The Pleasure of My Company is a celebration of presence through the lens of Black artists. Whether on cameras, paint, collage, and glitter: these experiences are both freed into abstract gestures or honored through references to family, history, and place. The power of breath. The spirit of play. Families both born into and chosen. Dreams imagined for oneself, one’s child, or a collective group. References to anime, meditation, punk culture, and VHS. Their work invites viewers to engage in a dialogue about self-empowerment and the importance of embracing one’s narrative. None of their experiences are uniform: just as their artwork ranges in display of framing and installation. The exhibit captures a multigenerational group, including both a current faculty and student at Orange Coast College. That educational background is important to the artists; many who teach throughout Southern California. In the words of Zora Neale Hurston, “How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company?”
Curated by Dakota Noot, Acting Director, Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion
Artists include:
Larissa Brown: Website | @larissabrownpaints
Deitra Charles: Website | @deitrac
courtney coles: Website | @kernieflakes
Adrian Culverson: Website | @aculverson
Rakeem Cunningham: Website | @rakeemc
Leslie Foster: Website | @leslie_muse
Janna Ireland: Website | @jannaireland
Balinda Kibalama: @ba7inda
Loren LeBlanc: Website | @loren.leblanc.art
Francis Robateau: Website | @francis_robateau
Lisa Diane Wedgeworth: Website | @ldwstudio
Dates:
Reception: Thursday, Sep. 26, 4 - 7 pm
Campus reception: Sept. 28, 1 - 4 pm
Artist talk with Francis Robateau: Friday, Oct. 11, 9:30 am
Book launch for Larissa Brown's Blake Laser: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 6:30 pm
Concurrent exhibition: Adrienne DeVine: AMALGAMATION - The Art of Visual Dialogue
OCC student and artist Balinda Kibalama was covered in "OCC student Balinda Kibalama reflects on “The Pleasure of My Company” fall art exhibit." Written by Jasper Coleman for Coast Report.
Larissa Brown's book launch at the Doyle was featured in "Professor Larissa Brown’s graphic novel “Blake Laser” highlights representation, biracial identity." Written by Jasper Coleman for Coast Report.
