2017 cadd fund WINNER
SPENCER EVANS
MFA UT Arlington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contemporary Art Dealers of Dallas celebrated creativity and community with a Sunday Soup Supper on March 5th. CADD FUNd 2017 was awarded to Spencer Evans in the amount of $5000.
During the event finalists presented proposals about potential artistic projects. It was a fun evening sharing innovative ideas. The other finalists included; Justin Archer/UNT, Jessie Barnes/UNT, Dannie Liebergot/UNT, Juan Negroni/SMU, and Diego Romo/UNT.
F inalists were selected by jurors including; Anna Smith, Curator of Education, Nasher Sculpture Center; Sue Canterbury, The Pauline Gill Sullivan Associate Curator of American Art, Dallas Museum of Art; and Dr. Rodger Kobes, art collector and enthusiast.
The 2017 CADD FUNd will aid Spencer Evans in traveling to Lagos, Nigeria to conduct research on differences between Black American and Nigerian/African identity. He has been invited to conduct his research by the President of the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Emiola Nihinlola and the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Dr. Matthews Ojo. These invitations include participating schools: University of Lagos (Lagos), University if Ibadan (Ibadan), Bowen University (Iwo), and Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary (Ogbomoso). Evans will live among Nigerian students to develop a clear and direct understanding of their lives, mindsets, and sense of self. He will hold and record group discussions and interviews regarding the social conditioning that shaped their sense of identity and how it differs from the millions of African descendants living in the U.S.
Traveling to Nigeria is crucial to his research because he recently learned that his mother’s paternal ancestry is from Nigeria and Cameroon. Also crucial are the conversations he has had with his Nigerian friends regarding a perception-rooted rift between Africans and Black Americans. He plans to gain further insight from interviews, discussions, and daily interactions with his Nigerian brothers and sisters.
Photography, drawing, and painting will be components of his research in Nigeria. He plans to show his appreciation by donating a work of art to each of the universities participating.
THANK YOU 2017 CADD FUND SPONSORS
3015 Trinity Groves, West Dallas Chamber of Commerce, Kessler Collins, Arts+Culture Texas,
Brooklyn Brewery, Pogo's Wine & Spirits, Judy Vetter, Gail Sachson - Ask Me About Art,
LUCK, V-EATS, St. Rocco's, Fat Chicken, and RFT Culinary/3015 at Trinity Groves.