Ayana Ross collects stories. For inspiration, she draws from family, current events, history, art, her experiences growing up in the American South, and Biblical stories viewed through a contemporary lens. Touching on universal themes, Ross’ paintings offer an opening for viewers to find themselves and their own experiences.
A recurring theme in Ross’ art is that of parent and child, of memories of the past and wishes and advice for the future. Her narrative paintings are inspired by early 20th traditions, with Henry Ossawa Tanner being her most direct muse. Thematic and visual references to Tanner’s Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Flight into Egypt, The Banjo Lesson, and The Thankful Poor appear in this exhibition, along with nods to paintings by Norman Rockwell and James Abbott McNeill Whistler. In this way, Ross connects her work to a shared visual history. Ross’ patterns and natural textures fragment and distort the pictorial space while adding their own story telling elements. Clothing and wallpaper prints evoke feelings of nostalgia while floral patterns deliberately highlight the natural world. The repeated use of wood grain comes from the walls and floors of Ross’s childhood home, a visual record of her sense of place and family. Addressing issues both personal and shared, Ross’s paintings speak to the importance of family in the lives of children and offer the opportunity for understanding and empathy in an often fractured world.
Ayana Ross is based in McDonough, GA and maintains a studio in nearby Atlanta. She was the recipient of the 2021 Bennett Prize, an award that included a $50,000 grant and a solo exhibition. The Lessons I Leave You premieres a selection of the paintings created by Ross during her two-year grant period.
The Muskegon Museum of Art presented SONS: Seeing the Modern African American Male, portraits of black men from greater Muskegon photographed by artist Jerry Taliaferro, December 13, 2018 through March 10, 2019. We organized the exhibition with the advisement and help of a committee of African American men from the Muskegon area. In the spirit of community, we again present the SONS portraits in this virtual exhibition.
About the Exhibition
SONS was meant to explore how the black American male perceives himself and how others perceive him. At the time of the original exhibition, artist Jerry Taliaferro stated, “[The exhibition] is both timely and relevant. Recent events point to the urgent need for conversations about the contemporary black American male. Any effort, however humble, to foster an understanding of this largely misunderstood and often marginalized segment of the American population is of utmost importance.” The effort to foster understanding and respect is needed as much now as it was then.
A committee of their peers nominated the men pictured in the show from the greater Muskegon area. The goal was to portray a wide range of ages, backgrounds, occupations, and interests to best represent not only the black men of our community, but also to mirror the day-to-day experiences of their fellow Americans. It was the first time many of these men were publicly recognized.
The men pictured are artists, musicians, barbers, doctors, lawyers, health care workers, engineers, entrepreneurs, businessmen, teachers, athletes, retired servicemen, clergy, poets, factory workers, laborers, security guards, school administrators, and coaches. They are also husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, co-workers, teammates, friends, and neighbors.
Virtual Gallery
The first part of the exhibition features black and white photographs that do not indicate professions or pastimes. The second part features color photographs with items and apparel indicate these activities, as well as expressing more of the subjects’ outward personalities.
Jerry Taliaferro was born in the small southern town of Brownsville, Tennessee. After graduating high school in May 1972, he joined the Army. He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1973 and graduated as a member of the Class of 1977. Taliaferro’s interest in photography began during his post at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for Special Forces training in 1981. While serving in Germany, his interest in photography continued and, in 1985, his work was published for the first time when a Munich magazine purchased the rights to one of his images. Jerry returned to the U.S. and began doing assignments for advertising and design firms in 1985. He left the military in 1988 and began a career in commercial photography. Over the ensuing years, his interest turned more to fine art photography. This change in direction has resulted in several projects and published pieces. Women of a New Tribe, a photographic study of the spiritual and physical beauty of black women, is one of his latest projects. Jerry Taliaferro currently resides in Charlotte, NC.
SONS Committee
Special thanks to the members of the SONS Committee, without which this exhibition would not have been possible: TJ Chappel, Jon Covington, Chris Dean, Arthur Garner, Ed Garner, Justin Jennings, Bernard Loudermill, William Muhammad, Marvin Nash, Dr. Dale Nesbary, Kelly Richards, J. Arthur Sanders, Andrew Sims, George Walker, Rodney Walker, James Waters, and Jonathan Wilson.
Click on images for downloadable high-resolution files. Photos for editorial use only.
Rick Beck (American, born Canada, born 1960) The Bull Cast glass and steel, 2004 Purchase, MMA Acquisition Funds and the Gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Boyer and sons, Frank Bednarek Consulting Services LLC, David and Carol Folkert, the Hines Corporation, Charles E. and Patricia B. Johnson, Sabra A. Carl, and John and Janet Day 2006.6a&b Photo by Jennifer Green Photography
Daniel Clayman (American, born 1957) Clear Volume Cast glass, assembled, 2010 Gift of the Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle Family in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the Muskegon Museum of Art 2011.22 Photo by Jennifer Green Photography
Albert Young (American, born 1951) Ten Stories Cast glass, steel, stone, 2002 Gift of the Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle Family 2007.20
John Miller (American, born 1966) CB w/ LTBP Blown and assembled glass, 2020 Museum purchase, through the gift of the Margaret “Peggie” Stone Estate 2020.4
Debora Moore (American, b. 1960) Blue Lady Slipper Wall Sculpture Blown and shaped glass, 2004 Gift of the Drs. Osbie and Anita Herald Fund, Nancy Waters, and C. Corcoran Tuttle, 2004.13 Photo by Frederic Reinecke
Christopher Hawthorne (American, born 1953) Open Vessel (PV224037), blown glass, 2002 In Memoriam: Martha Bethel, Paul A. Burr, Bess and William Commodore, and Luella and Willie Verges. 2003.1 Vessel PV 123041, blown glass, 2004 Gift of James and Elizabeth Butler. 2004.16
Benjamin P. Moore (American, b. 1951) Palla Series: Black with Gold Leaf and Clear Bubbled Primavera Platter Blown glass and gold leaf, 2004 Gift of Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle. 2004.14.2
Tiffany (American, 1848-1933) and Tiffany Studios Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Secundino R. Veiga. 1986.7, 1981.46, 1981.53, 1981.54
Dale Chihuly (American, b. 1941) Cobalt Blue Persian Set with Cadmium Red Lip Wraps (detail) Blown and shaped glass, 1992. Gift of the SPX Corporation. 2002.3a-n Photo by Frederic Reinecke
Stephen Rolfe Powell (American, 1951-2019) Lurid Gasp Johnson Blown glass, 1999 Gift of Robert D. and C. Corcoran Tuttle 2005.1 Photo by Marc Hoeksema
