Ouachita to host “Beloved Community” art exhibit Feb. 11-28 observing Black History Month

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February 07, 2019 - OBU News Bureau

Ouachita Baptist University will host an art exhibit titled “Beloved Community” beginning Monday, Feb. 11, in the Hammons Gallery in Ouachita’s Mabee Fine Arts Building. This exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through Feb. 28.

The “Beloved Community” art exhibit will feature the Ouachita community’s response, in the form of artwork and written works, to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community.”

Dr. King’s concept of a beloved community was presented to the Ouachita student body in November of 2018 during a chapel discussion led by guest speaker Kimberly Blackford.

“Throughout his work, Dr. King talked about the beloved community,” said Blackford, who serves as the Southeast region black campus ministry coordinator for InterVarsity. “Dr. King’s beloved community is a vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth, and all people’s needs are met. … Poverty and hunger and homelessness are not tolerated, racism in all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood.”

“Kimberly Blackford's visit and talk about beloved community generated the idea for this exhibit,” said Donnie Copeland, associate professor of Art and Design at Ouachita. “Students have responded enthusiastically so far.”

The “Beloved Community” art exhibit is one of several events on campus that are organized in observance of Black History Month. Other events throughout the month of February include guest speakers, a poetry night, choir night, panel discussion and more.

“Black History is more than a recognition of past icons in black culture; it is an ongoing celebration of all achievements and positive contributions to society. It is also a recognition of the long and painful black experience in America and the triumphs that blacks have overcome,” said Nicole Porchia, Ouachita’s director of Multicultural Student Programs. “Black History Month at Ouachita is a way of celebrating the achievements and legacy of blacks at Ouachita Baptist University and the cultures from which they come.

“For the minority group, I believe it’s more moving and empowering to share the vision Dr. Martin Luther had when he spoke of a ‘Beloved Community,” Porchia added. “Our hope is that the Ouachita community would be exposed and impacted by the exhibit.”

For more information about the exhibit, contact Donnie Copeland at (870) 245-5559 or copelandd@obu.edu.

February 7, 2019