JEWEL CHAMPBELL

Spatiotemporal is used in data analysis when data is collected across both space and time. It's a study that describes a phenomenon in a certain location and at a certain time that can never be replicated due to the inevitability of change. Artworks can be meditations on the archive, diasporic narratives, or ones relationship to these elements in their work.

a tribute to the past
a pledge to our future 
2024

set of eight postcards featuring archived portraits and text on felt

"A Tribute to the Past, A Pledge to Our Future" was created in response to the absence of our annual creative publication, the yearbook known as The Promethean. Through the archival preservation of past materials, including text and photographs, alongside present-day documentation, I aim to reconnect with the past and amplify how future generations are visually represented within these collages. I am exploring how archival materials can extend the life of these moments in time and prompt reflection on the significance of this space.

In my installation, I presented a set of eight postcards featuring archived portraits and text on felt. The portraits include materials from a 1980s yearbook and portraits taken by my classmate Elijah Kumi and I during our senior year as part of the Promethean Portraits, February 2023 series. Other artworks featured alongside the postcards included a collage piece with black-and-white images from 1970s-1980s yearbooks, showcasing the experiences of students at Morgan State College and Morgan State University, with the opening page highlighting the Class of 1975. Additionally, I included a sound installation in the form of a playlist, compiling musical selections that reflect the time periods researched in this project.

Link to Spotify Playlist: https://lnkd.in/e53mmvbw

A WORK IN PROGRESS

EMBRACING THE BEAUTY OF SELF DISCOVERY

Curated by Jewel Champbell

March 11 - May 22, 2022

James E. Lewis Museum of Art

Various student-led activities enriched Morgan State’s culture throughout the Prometheans dating back to the 1960s. Black culture and identity began to emerge as members of the Black community expressed appreciation through cultural pride. Their exploration of cultural identity revealed struggles, strengths, and celebrations, which inspired artists to normalize the creation of spaces for reflection. Affirmations and art contributed to strengthening this Cultural Revolution. 

A Work In Progress recognizes the beauty of being an unfinished canvas. This student-led exhibition highlights artists expanding their narratives by acknowledging the importance of resilience and harnessing inner strength within themselves. Artists use poetry and visual arts to amplify their voices during their discovery process.