Professors expose students to art through photography exhibit

This past week, a photography exhibit has been on display in the Nathelyne Archie Kennedy Architecture Building. “Eye of the Beholder” is composed of multiple photos from artists Dr. Clarence J. Talley Sr., Ann “Soul Sister” Johnson, and Tracey Moore, who are all professors at PVAMU.

The art faculty is on a mission to visually express enlightenment to the students, school, and guests. Moore traveled to South America, Johnson traveled to South Africa, and Talley traveled to West Africa. “We wanted to give the ideas of some of the things that we thought were interesting in our travels,” said Talley.

The exhibit displayed 18 photos. To the naked eye it may depict simplicity, but so much more can be found upon closer examination. An image in the exhibit by Moore titled “The Cross” looks much like a cross, yet a second glance shows that the picture is actually a set of bleachers.

Talley captured an image in Waller County known as “Old Glory.” The image in itself presents an old stricken dumpster with the American flag protruding from the top; nonetheless presenting a wide variety of thought and meaning behind the image.

PVAMU student Nefertiti Clavon viewed the exhibit and found it to be “exceptionally beautiful.” Her favorite image was “Sleeping Beauty” by Johnson, which shows an African baby nestled in the confinement of its mother’s sling.

Talley, Moore, and Johnson are trying to introduce their students to the medium of photography. With ever-changing technology, cameras are everywhere-in phones, computers, game systems and more. They want students to understand that photography is just as important as painting, drawing and sculpting. The professors feel that it doesn’t take a lot to be a photographer; if you have access to a camera, capture the image.

“Not only will they inspire, they will teach. The idea is to inspire. We have images all around us, and yet none of the students have seemed to pay recollection to the exhibit,” said Talley.

Talley will open another exhibit Thursday in light of homecoming, featuring sculptures that he has worked on in the past few years.

The exhibit will be available until Oct. 31 in the Nathelyne Archie Kennedy Architecture Building, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.