More than 400 artists from across the country submitted artwork for the 27th Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition & Exhibition.
Of hundreds of entries, 50 were chosen to go on display inside the Dallas African American Museum on the second floor of Gallery D.
“To be in this room of this gallery with a group of other incredible artists from every state in the country is crazy. This gallery itself is a beautiful collection of work,” said Assandre Jean-Baptiste, a Cedar Hill artist. that he was chosen among the chosen few.
Jean-Baptiste, 29, graduated from the University of Texas Arlington and for the past several years has devoted most of his time to his artwork.
Just as you walk into the exhibit, to the left, is his acrylic painting titled “Homecoming.”
“’Homecoming’ is really about the feeling of coming home after a long journey, really celebrating the fact that a journey has been made. Really learning to accept all the accomplishments and accolades and have that feeling of richness, where it feels like there’s a party behind you or it feels like everyone is celebrating your victories or whatever,” Jean-Baptiste described.
nbcdfw.com “Homecoming” by Assandre Jean-Baptiste
“That’s really what I was trying to capture, this painting was really just an ode to myself of what I want to achieve, so I guess you can see it as a future image of something I’m looking forward to,” he said.
She is taking the steps to achieve success in the art world, as this is her first national competition.
“A lot of artists, it’s their first time showing in a museum, so that’s really exciting,” said Gerald Leavell, curator of the Dallas African American Museum.
He said that the competition will conclude on Friday, January 27, when the winners of each category, painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, engraving and photography, are announced. Each artist will receive $1,000 and then one artist from that group is chosen for Best in Show.
“The artist who wins the best in exhibition, their artwork will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. The exhibition started in 1976 really as a way to showcase artwork by black artists and also build a strong collection of contemporary art here at the museum,” Leavell explained.
The Best in Show artist will also have the opportunity to have a solo exhibition at the museum.
Jean-Baptiste remains hopeful, but says that regardless of the outcome, he is grateful to have come this far.
“‘It has opened a door a lot, I would say the possibilities are endless,” Jean-Baptiste said. “It’s cool to think, ‘OK, this is really just a springboard or a snowball and it just keeps rolling’ and I’m excited to be on this journey.”
The mixer for the announcement of the winners will be Friday, January 27 at 6:30 pm at the Dallas African American Museum in Fair Park. The event is free and the exhibition will remain open until March.
Also in the museum, there is a separate exhibit highlighting the history and stories of turn-of-the-century black cowboys.
