Kesha Williams
March 06, 2013
On March 8, a new art gallery opened in the Kermit E. White Graduate and Continuing Education Center. This gallery replaces the former site that was located in the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Center. Professor Alexis Joyner, chairperson of the ECSU Art Department, said the new gallery opened in time for guests to enjoy it while attending events associated with the university’s 122nd Founders Day. The gallery will house a permanent collection of works from African diaspora, paintings from Nigerian and Ghanaian artists. Friends of Professor Joyner were generous to donate their work for display in the new gallery. Two artists, a former professor at Virginia State University, Leonard Jones, and Charles Joyner from N.C. State University accepted the offer. Joyner shared eight pieces of his personal collection, many he collected during his travels to Ghana. Some of the collection resulted from art displayed at this university over the years at ECSU. Joyner said the purpose of the gallery is to function as a laboratory-to teach art students and other students the assorted artistic techniques that have made these artists so highly regarded. "They (students) can see firsthand when examples hang on the wall of this university instead of looking at a photo in a textbook. There is no substitute for artwork they can see in front of them." "Our gallery will also give students a place to hang their work as well as the faculty of the department. We are thrilled to add additional art to the selection already displayed in the Albemarle." The gallery will be divided into two sections-one a permanent collection of African and African American art that will focus on work by contemporary African/African American artists beyond the Harlem Renaissance. On the other side, Joyner said a selection of art will periodically rotate. Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. For more information, contact the ECSU Art Department, 335-3347. # # #
