Artist Cedar Hill is a finalist in a nationwide competition; Works exhibited at the African American Museum

More than 400 artists from across the country submitted work for the 27th Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Competition and Exhibition.

Of the hundreds of exhibits, 50 have been selected to be displayed at the Dallas African American Museum on the second floor in Gallery D.

“To be in this room in this gallery with a bunch of other great artists from all over the country is crazy. This gallery itself is a wonderful collection of work,” said Assandra Jean-Baptiste, a Cedar Hill artist who was selected as a favorite.

Jean-Baptiste, 29, is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington and has been devoting most of his time to writing for the past few years.

As you enter the exhibition, on the left is his acrylic painting titled Homecoming.

“Homecoming” is really about the feeling of coming home from a long journey, really celebrating the fact that the journey is over. Really learn to accept all the achievements and accolades and have that feeling of wealth when it seems like there’s a party behind you or that everyone is celebrating your victories or something like that,” Jean-Baptiste described.

“That’s really what I was trying to capture, this picture was just an ode to myself for what I want to achieve, so I think you can see it as a future picture of what I’m looking forward to,” he said.

He is taking steps to achieve success in the art world as this is his first national competition.

“A lot of the artists are exhibiting in a museum setting for the first time, so it’s really interesting,” said Gerald Leavell, curator at the African American Museum in Dallas.

He said the competition will end on Friday, January 27, when the winners in each category will be announced: painting, sculpture, mixed media, drawing, printmaking and photography. Each artist will receive $1,000 and then one artist will be selected from that group for Best in Show.

“The artist who wins best in the exhibition, his work will become part of the museum’s permanent collection. The exhibition began in 1976 as a way to showcase the work of black artists as well as build a solid collection of contemporary art here at the museum. Leavell explained.

The Best in Show artist will also have the opportunity to have a solo exhibition at the museum.

Jean-Baptiste remains hopeful, but says that regardless of the outcome, he is grateful that he has come this far.

“It opened the door very strongly, so I would say the possibilities are endless,” said Jean-Baptiste. “It’s just great to think, ‘OK, this is really just a springboard or a snowball and it keeps rolling’ and I’m excited to be on this journey.”

The mixer to announce the winners will take place on Friday, January 27 at 6:30 pm at the Dallas African American Museum in Fair Park. The event is free, the exhibition will be open until March.

The museum also has a separate exhibition dedicated to the history and stories of black cowboys at the turn of the century.

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