Black History Month exhibit features art of YSU alums

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An exhibition marking African American History Month, featuring the artwork of Maple Turner III and Henry Holden III, will open Monday and run through Feb. 26 in the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery, inside Bliss Hall, on the Youngstown State University campus.

Both artists are alumni of YSU.

An opening reception will take place Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in the gallery, followed by an artists’ presentation and discussion from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the adjacent McDonough Museum of Art. Admission is free.

The exhibition is presented by the art department and the Africana Studies program at YSU.

Turner, a Youngstown native, began painting at age 6 with encouragement from his father, Maple Turner Jr., who is an avid collector of African art and sculptures.

After earning a bachelor’s degree from YSU in 1999, Turner moved to New York to pursue a career as an artist. While there, he sold his paintings to numerous galleries and private collectors. He also earned an associate degree in fine art from the Parsons School of Design in 2001.

After a stint in Paris where he created a series of French-inspired collections, Turner returned to New York, where he earned his master’s degree in fine art from City College in 2005.

Turner works in various media, including sculpture, painting, ceramics and textiles. He creates art with watercolor, acrylic, oil, sand and reused materials.

As a batik artist, he applies the unique process of layering wax and dyes to superimpose imagery that is colorful and abstract. The aim is to give the work a sense of perpetual freshness.

“Doing batik allows me to spiritually connect with my roots and beyond, with those cultures and people that have practiced it for many centuries around the world,” he said.

Holden was born in Milwaukee and graduated from YSU in December 2014 with a bachelor of fine arts degree.

His artwork – graphic design and screenprinting, painting and sculpting – has been featured at the McDonough Museum and the Solomon Gallery.

Holden is a graphic designer for L.E. Black Phillips and Holden Funeral Home. He recently designed a promotional poster for Major League Baseball Star Tim Beckham of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Those visiting the exhibition can park in YSU’s M1 Wick Avenue parking deck for a nominal fee.

For information, call 330-941-2307.