Rowan Art Gallery and Museum hosted a reception and artists panel as part of the exhibition “Carrying On: Black Panther Party Artists Continue the Legacy.”

Three of the four artists featured in “Carrying On,” Gayle Asali Dickson, Akinsanya Kambon, and Malik Edwards, delivered a talk that began at 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 8.

The audience was composed of many community members and students at Rowan, as well as former Black Panthers.

For artist Gayle Asali Dickson, the importance of seeing people interface with her work is on two levels. 

“First of all, on the personal level. Gratitude, I’m grateful, honored, you know,” said Dickson. “On the external level, I’m hopeful that I get a chance to talk to [people] about the work as they’re in various, different parts of time.”

The exhibit, “Carrying On,” is an exploration of the work of Black Panther artists during, and after their membership in the party, and as such, Dickson’s work in the exhibit ranges from the late 60s and 70s to 2020 and onward.

“I’m trying to make sure that people don’t forget the history and to encourage them to not accept what’s sold to them by the mass media. The mass media is bought up. The mass media is under the control of one ideology, and I’m introducing another ideology, another way of thinking, another history,” said Dickson.

Jaylah Ross, a staff member at the Rowan Art Gallery and Museum and a sophomore education major, attended the artists’ talk.

“I actually really enjoyed the artist talk. It’s more because I think it’s really cool that they were actually part of the Black Panther Party,” said Ross.

Ross found it interesting how artists Malik Edwards and Akinsanya Kambon connected their service in Vietnam to today’s world.

“They were discussing how much improvement in the world has been and how they’re glad to see it, but also the similarities in today’s world that they see now versus then,” said Ross.

Subsequent to the artists’ panel was a reception that featured a spread at the back of the museum. Attendees walked the gallery and spoke with one another and the artists while dining on hor d’oeuvres.

Also in attendance was Colette Gaiter, curator of the exhibit itself, greeting people and introducing them during the reception.

This artist panel and reception is part of the ongoing 2024/2025 exhibition season at Rowan Art Gallery. To stay up to date with the current exhibit, which will run until March 15, or future exhibitions, visit the Rowan Art Gallery and Museum website.

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