Throughout past decades, Black experiences, especially in the US, have been displayed under an unswerving theme of trauma and suffering. As artistic innovators, culture trendsetters, conversation starters, and storytellers, Black creatives hold the capability to contribute certain images, messages, and perceptions that reflect our culture to society. The beauty of Black art is its capability to celebrate our failings, flaws, and imperfections in a way that evokes feelings of passion, acceptance, and vulnerability. Former graphic design student, Courtney Saunders, did not want to exhibit trauma and suffering as the hallmark and identity of Black experiences. For her final project, Saunders produced B.A.P. (Black and Proud) an art exhibit that examines the unique stories of Black individuals.
Originally intended as a solo piece reflecting her own Black experiences, B.A.P. had a staggering start. Saunders considered her first rough drafts too literal and uninspired. “I felt that I was limiting myself by only giving my perspective,” said Saunders. After multiple reconsiderations and several brainstorming sessions with her advisor, the idea of centering B.A.P. around the perspectives of others had emerged. “Maybe I could create an experience that more people could relate to.”
While Saunders was initially hesitant of the idea of reaching out to others (in fear of people being uncooperative) she was surprised when the opposite occurred. “Things just became easier because people like to talk about themselves, especially when there is discourse involved.” Once Saunders began initiating conversations, inspiration for her final project proceeded.
B.A.P. began evolving into a fully-fledged project revolving around the African diaspora and how our intersected cultures have sculpted our livelihoods today. Saunders explained, “Some of us are African, African American, Caribbean, or Afro-Latino, but our origins are all the same. As we all share our different experiences with one another, we are retracing our stories and histories back to each other. So, a beautiful narrative formed in my mind that was complex and multi-layered. After multiple conversations and several sketches, I knew that I wanted all of my illustrations to connect and form Africa.” Saunders strategically placed a solid black line throughout each of the 12 pieces so that when looked at separately, there is no obvious connection among the portraits, but when brought together, they form a united piece in the shape of Africa–a reflection of that complex and multilayered narrative.
For Saunders, one of the most valuable lessons from B.A.P. was getting to better understand herself. With lots to prepare for when executing her senior exhibit, there was no room for second-guessing. “When creating, if I don’t like something, I usually scratch that idea and come up with another one. But with the time limit I had, I had to make instant decisions, be confident of those decisions and trust the critiques of my professors and advisors,” said Saunders.
Saunders’ senior exhibition premiered last December. B.A.P. astonished the campus of Andrews where many got to experience a beautiful array of personal life stories accompanied by vibrant artwork reflecting the uniqueness of Black culture(s). Through the stories of Black familiarity, self-love, food, music, and dance, B.A.P. stood out as both an artistic encounter and enriching education.
Check out Courtney Saunders’ B.A.P (Black and Proud) senior exhibit online.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.