Nearly every student can find an outlet to express themselves on campus, whether it’s flinging a frisbee across the Parade Ground or manning a pottery wheel in the Studio Arts Building, but there’s a relatively new group on campus who’s offering a little something else to the arts.
The Black Artist Initiative strives to bring together both the arts and the Baton Rouge community through a variety of mediums.
Digital art senior and president of BAI Nicholas Belson said the organization was established last year out of a need for an art group geared toward minorities, but the group welcomes anyone looking to join.
“The group is open to anyone on campus regardless of major, classification or racial demographic,” Belson said. “We don’t discriminate. I see art as a form of expression and that shouldn’t be limited on any type of criteria besides the fact that you want to do it.”
Even though the organization is still growing, it has already hosted an art show and film festival. BAI held its second annual “Black Girls Rock” art showcase Monday night in the LSU Student Union’s Atchafalaya Room.
Belson said the show’s theme was inspired by the BET series, “Black Girls Rock!” which showcases women of color and their accomplishments. The BAI art show is also in conjunction with Black History Month.
“We notice the positive female role models within our community,” Belson said, “This is something to show that we appreciate them.”
Monday’s multimedia art show featured work from the group’s members along with a Baton Rouge artist and another from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Contrary to the stereotypical art showcase, last night’s participants also included an a capella group, dance performances and spoken word poetry.
The organization also has plans to host its second film festival this semester. Last year’s festival included short films, documentaries, poetry pieces and several drama acts featuring filmmakers from Lafayette, Louisiana to New Orleans.
Belson said news about the organization mainly spreads by word of mouth and social media, but it reaches out to organizations in the community, such as Baton Rouge’s weekly Eclectic Truth Poetry Slam and Open Mic.
“Networking is key to anything,” Belson said. “You’d be surprised how many things intertwine when you go and talk to people.”
Theatre freshman Brandon Smith joined the organization last semester after hearing about it from Belson and hopes to see the organization become even larger on campus.
“Anyone who’s interested, no matter race or culture, should come out and see what we’re about,” Smith said.
Belson said BAI is looking to continue increasing its membership within the next year while including not only a variety of majors, but all aspects of the community, which is something he doesn’t see from many other campus organizations.
“We all go to school here,” Belson said, “But how many of us actually know what goes on down the street and downtown? How are we using the resources that we have as college students to uplift and better the community?”
BAI meets every other Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Middleton Library, but it’s hoping to move meetings to the Art Building. Anyone interested in joining the organization should email [email protected].

Gallery • 3 Photos

Ronni Bourgeois

Digital art senior Nicholas Belson, as president of the Black Artists Initiative organization, invites all students to come and visit a multifaceted art show that will be held this Thursday, Feb. 26, 2014 in the Cotillion Ballroom at 7 o'clock P.M. called "Black Girls Rock!"