Madison College’s SOUL Affinity Group and the Division of College Culture and Climate invites you to its “SOULful Joy”art exhibit at the Truax Campus Gallery. Organized by Lead Researcher Dr. Michelle Turner and Adult Recruiter Rhoda McKinney, “SOULful Joy” is an art show composed of works from 15 different artists.
It is the latest installment of a program honoring Dzigbodi Akyea, an advisor at Madison College for nearly two decades who passed away in 2021.
In light of DEI initiatives being threatened by the Trump administration, McKinney said that the Sisters of Unity and Leadership (SOUL) wants to cut through the noise with joy.
Past themes for this exhibition include “Honoring the Black Woman,” “Protecting the Black Woman,” and “Restoring the Black Woman.”
A gallery reception will be held on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Featured artists will be at the reception to answer questions and interact with attendees.
The event will include food and fellowship with the program begining at 6:30 p.m. Highlights will include the black national anthem composed by James Wilder Johnson and John Rosewood Johnson. The anthem was written in the early 1900s, and will be performed by Dr. Crystasany R. Turner. There will be additional remarks by Dr. Tim Casper and Dr. Damira Grady Saffold followed by poetry by Chevon Bowen and Michele Turner.
This is the group’s fourth year of hosting a gallery show. This year’s event program will feature a QR code for donations to a scholarship account. Last year they raised more than $500. Additional organizers are Nick Loveland, Marissa Rushing and Christina Bankhead.