Arts Alive SDSU Artist in Residence to Discuss Arts Activism and Racial Justice

An Arts Alive SDSU presentation with Artist in Residence Zeal Harris addresses the intersection of art, personal experiences, and activism.

by Elizabeth Allison

January 29, 2021

Arts Alive SDSU is hosting an artist talk by visual artist Zeal Harris, the Artist in Residence for the 2020-2021 academic year. In a presentation titled “Art, Storytelling, and Everyday Activism,” Harris will provide an overview of her work and discuss ways that art can be a powerful tool for social justice. She will also be in conversation with Dr. Adisa Alkebulan, Chair of the Department of Africana Studies.

Presented virtually as a webinar, “Art, Storytelling, and Everyday Activism” will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, and it will be open to the entire university community. Registration is available here.

Using Public Art to Build Community

Inspired by a recent trip to Cartegena, Colombia, Harris will discuss the pioneer spirit, the histories, and the art of people of African descent through the lens of her own artwork, placemaking practices, and the power of personal and collective storytelling. Her conversation with Alkebulan will also address gentrification, personal expression, and ways that public art can contribute to community development.

“Public and street artwork in Cartagena (mainly in the form of murals) is used to communicate many Black community values and aesthetics,” explains Harris. She and Alkebulan will discuss how this type of public art can represent a community.

The Arts Alive SDSU Artist in Residence program was established with a similar goal in mind for the SDSU community. The intention is that the design, production, and installation of an original artwork on campus will reflect the SDSU community and provide a platform for creative conversations about social justice.

Harris is particularly excited to have Alkebulan join her to discuss her work and its themes in an academic context. “I dabble in themes of the African Diaspora and work with a Pan-Africanist mission,” said Harris. “It brings the academic significance of my work up when an accomplished rock star African Diaspora scholar can create new dialogue with me.”

About the Artist in Residence

Dedicated to art as a social practice, Zeal Harris is known for creating what she calls “seductive, caricaturesque, political, urban-vernacular story paintings” that explore new narratives and ancient mythologies of Black history and culture.

Harris joined the SDSU community in Fall 2020 as the inaugural Arts Alive SDSU Artist in Residence. The residency invites all students to engage in meaningful dialogue about arts activism and social justice, and to work with the professional artist on the production of new art for the SDSU campus.

“The Artist in Residence program is specifically designed to affirm the value of inclusivity through collaborative art projects that enrich our shared space,” said Eric Smigel, Chair of Arts Alive SDSU.

Since Harris’s arrival on campus, she has conducted interactive sessions in over a dozen academic units and cultural centers, directly conversing with hundreds of SDSU students. This spring, she will continue to meet with student groups and courses in sessions that will inspire and inform her original artwork that will be installed on campus.

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.

More PSFA Stories