Loyola Marymount University’s Laband Art Gallery exhibit “Gallery 32 and Its Circle” hit the big time. The exhibit prompted a discussion on “Does ‘Black Art’ exist?” on noted journalist Tavis Smiley’s Web site “Young Voices.”
The exhibition focused on the art and history of Suzanne Jackson’s Gallery 32 which was founded near MacArthur Park in Los Angeles in 1968. Jackson created a space for emerging artists to experiment and take risks with their artwork. Although Gallery 32 was not exclusive to African American artists, it became an active venue for African American artists to display their creativity. The gallery evolved into an important forum for political and cultural discussions as well and gave back to the community through fundraisers for various causes such as the Watts Towers Art Center children’s workshop program.
After closing in 1970, Gallery 32 has seldom been mentioned in art history books. However, Carolyn Peter, director of LMU’s Laband Art Gallery, and Damon Willick, assistant professor of modern and contemporary art history, sought to recognize the gallery.
“Gallery 32 and Its Circle” exhibited works from David Hammons, Betye Saar and Emory Douglas, among others. Following the footsteps of the original Gallery 32, Laband Art Gallery hosted events where students and the public were invited to participate.
Tamika Thompson, a contributor to Smiley’s “Young Voices,” participated in a discussion led by LMU students. Thompson’s piece, “Does ‘Black Art’ Exist?” provides a video clip of student analyses and commentary from Peter on artwork in the exhibit. One of the featured LMU students in the video, Unique Cramer-Buck, commented on how the exhibit affected her.
“I learned about the different black artists. I’ve been in school for so long, yet I learn about Picasso and Van Gogh and all these people that just don’t relate to me as an African American,” Cramer-Buck said.