At the Intersection of Culture, Race, and Art: A Look at World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatahil and A Piece of Me Died With You by Devin Allen
With the Humanities Symposium and A Piece of Me Died With You coming to an end, it’s important to understand the stories they both tell and how they speak to each other and their audience.
This year the Humanities Symposium focused on the novel World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatahil. Nezhukumatahil shares anecdotes from her life, while relating them to nature. As an Indian and Filipina woman, she has a very unique perspective growing up in predominately white neighborhoods.
In the chapter titled “Peacock,” Nezhukumatahil shares that her school would be having an animal drawing contest, in which she excitedly draws a peacock. However, the teacher does not accept the peacock and makes her draw another animal, a more “American” animal. So, Nezhukumatahil draws a patriotic bald eagle with an American flag and this eagle ultimately wins the contest.
The peacock becomes a representation of her Indian culture, a culture that she “learned to ignore.” As a child her identity is stifled, forced to be watered down to become American until she is able to reclaim her identity for herself to stand firmly in her truth and proclaim her love for peacock blue.
Though taking a breath to acknowledge the world around you is a major takeaway, it is equally essential to recognize Nezhukumatahil’s race and ethnic background.
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Devin Allen’s solo exhibition A Piece of Me Died With You examines Black culture in America through his personal experience of grief. This exhibition is comprised of photographs, paintings, along with audio, visual, and sculptural elements. Every piece works in tandem with the other, sharing Allen’s reflection on gun violence and community as well as the coping mechanisms those turn to in times of grief. It is to both honor the dead and illustrate how one life can impact a community.
Allen’s work can’t help but be a reminder of those lost to police brutality and the never-ending push to silence Black voices, whether that be something like hair in the workplace or the lack of Black representation in media, government, or corporate America.
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Both Nezhukumatahil and Allen are not just calling their audiences to action but yelling for their voices to be heard. They’re reminding us to not forget, to not ignore the world around us, and to fight for social justice. Don’t forget your culture. Don’t forget those who’ve passed. Don’t be a passerby. Celebrate nature. Celebrate life. Notice the trees, the fireflies, the peacock. Notice your community.
As a part of the Loyola community, it’s necessary to reflect on your own role in this, both how you interact with nature, but also if you are uplifting the voices of those around you. Loyola being predominantly white makes this issue even more significant. It’s one thing to call yourself an ally, but it’s another to take action.
The exhibition will run from February 22nd to March 27th!
Join us this week on Tuesday, March 26th at 6:30PM for our closing event!
To learn more about the Gallery’s programs and current and past exhibitions, visit julioartgallery.com or call 410-617-2799. Follow us on social media @JulioArtGallery for updates!