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A “frequent flyer” at the Barner-McDuffie House, Ilana Robbins has enjoyed the house since her mother’s best friend helped establish it. Last week, Robbins’ art — much of which is inspired by her mother — was on display there.

“She’s always there to support me, always there with me,” Robbins said. “As I go through the pains of growing up, she’s always been there as a backbone.”

The Barner-McDuffie House hosted a student artist exhibit from Feb. 3-7 to celebrate Black History Month. The exhibit featured artists Robbins, Soup Russell, Chelsea Reeves and Mia Morgan, who each brought a personal form of artistry to the display.

Nike sneakers glossed with acrylic paint, vivid ceramic ware, film photography and a photograph of freestanding, Medusa-like braids were just some of the works that showcased Black students’ identities on Syracuse University’s campus.

“(The exhibit) highlighted that Blackness isn’t a monolith and that Blackness isn’t associated with struggle, which a lot of outside groups think of the entire Black experience,” Reeves said.

Ella Chan | Assistant Photo Editor

Chemical engineering major Ilana Robbins holds custom-painted Air Jordan sneakers. Beyond creating work on paper, Robbins enjoys decorating her belongings and painting on unconventional mediums. The painting behind them was created on a repurposed stop sign.

Robbins based her display on the concept of heritage. Through mixed media like oil paint, charcoal on paper, alcohol markers and acrylic paint, she told a story about her own history as an artist, a journey Robbins said she takes great pride in.

As a chemical engineering major, Robbins rarely gets to show off her artistic side. She said the exhibit was a chance for her to express this side of herself, while also promoting her small business of making customized Greek paddles.

In Reeves’ portion of the exhibition, she highlights themes of Black expression, women empowerment and Black resilience. With photography, she aims to combat misguided generalizations often made about the Black community. She gained inspiration from her perspective and the lens through which she views the world.

“I just like capturing things that I see with my personal eye and would like other people to see in some way,” Reeves said. “I think just being your own inspiration, going out there and finding things that resonate with you will bring you far.”

To capture her photos, Reeves used a variety of photography techniques and mediums. She shot some of the photos on film camera, either black and white or in color, and others on a digital camera. She used minimal posing in her work, in an effort to capture the candid essence of her subjects.

Ella Chan | Assistant Photo Editor

Syracuse University freshman Mia Morgan smiles beside one of her pottery pieces. Morgan enjoys incorporating themes of decay throughout her art.

One piece from Reeves’ collection is a photograph taken at the Spike Lee block party that happened in Brooklyn over the summer. The photo captures a young man “double dutching” in the street, despite the unexpected downpour during the celebration. Reeves said the photo represents the energy of the community at the event.

“That was just an example of people existing and being comfortable in their skin, being comfortable as their unique selves as Black individuals in society,” Reeves said.

Morgan took a different approach with nature and antiquity as the focus of her collection. She displayed a colorful collection of ceramic wares.

Through pieces like an owl or a flower pot decorated with pink petals, Morgan evoked her theme’s imagery. She used clay sculpting and carving techniques like hand building, sgraffito and incising to produce the desired textures and looks on the pieces.

One piece in particular drew inspiration from Salvador Dalí’s famed melting clocks in his work, “The Persistence of Memory.” Morgan intended to create a melting smiley face but altered the final product when the ceramic cracked.

Despite these setbacks, Morgan is thankful for the Barner-McDuffie House and Russell, who guided and mentored her throughout the process. Russell helped put together the exhibit and served as a friend and welcoming presence to Morgan, who was new to the house.

Ella Chan | Assistant Photo Editor

Studio art major Soup Russell holds a print depicting life-size images of their handmade bags. Russell’s artwork focuses on custom, sustainable fashion using repurposed materials, emphasizing personal identity through customization.

Russell’s pieces, displayed as prints, include a series of garments made from a thrifted shower curtain, with each piece going through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction before the completed final product. They said the work is a commentary on sustainability and identity integrated into our reuse practices.

One piece that Russell feels particularly connected to is an adjustable vest that allows the wearer to tighten or loosen the fit. This adaptability helped affirm their identity as a non-binary individual, Russell said.

Russell wants people to realize the agency they hold in their clothing choices. Members of minority groups, like people who have disabilities, are overweight and/or in the LGBTQ+ community, are limited by the clothing available to them, Russell said.

“Growing up, sustainability was something that became a necessity for me,” Russell said. “I wanted to see what a world, where reusing clothing and creating fashion that fits my identity as a queer individual, could mean for others.”

Robbins is thankful for the space the Barner-McDuffie House provides for the Black community on SU’s campus. The diverse range of experiences brought in by its members help to promote Black culture and emphasize its presence on campus, she said.

Morgan said the organization invests in artists of color and hopes her work can inspire others to find similar experiences through expression. Likewise, Robbins hopes other students of color can feel the Barner-McDuffie House to be as safe a space she does.

“If you are feeling lonely as a Black person, if you feel isolated on campus, it’s a place where you can find community,” Robbins said.

Published on February 13, 2025 at 1:08 am

Contact Spencer: sphoward@syr.edu