The LEROI: Living in Color November Exhibition, which will run Nov. 11, 2022-March 26, 2023 at the Burchfield Penney Art Center may have my name on it, but it is not solely about my art. That is by design…my design.
My artwork has been exhibited and my artistry celebrated around the world. I won’t deny that the accolades have been thrilling, but they’re not enough. I want to leave a legacy in the art world that spans beyond my work. And that begins with the LEROI: Living in Color Exhibition that will include the work of students from Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT,) Buffalo Public Schools (BPS,) Just Buffalo Literary Center (JBLC) and Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center.
The collaboration on this exhibition started early in 2022 as I began working with the students from each organization with a multi-purposed approach.
First: to give the students the opportunity to engage in a museum exhibition.
Second: to provide them with inspiration and motivation in considering art as a possible career choice.
Third: to help them envision approaches and create interpretations of my art, which will then be on display in the exhibition.
Through July and August, I am working with BPS students, led by BPS Associate Superintendent, Fatima Morrell, and program coordinator, Jay Hawkins Sr..
While I don’t want to reveal what these budding artists have imagined and are designing as their interpretive artwork, I do want to share the experience of mentoring these talented young men and women …and all I am learning from them as well.
I’ll begin with these few photos from our latest classroom experience where they showed me their sketchbooks. I have to say that I was genuinely humbled by the gifts of this impressive group of teenaged artists.
I look forward to sharing more photographs from my collaborations with this and the other student groups leading up to the November 11th LEROI: Living in Color Exhibition Opening.
LEROI: Living in Color Exhibition includes the work of students from Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology (BCAT,) Buffalo Public Schools (BPS,) Just Buffalo Literary Center (JBLC,) and Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center. The exhibition will be on view at the Burchfield Penney Art Center through March 26, 2023, presented by M&T Bank, with additional support from organizations and individuals throughout the Western New York community.