Black Excellence Captured

Black Excellence. What does that truly mean? Looking at the question from an historically informed African American perspective, we have been so disadvantaged that mediocrity simply isn’t an option. Since birth, we have been encouraged to work ten times harder than any other race; we have been asked to be the Beyoncés and Martin Luther Kings of today in order to be deemed ‘enough.’ But isn’t it enough to simply be? Isn’t it enough to live as who we are—authentically in the present moment? Black Excellence Captured powerfully responds to these evocative questions in its rawest form: through photos. Putting out a call on social media for people to send in their photos capturing black excellence, Xiyanna Kellogg collaborated with people of color, of all shades, both known and unknown, online and here on campus. Although their origin is online, the photos are presented here as material objects making up a collage of sculptural dimensions. It compiles the images sent to her: images that people were willing to share, thus showcasing the natural, visceral, true manifestation of black excellence.      

Personal Statement

“The message behind this piece is what is said within the title Black Excellence Captured, African Americans in their full potential of excellence. Many people would assume black excellence has to mean you are doing something great like receiving a degree or getting accepted into something. In my piece, I want to showcase it as just being who you are in the color of your skin.”