Today, we’d like to introduce you to Fairfield Black Art Collective.
The Fairfield Black Art Collective (FBAC) is a groundbreaking new arts initiative founded in January 2023. The initial concept ignited with an impromptu spark from a group of four like-minded Black artists who wanted to carve out a space to celebrate our heritage through our shared love and appreciation for the arts while giving back to our community. Coincidently, we all just happened to be born and raised in Fairfield, AL.
Our first conversation was a meeting of the minds to produce a Black Art group exhibit to showcase local Black visual artists called Cultural Collateral: A Curated Black Experience. This event featured 10 Black visual artists from Fairfield, Birmingham, and surrounding areas and garnered almost $2000 in art sales. In addition to supporting the artists, the event also raised $1000 for the Fairfield High Preparatory School marching band.
After the success of this one-day exhibit and the huge amount of support received from the community we pivoted from a one-time gig to formally organizing as an arts initiative with a focus on Black visual artists. From that point, we took steps to flesh out our vision to establish a platform that not only celebrates the richness of black art and culture but also carves out a space where creativity flourishes and diversity is embraced, starting with our hometown of Fairfield, AL.
This later led to our efforts to restore the arts through an Art Supply drive, where we collected 474 items supporting arts education in Fairfield City Schools. Our continued efforts to make an impact through the arts led us to our current opportunity to curate the first Black Art gallery on the campus of the historical Miles College in Fairfield, AL.
Our current exhibition, “Roots and Renaissance: An African American Journey Through Art,” features 25 Black visual artists from Fairfield, Birmingham, and surrounding areas. The show is currently on display through May 10, 2024. These are just a few of the steps we’ve taken to connect and support black visual artists, patrons, and the community with hopes of creating a sustainable ecosystem that benefits all involved. Fairfield Black Art Collective is not just a business venture; it’s a movement that aims to create lasting change in the art world.
By empowering black artists, fostering creativity, and embracing diversity, we envision a future where art is a powerful tool for unity and understanding. We invite you to join us on this journey to transform the art landscape and make a meaningful impact on society.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With any new idea/startup comes its challenges, so we have definitely earned some memorable scars along the way. The hurdles of combining four artists, personalities, backgrounds, and experiences have their rewards and struggles.
However, our passion, vision, and love for our people, culturally and familial, by way of our hometown, are the ties that bind us. The “why” behind the collective is the glue and the greater purpose to fill this void in the art community so that the voices of our community continue to be valued, seen, and heard through their art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your work next?
As a collective we are focused on being a hub / resource to amplify the voice and work of the black visual artist. We are making that happen through creative placemaking with our art events / community engagement, as well as, locating opportunities to widen their audience that would otherwise be out of their reach.
The collective consists of four Artists with visual and performing arts backgrounds.
Erika L. Mixon- Visual Arts: I’m known in the art world as E.Latrice Art and the owner of ArtRx LLC., a native of Birmingham, AL, with roots tracing back to Fairfield, AL. My work is known for its bold colors and concepts. My creative pursuit revolves around effecting change and empowering the black community with each brushstroke guiding my journey. A self-taught creative, I’ve chosen oil as my primary medium.
Within my creations, I articulate facets of the personal, communal, and ethereal dimensions of existence. These concepts materialize through emotionally poignant visuals, vibrant and bold hues, and a fusion of intricate details with softened textures.
Ebone’ Gilbert – Performing Arts: I am most proud of my desire to give back to the community that I grew up in and the ways I have been able to execute my appreciation and visibility in doing so.
I am an unapologetic chameleon. My ability to blend in anywhere whilst still being my true, authentic self definitely sets me apart from the rest.
Jamelia Pearson- Visual Arts: I am an artist and a founding member of FBAC. I also serve as the financial director. I specialize in acrylic and charcoal pencil art pieces. I am known for portraits. I am most proud of the work the collective has done with community outreach. We have been fortunate enough to go back to a city that’s near and dear to us all.
Atuarra McCaslin – Visual Art/Design: I am mostly known for my characters, which I call “KinFolk.” My style is unique and stems from a character I created as a child. It symbolizes the joy I have being black in America and the uniqueness of being black. I am most proud of the work I have created for an art show at Tuskegee University, where I displayed artwork in the Historic Moton Field. The same place the Tuskegee Airmen used to hang out for leisure and had many famous singers perform, such as Lena Horn.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
We all have various outlets that we use to support our creativity and nurture our holistic health.
Erika: My center and well-being always feed my spirit. I use the bible as my resource for grounding overall. However, I tend to pull from outlets that involve sound, like music (preferably live), sound baths/meditation, and NPR Tiny Desk as of late. Books like The Alchemist, Matters of the Heart, & Cupcake. And just big on spending time with family and friends. I find the more I practice being present, the more it pours into me creatively as well.
Ebone’: My favorite app right now is the Calm app. I use it to help sleep at night…
My favorite books are The Alchemist, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Paradise.
One of my favorite podcasts is Small Doses with Amanda Seales.
Jamelia: My favorite book of all time has to be The Color Purple by Alice Walker. I enjoy several podcasts that are light and entertaining. I enjoy podcasts related to basketball, unsolved crimes, and movie reviews. I wouldn’t say the above assisted me on this journey called life, but they definitely serve as an escape from reality.
Atuarra: Some of the books that have helped me develop as an artist and have found inspiration in are:
1. Street Art by Louis Bou.
2. African Designs from Traditional Sources by Geoffrey Williams.
3. Before Mickey, the Animated Film by Donald Crafton.
4. Art & Fear by David Bayles.
5. The Creative Act by Rick Rubin.
6. How to be a Dope Artist by Artemus Jenkins.
7. The Black Experience By Gloria Miller Duval.
8. Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon.
9. Interaction of Color by Josef Albers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fairfieldblackartcollective.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairfieldblackartcollective/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fairfieldblackartcollective
Image Credits
Amarr Croskey D.
Jerome Smedley
