Julian Cross

Curatorial Rationale:

I have enjoyed illustrating since I was young. For most of my life, my notion of art was simple, immature, and carefree. In my two-year journey through the High Level International Baccalaureate Art curriculum, that perception shifted. I began to understand the power of my work - and I did not lose the joy that goes into creating it. Learning how to combine this simplicity and joy with the construction of style and theme has been critical to my identity as an artist.

Of course, my artistic education was rooted in the four-year high school art class experience which included my first understandings of color, value, texture, form, and space. But through IB, I was presented the opportunity to mature beyond those fundamental understandings. I developed a style that felt like me, and worked to create a theme that could connect my present self with my future compositions. In the work License and Registration , I show the culmination of my years of understanding, growth and development as in the scene, an African American reaching for his wallet is being threatened at gunpoint by a police officer. The light from the officer’s cruiser shines through to illuminate the rear window, back of the seat and the left side of the man's face contrasting the dark shadows that meet to surround the rest of the scene. Showing these values adds drama to the piece leading to intrigue and interest. This work is one of the many pieces in my two year compilation that shows the oppressions that African Americans face.

In my other works such as Oppressed Americans, The Knee, and Roots Reappear, we see more dramatic imagery such as resilience against an oppressive flag, and political symbol that rallies hate. The positivity and brightness from my works' vibrance of color contrasts the oppressive symbolism surrounding MAGA and the imagery of sad expressions. More contrast comes from the motif of joy and resilience found throughout my paintings as a source of hope to battle the oppression that seeks to demean the collective spirit of people of color.

This was not a smooth or simple process. It took time for me to fully trust my technique, to feel purposeful and assured in my stylistic choices, and to bring my theme to life. I originally thought that my style was heavily expressionist, full of violent strokes and choppy images. However, by the end of my Junior year, I started to experiment, and my work evolved into a more minimalist and efficient expression. After researching Jacob Lawrence and Faith Ringgold, I developed a love for depicting the strength and resilience of the black spirit, as they did. Their work inspires the themes that I combine with my aesthetic, shaping this exhibition and who I am as an artist today. My work, Freedom Under The Copper Sun, shows my aesthetic vibrance and simplistic composition in the expression of black beauty. The sky reflects red and orange as the bright yellow sun illuminates the scene leaving nothing but white to contrast the silhouette of the black man. He is highlighted with shades of blue, as that color calms the illumination to show lax and serenity. This work shows the resilience and love that blacks have found despite the oppression that condescends.

My work Love does the same. Body language, color and simplicity in the background suits the sharp highlights and minimalist stoked figures giving viewers a sense of their joy. My parents, one black and one white, are the symbols that have led me through my life and their love reinforces the perspective of equality and joy. The purity of this simplistic composition shows the purity in their love which is what the arrangement of all my pieces attempts to reinforce; the pure emotions that flow from the theme of each composition through simplistic expression.

To conclude, the works you will see here explore the resilience and power in the culture and soul of Africans across the diaspora. It centers on both what allows them to thrive and what attempts to break their spirits. Two years and ten pieces culminate this exhibition. I hope it sparks reflection in your perspective of black culture and the power and purpose of the art that captures it, enjoy.

About the IB Program:

The International Baccalaureate program builds on the Oberlin City Schools’ mission To set the standard for excellence in public education by motivating students to be inquiring and knowledgeable world citizens. International Baccalaureate is highly regarded throughout the U.S. and the world. An International Baccalaureate diploma allows students to earn college credit or advanced standing at many colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad.

Oberlin City Schools is the first school district in The State of Ohio, and one of only eight districts across the nation authorized to offer IB programming to students in all grade levels throughout the district. International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognized educational program with a rigorous curriculum. International Baccalaureate features a global focus and emphasizes creative problem solving, hands-on projects, inquiry-based learning, and community service.