Louisa Pyle Kirk

Louisa Pyle Kirk

by | Mar 18, 2025 | Intern, What Will You Create Today?

 Louisa Pyle Kirk, Mixed Media Studio Artist                                                               By Bethany Hallas

Walking into Louisa Pyle Kirk’s studio space is a large assortment of portraits with large, inquisitive eyes and simplistic faces, a subject of interest to her, that draws the viewer in under the surface of their complex identities. It is these paintings that launched our discussion of art, its influences, and the familiar.
Born and raised in South Carolina, Louisa has seen Greenville’s landscape change from abandoned buildings, to an increasingly popular and thriving area. Her favorite part of this change, however, is the growing art presence taking place.
At an early age, Louisa had an expressed interest in art and loved the freedom she felt creating with her hands. In her youth, she enjoyed crafting with paper cache, and throwing pots, (the latter a venture she hopes to explore again someday). For college, Louisa stayed in her native state of South Carolina, attending the College of Charleston as an art major. However, as she put it, “I lacked the confidence to stick with art” and faced with her families’ concerns the major would leave her a starving artist, Louisa switched majors every year after, finally completing with a degree in economics. Post college, Louisa got into social work, spending the next several years in the corporate world. And while she didn’t find it to be an enjoyable field, she did find it to be rich with influences and experiences that have since contributed to the life and body of her paintings.

–Process deep dive
The first step to each painting is a layer of red paint. It is the signature backdrop to each portrait created and an essential part of the ambience. But prior to this comes a test run, a step Louisa “learned the hard way” to always incorporate of creating a small monochromatic test painting to determine her values and visualize the portraits large-scale potential. Her medium of choice is fluid acrylic, valued for its flexible dry time and smooth application. For curiosity’s sake, tools including painted newspapers, stencil sheets, and on occasion, carved out foam board to create a layered texture to her work are utilized. As Louisa puts it, “you’re not trying to paint the details,” at least not in the traditional sense. There is much for the eye to hone in on; less so with painted flecks of callouses on skin and more on textured layers and the materials at play. 

-Highlight work and significance
While it is difficult for Louisa to pinpoint a favorite painting, one that comes to mind depicts a young girl whose face is prominent in the red, textured painting. It’s back at her apartment, and is a self-portrait, perhaps unintentionally so. She loves painting faces, wanting to capture people in a more abstract medium, an interesting move in leu of her corporate years surrounded by countless faces on a routine basis. Memorizing details to each face is difficult to absorb, the multitude of them blurring together and becoming abstract. In Louisa’s paintings, each portrait often starts out as an enigma, slowly morphing into someone she’s known whether a family member or friend. While the theme of portraits is continuous, each painting takes on a life of its own, each original and distinct. And yet, their meaning is ambiguous, filled in by the perceptions and narratives of the beholder.

-Your favorite color?
“Green.”-Biggest influences?
“Pablo Picasso and abstract expressionist.”

Louisa continues to learn as an artist, pushing the boundaries of her mediums capacities by incorporating new elements, including newspapers, foam board, and stencil sheets, all mixed with fluid acrylic paint to create something new. This creativity is all the more compelling since the loss of her husband, a man whose unexpected passing is keenly felt. Life was taken, and while Louisa works to get back in the swing of her process after taking an extended period off, she has a newfound channel to pump into new portraits.
Over the years that Louisa has known GCCA, the artists present have been key mentors and teachers, supporting her, challenging her, and offering invaluable critique from the classes she has taken. Here at GCCA, Louisa has come to better understand what makes a painting work, and the process behind it.Looking ahead, Louisa would like to take a poetry class as it is a strong area of interest and creative exploration for her.

-A word of advice to aspiring artists?
“Don’t give up, keep trying and know that personal growth helps you use your art.”

How to Utilize The Benefits of the Arts for Children With Special Needs

How to Utilize The Benefits of the Arts for Children With Special Needs

by | Feb 26, 2025 | Guest Post, What Will You Create Today?

Article by Anya Willis with Fitkids

Photo via Pexels

 

Art has the remarkable ability to transcend barriers, offering a unique platform for expression and connection. For children with special needs, engaging in artistic activities can be particularly transformative, providing not only a creative outlet but also a means to develop vital skills. The arts can serve as a bridge to communication, helping children articulate thoughts and emotions that might otherwise remain unspoken. This article explores various ways to incorporate art into the lives of special needs children, highlighting the profound impact it can have on their development.

Keep Them Engaged With Collaboration

Involving your child in collaborative art projects can be transformative, enhancing their social and communication skills. By participating in group activities, they learn to express themselves and collaborate with others, building confidence as their contributions are appreciated. Tailoring projects to different age groups ensures meaningful engagement for every child. Partnering with local organizations can further enrich these experiences, offering your child a chance to connect with the community.

Look For Accessible Tools

Using universally accessible tools, such as digital platforms and adaptive devices, can create an inclusive environment for all children. These tools encourage peer interaction and foster a sense of community. As digital art tools become more intuitive, they offer a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between different abilities, making art a shared experience. Prioritizing inclusivity helps children develop confidence and creativity in a supportive setting.

Try Visual Storytelling

Visual storytelling techniques like comic strips and storyboards can be transformative for your child. These tools enhance narrative and sequencing skills, helping children understand event flow and express complex ideas without relying solely on verbal skills. This approach fosters creativity and builds confidence as children see their ideas come to life.

Foster Empathy and Expression Through Drama

Drama workshops can significantly enhance emotional and social skills for children with learning disabilities. By organizing storytelling and drama activities, you provide a space for children to explore emotions and cultivate empathy. Incorporating tools like puppets and visual aids can make sessions more engaging, especially for non-verbal participants. Tailoring activities to meet each child’s needs ensures everyone benefits from the emotional and social growth drama offers.

Consider Art Therapy

To integrate therapeutic strategies into art activities, consider working with professionals like art therapists. These experts can tailor activities to each child’s unique needs, ensuring sessions are both enjoyable and therapeutic. This approach is particularly beneficial for children with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder, where art serves as a powerful non-verbal form of expression. By working with specialists, you can transform art activities into tools for healing and development.

Turn Your Artistic Passion into a Teaching Opportunity

As you explore arts and crafts with your child, you might find a passion for teaching that you wish to share with others. If you’re considering turning this passion into a business, forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) could be a wise move. An LLC can protect your personal assets from business liabilities and offer tax benefits. Each state has its own regulations, so it’s crucial to understand the requirements in your area. To simplify the process, consider setting up an LLC in SC through ZenBusiness, which will allow you to focus on spreading your love for the arts.

Artistic expression is a powerful tool for personal development and social connection, especially for children with special needs. By integrating art into their lives, we can open doors to new experiences and opportunities for growth.

Discover a world of creativity and inspiration at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts, where art transforms spaces and lives through dynamic exhibitions, classes, and community events.

We at GCCA are constantly trying to make our building, exhibitions, events, and classes more accessible. If you notice something we could improve upon, please reach out to our Operations Director, Alicia Mizuno by phone (864-274-0353), email alicia@artcentergreenville.org or in person.

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Transform Your Space: Designing the Ultimate Multi-Purpose Room

Transform Your Space: Designing the Ultimate Multi-Purpose Room

by | Feb 6, 2025 | Guest Post, What Will You Create Today?

Image via  Pexels

Creating a versatile space in your home that caters to your artistic pursuits can transform how you engage with the arts. Whether you’re a dancer, actor, musician, or a multi-disciplinary artist, a well-planned multi-purpose room can serve as both a sanctuary for creativity and a functional area for everyday activities. Here’s how you can set up an at-home studio that meets all your artistic and practical needs.

Define Your Needs and Priorities

Identify what you primarily need from your multi-purpose room. Will it serve as a rehearsal space, a place to teach, or perhaps a cozy spot for artistic creation? Understanding these needs will dictate the layout, furnishings, and technology you incorporate. This clarity will ensure that every element in the room serves a purpose, supporting your artistic endeavors while also accommodating other daily activities.

Add a Tech Corner

Dedicate a corner of your room for state-of-the-art speakers, a high-fidelity sound system, and a specialized computer, enhancing both your practice sessions and online collaborations. This tech hub will improve your audio experience and streamline your digital engagements. Equip this area with the latest technology to support and elevate your artistic endeavors.

Power Up Your Studio

Add plenty of extra outlets in your multi-purpose room to power your tech gadgets and essential equipment effortlessly, avoiding the mess and danger of overusing extension cords. An innovative app offers you the opportunity to discuss your electrical needs through expert video chats, providing immediate assistance and valuable information on how to ask an electrician for the right solutions. You’ll also gain access to a network of local, vetted professionals who can handle your specific in-home electrical installations or repairs, ensuring your setup is both efficient and compliant with safety standards.

Choose Multi-Functional Furniture

Select furniture that is as flexible as your room’s purpose. Foldable chairs and tables, along with storage ottomans, provide essential furniture that can be easily moved or stowed away. This adaptability is crucial for quickly transforming your space from a cozy reading nook to a dynamic area for creativity, ensuring that your artistic space remains both functional and clutter-free.

Create a Sound-Friendly Environment

To enhance your studio’s acoustics, install acoustic panels or hang heavy curtains. These additions help minimize noise disruption from both inside and outside your home, ensuring that the sound quality is optimized for music practice, recordings, or live performances. A sound-friendly environment not only improves your work quality but also enhances your experience, allowing you to focus fully on your artistic expression.

Invest in Durable Flooring

The right flooring is vital for a performing arts studio. Opt for durable materials that support vigorous movement, like sprung floors ideal for dance or cushioned mats suitable for acting and musical performances. These surfaces offer safety and comfort, reducing the risk of injury and fatigue, and allow you to practice extensively in your dedicated artistic space.

Install Adjustable Lighting

Lighting sets the mood and functionality of your space. Installing adjustable, dimmable lighting solutions can cater to a variety of activities. Use spotlight-style fixtures to illuminate performances and soft, ambient lighting for more subdued, creative moments. This versatility will enable you to adjust the ambiance instantly according to the requirements of your performance or practice.

Incorporate a Wall of Mirrors

Adding a wall of mirrors to your studio not only improves your practice sessions by providing instant feedback on your technique but also creates the illusion of a larger and brighter space. This element is critical for perfecting every move and posture in dance or during musical performances, as it allows you to observe and adjust in real time. Moreover, the reflective surface adds a modern, polished look, transforming your space into one that mirrors the quality of a professional performance studio.

 

When designing a multi-purpose room that doubles as a performing arts studio, it’s crucial to shape the space to reflect your artistic aspirations and everyday needs. Tailor the area to accommodate various functions, from rehearsing your craft to unwinding, ensuring it merges practicality with your passion for the arts. By customizing this creative sanctuary, you encourage not just productivity but also ongoing artistic inspiration right in the comfort of your home.

 

Greenville Center for Creative Arts offers creative workshops and classes as well as exhibitions. Why not visit with the whole family? Get in touch today to learn more about upcoming events!

Established in 2015 by a dedicated group of artists, educators, and community leaders, Greenville Center for Creative Arts is the area’s only nonprofit community art center focused on providing high-quality visual arts instruction and engagement. Be on the lookout for our business toolkit series which covers many of the tips above and more in various workshops. Visit us online to learn more!

Guest Post by Anya Willis from Fitkids

Unleash Your Creativity: Transform Your Success with Powerful Strategies

Unleash Your Creativity: Transform Your Success with Powerful Strategies

by | Nov 21, 2024 | Guest Post, What Will You Create Today?

Image via Freepik

Harnessing the full potential of creativity can sometimes feel elusive, yet with the right approach, it becomes a powerful force that drives personal and professional growth. With the right tools and mindset, creativity can lead you to higher levels of achievement, equipping you to navigate challenges and seize opportunities confidently. This article presents practical strategies to renew your creative energy, offering techniques that bring fresh inspiration and purpose to every aspect of your life.

Inspirational Quotes as Fuel for Creative Minds

Gathering and reflecting on inspirational quotes can be a powerful catalyst for creativity and motivation in both your personal and professional spheres. By curating a collection of meaningful quotes, you create a reservoir of inspiration to draw from during challenging times. These quotes, ranging from famous literary figures to modern-day thinkersprovide a fresh perspective when faced with obstacles, reminding you of the mindset necessary for growth and success. As you engage with these quotations, you’ll find that they uplift your spirits and spark innovative ideas, encouraging you to pursue your goals with renewed vigor.

Active Reading as a Creative Catalyst

Practicing active reading is essential to invigorate your creativity and boost personal and professional success. Engaging in methods such as taking notes and highlighting significant points can enhance information retention and spark innovative thoughts. Approaches like the highlighting method offer a quick way to capture essential details, which is particularly useful in preparing for discussions. In addition, constructing mind maps and organizing your notes based on your reading goals can further aid in understanding and developing new ideas. Active engagement keeps you focused and transforms reading into a dynamic process that fosters lifelong learning and creativity.

Career Transformations as Creative Reawakening

Transforming your career can be a powerful way to rekindle your creativity, especially when you integrate continued education through online programs. Embracing a career change invites new challenges and reignites your passion, leading to personal and professional fulfillment. For instance, pursuing an online degree in cybersecurity allows you to gain essential skills in protecting digital infrastructures while maintaining your current job. The flexibility of online education provides a unique opportunity to balance work commitments with academic pursuits, ensuring that you continuously evolve in a rapidly changing job market (learn more about the impact of cybersecurity programs on businesses).

Stress Management for Unleashing Creativity

Reducing stress is crucial for fostering creative thinking, as numerous studies indicate a complex relationship between stress and creativity. By managing stress through techniques such as yoga and meditation, which can significantly lower stress levels in just 30 minutes a day, you can create an environment where creativity thrives. Scientific findings also suggest that engaging in creative arts like visual journaling or clay work can help alleviate stress while enhancing creative output. Furthermore, environmental adjustments, such as dimming lights, stimulate innovative thinking by tapping into the brain’s creative centers.

Creative Workshops as Learning Adventures

Engaging in creative workshops or classes is a fantastic way to acquire new skills and spark innovation in your life personal and professional aspects. Workshops encourage participants to think initially and develop portfolios that reflect their unique visions. Working with experienced artisans and trainers allows you to immerse yourself in hands-on learning experiences, such as pottery or cross-stitch, boosting your creative output. Setting clear objectives and harnessing a diverse group of participants enhance the effectiveness of these workshops.

Brainstorming Sessions to Recharge Creativity

Participating in brainstorming sessions is an excellent way to rejuvenate your creative spark and fuel inspiration through collaborative group dynamics. When everyone contributes, as in Asana’s structured approach, you boost team morale and enhance problem-solving by leveraging diverse perspectives. These sessions, especially in a group setting, encourage idea generation and provide a platform for extroverted individuals to thrive. Setting clear agendas and ground rules ensures all ideas are heard, fostering an environment where innovation can flourish.

Revitalizing Human Connections Beyond Screens

In an age dominated by technology, developing personal connections without the distraction of screens can significantly enhance your creativity and success. Engaging in activities encouraging face-to-face interaction allows you to perceive nuanced social cues like body language and voice intonation, which are crucial for building trust and deeper relationships. Research indicates that over 90% of communication is non-verbal, emphasizing the limitations of digital interactions that often lack these layers of meaning.

By embracing these diverse strategies, you are not merely reigniting creativity but creating a vivid tapestry where imagination and innovation can flourish. Your journey toward enhanced creativity is not just a path to personal or professional fulfillment but a dynamic transformation extending beyond conventional boundaries. Each method explored here offers a new lens through which you can view the world, challenging the status quo and encouraging you to harness your unique insights and experiences. As you integrate these practices into your daily life, remember that creativity is not a destination but a journey.

Discover the vibrant world of visual arts at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts, where inspiration and creativity come alive in the heart of Greenville’s arts district!



Interview with Christine Moore-Bonbright

Interview with Christine Moore-Bonbright

by | Jun 14, 2024 | What Will You Create Today?

In a conversation with GCCA’s Gallery Director,  Christine Moore-Bonbright provides insight into her experience in the Brandon Fellowship at GCCA, the evolution of her art practice, and the impact of strong community support on her art career. As she continues to navigate her Fellowship experience through August, Christine’s stories will help other navigate life’s experiences through her digital illustrations.

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Christine, I have had the pleasure of getting to know you as an artist over the past year, and you first came to the program as a traditional pen & ink / charcoal drawing artist. It now seems, roughly ¾ into the Fellowship, that you have changed course a bit. Has the Brandon Fellowship program given you the opportunity to adjust the trajectory of your art career? And how are you making art differently than when you entered?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: So when I first entered the Fellowship, I had thought that I needed to continue creating the traditional drawing & painting works that I made in college. Those works I made in college were deeply personal to me and they touched on things like family, culture, and identity struggles. I think at first I felt a pressure from within and also an external pressure from my cultural community that I should or I have to continue making those works because I need to represent the communities that I belong to. I felt that pressure a lot and in the early months of the Fellowship, that led to some artistic stagnation and indecision. But as I came to be surrounded by the artists at GCCA, meeting with you and Brandon Fellow alumni, and participating in mentor critique meetings, it made me realize that I really should just create the art that I want. So I asked myself, what does my artistic trajectory actually look like?

While I still love traditional art like drawing with charcoal and it’s fantastic to have those technical skills from that medium, I found it isn’t the medium that will take me to where I want to go. Digital art really is the medium that I am most comfortable with, and I feel like where I create the best art that represents me and my experiences. I think I definitely see myself now, especially as sort of a representative of the digital art community here in Greenville.

A turning point of me wanting to move more into digital painting, character design, and comic work was when I was introduced to my mentor, Honie Beam. After working with her, honing in on what it is I want to accomplish, and getting endlessly fruitful feedback about my process, I felt comfortable doubling down on my new path. And I definitely think that my trajectory and the fellowship would have been different if stuck to my original plan in my traditional mediums, as I probably would have taken the time allotted to me through the Fellowship to explore another facet of my art identity.

Character reference sheet from Christine’s Black Sheep graphic novel

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Let’s talk a bit more about the mentors and community you get to work with. Each Fellow gains access to critical, professional advice and networking opportunities from a mentor group of professional artists that are hand-picked each year to specifically meet the needs of that year’s Fellowship class. How important is having a community of support as you explore the themes and mediums you want?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: After I moved to Greenville back in 2022, I very much felt isolated as an artist. I actually came to the 2022 Annual Showcase on a whim and was pleasantly surprised that a program like the Brandon Fellowship was being offered so I decided to apply the following year. The power of finding my community can not be understated. Not only having the professional support through connections I have made but more important are the friends that I have made through this process. Connecting with Brandon Fellow alumni and the GCCA community has created an atmosphere of belonging for me which has only emboldened my purpose as an emerging artist.

It was also a fun process to work with you to hand pick the mentors we wanted for our Fellowship year. Honie seemed like the ideal mentor for me as she has experience with art & literary agencies, and obviously creating amazing works of art of her own. I told myself that I have this opportunity right here to have a mentor that is literally doing what I want to do in the future, creating illustrative, agency work, and graphic novels. I did not want to waste any time and I made sure I would soak up as much information as possible. We do get to meet during our critiques sessions that we have quarterly with the other Fellows and mentors, but I make an effort to meet and talk with Honie as often as I can. For instance, we met for coffee some months back and she basically sat down with a huge binder of her entire catalog of comic work and files and was like, “So, here’s how I got my agent. Here’s the difference between an art agent and a literary agent. You know, here’s the contracts and how they work, etc”. It was eye opening to have the opportunity to see what it was like to be a contracted, professional illustrator, and what that path may look like for me. It was really important to me to gain those insights so that I can set realistic expectations for myself and hopefully get my foot in the door after the Fellowship.

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Can you give me some insight into your digital and illustrative artwork that you are creating throughout the Fellowship? What are some of your inspirations and prominent themes now seen in your work?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: Right now, I am in the throes of working on my first graphic novel, “Black Sheep”. This is the project I have been working on for some time now but chose this story for my fellowship work because it is heavily character focused and I have always been drawn to character design. I wanted to see my experience represented in the digital and printed mediums. Each of the characters in this story have bits of myself expressed in their design and personality. “Black Sheep” is really a coming of age story. It explores how, in those early stages of our lives, we often attempt to escape from difficult situations. It is scary to confront difficult issues at any age but especially so in those formative years of our lives. Maybe it’s unrequited love that isn’t fulfilled and accepting that you need to let go. Maybe it’s feeling the stress of not having solid career plans after school. It also delves into parental figures impacting how you see yourself and how you subsequently navigate the world.

The first of my inspirations obviously came from the internet. The main inspiration for my work comes from a comic series called “Backlash” by Amber Houston. I have been following it since it began back in 2014 and I was intrigued by the female characters not fitting into traditional female archetypes. Their identity was not centered on traditional roles females occupy in adventure stories and that really resonated with me and where my stories and artwork could go. Other than Amber Houston, I would say my digital painting style has been influenced by Sui Ishidia and the “Toyko Ghoul” series and the character designs of Tas Mukanik.

BACKLASH by Amber Houston

Toyko Ghoul manga cover art by Sui Ishida

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: The Brandon Fellowship exhibition at GCCA is quickly approaching. You and the other Fellows will be installing your own exhibition displays that will be on view from August 2nd – September 25, 2024. What can visitors expect from your exhibition?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: My exhibition will be a fully finished display of my pilot chapter of my “Black Sheep” graphic novel in various forms. In a 20-25 page pilot, visitors can read part of the graphic novel somewhere beginning in the middle of the story. To give additional context, I will be printing character reference sheets, digital illustration, concept art, and the cover of the comic as large format fine art prints. I will also be displaying a spread of sketches, scripts, and thumbnails that show the editorial process with my mentor, Honie Beam.

Comic spreads from Christine’s Black Sheep graphic novel

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Finally, what comes next for you after the Fellowship is over?

Christine Moore-Bonbright, Brandon Fellow: Well, the whole process of writing, editing, and illustrating my graphic novel has definitely given me some perspective on how much work goes into publishing graphic novels. While I was writing the whole plot out, I was like, oh, my gosh, this is a much more complicated story than when I started. So I think moving forward, I definitely want to experiment with maybe shorter stories or maybe an adaptation of something that already exists to experiment with graphic novel work. I’ve also been considering getting into agency work, but I might start off with freelance opportunities in illustration, character design.

I also think it would be amazing to begin a digital artist collective in the Greenville area so that digital artists can foster a community in the Upstate where we can meet up, critique each other’s work, and explore new ideas together. 

Be sure to visit Christine in her studio at GCCA and follow her on social media to tag along in her journey through the Brandon Fellowship this year:
Website: CLICK HERE
Instagram: CLICK HERE

Anyone interested in applying for the Brandon Fellowship, please make sure to subscribe to GCCA’s emails or visit https://artcentergreenville.org/brandon-fellowship/ to learn more! Any questions can be directed to Gallery Director, Ben Tarcson at ben@artcentergreenville.org.

Interview with Kephira Davis

Interview with Kephira Davis

by | Mar 20, 2024 | What Will You Create Today?

In an illuminating conversation with GCCA’s Gallery Director, 2024 Brandon Fellow Kephira Davis provides insight into the Brandon Fellowship at GCCA, the evolution of her art practice, and the profound influence of family on her artwork. As she continues to navigate her Fellowship experience until August, her dedication to authenticity and meaningful storytelling shines through, promising a future in the world of contemporary art.


Kephira in studio. Photo credit: Gwinn Davis. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Kephira, could you provide a snapshot of where you are in regards to your journey within the Brandon Fellowship?

Kephira Davis: Throughout all the experiences I have been exposed to, between jumping into teaching for the first time, creating designs for murals, or getting into my first solo exhibition, I have found that my main interest lies in the dynamic between being a full-time artist and gallery work. Half way through my Fellowship, I have my first solo exhibition at the Warehouse Theatre opening on April 4th, which I am very excited for! I also had the opportunity to join this year’s community gallery review committee at GCCA where I served as a panelist choosing the upcoming exhibition schedule through August 2025. Another new opportunity arose where the other Fellows and I have been given the opportunity to curate an online exhibition through GCCA that will open in July. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Have there been any moments or experiences during your Fellowship that may have opened new doorways for you career-wise? 

Kephira Davis: I did not expect to like teaching children. The Brandon Fellowship has given me the opportunity to teach after-school workshops through GCCA’s Aspiring Artist program at two of our local community centers.  Initially, the idea of teaching was daunting and scary. I didn’t want to mess up but I quickly learned how impactful my artistic knowledge was on shifting the children’s perspective on how they can creatively problem solve and make art. From these workshops, I have actually started teaching workshops at Wine and Paint establishments now too. On a separate note, it has been very odd that I am getting recognized as both a Brandon Fellow and visual artist around Greenville. Not that getting recognized is a bad thing but it was shocking at first. I have better adjusted to that now and I am excited for all the new opportunities for collaborations, commissions, and future exhibitions that are ahead of me. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Your artwork often explores themes of family and the Black female experience. What inspires these themes, and how do they manifest in your work?

Kephira Davis: I have many inspirations that inform my work but to give you one, I pull a lot of inspiration from photographer, Rashad Taylor. He documents his son with his camera and he examines themes of race, culture, family, and legacy and his images are a kind of family album. His images tell more than a family story; they’re a window into the Black American experience. These are themes that I talk about in my work, but with more emphasis on the experience of Black women in America and even more specifically Black female gaze. In my case, I explore the dynamics of familial experiences and the idea of growing up, maturing, and feeling the slow, bittersweet “slipping away” from family as we get older. As I have gotten older I feel it is easier and quicker to get frustrated with family than it is to be real, open and truthful with them. In my newer works, I paint my family members pulling on references from family albums photographs. The way the female figures gaze into the camera is critical for me. I find moments of complexity in their emotions and their expression often can be very relatable or taken vastly out of context. It is important that feelings of joy, anger, or frustration are blurred just as memories of the stories told about these moments may be obscured.  It is not my intention to make political statements with these works but I recognize that those politics exist and can be drawn upon. 

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Have you noticed any shifts in your approach to art since joining the Fellowship program? 

Kephira Davis: When I first came into the Fellowship, I felt like I was making safe artwork. Meaning that the artwork looked technically sound and pleasing to the eye but the concepts were vague enough that I could get away with avoiding true criticism. In my research about my family since getting my studio, I came to the realization that I have a responsibility to represent my community and uplift future generations. I don’t want to hold back now with regards to how the work is received, rather I want to make art that thoughtfully and directly represents my family and community with purpose.   

 

Ben Tarcson, Gallery Director: Each year, the Brandon Fellows participate in a Main Gallery exhibition in August & September. Notably, each Fellow has worked tirelessly to prepare for what they will have on display. Looking ahead to your Brandon Fellowship exhibition at GCCA in August, what can visitors anticipate?

Kephira Davis: I plan to paint 5 or more portraits of varying scale that show the relationship between two or more family figures. These paintings specifically will reference family photos where the figures are neither smiling or frowning. Their gaze has an expressed ambiguity to suggest emotions and memories of these moments are more complex than what they appear. I will be pulling from family photo albums on both my mom and dad’s side of the family. 

 

Be sure to visit Kephira in her studio at GCCA and follow her on social media to tag along in her journey through the Brandon Fellowship this year:
Website: CLICK HERE
Instagram: CLICK HERE
Facebook: CLICK HERE

 

Anyone interested in applying for the Brandon Fellowship, please make sure to subscribe to GCCA’s emails to be notified when the call for application opens in June! Any questions can be directed to Gallery Director, Ben Tarcson at ben@artcentergreenville.org.