on positivity.”
Instead, Banks said he wanted audience members to see Black achievement in the past and present tense by featuring a variety of individuals across C-U who have contributed to the Black community. Highlighted individuals include current Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams, the Rev. Evelyn Burnett Underwood and co-founder of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trai Barbara Suggs-Mason.
Through carefully produced portraits and accompanying interviews, Banks selected individuals across age, career and status to show the wide range of success and contribution within the community. Banks said that he worked to photograph each participant in a setting that reflected both their identity and their impact on the C-U community.
“I wanted to show that African Americans can be in prominent power,” Banks said. “There are many stereotypes concerning African Americans, like only playing basketball, playing sports, they ‘stay on the corner.’ I think this piece of work represents how that’s a narrow, flawed argument.”
Ron Bridgewater, professor in FAA, was one of the featured community members photographed. Bridgewater said he did not understand the full scope of the project until he visited the University YMCA and saw the complete exhibition.
Bridgewater said that the exhibit’s focus on present-day individuals stood out to him.
“Most of the time we talk about people who have passed and have contributed to the community,” Bridgewater said. “But all of those people in that exhibit are currently active and in the community and really doing a great service.”
For Banks, the inclusion of individuals who are still actively shaping the C-U community is an essential component of the exhibit. Rather than focusing on historical figures, “The Black Gaze” centers on community members whose work is ongoing.
“The word that comes to me is possibility,” Banks said. “The younger generation needs to realize that these things are possible, you can go out and achieve it. You don’t have to wear the stereotype.”
“The Black Gaze” will remain on display until Aug. 9.
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