The Creative Arts Society is comprised of a group of innovative and creative students that strive for artistic excellence and enlightenment; we hope to share this gift with the public through our visual expressions and community service. We have organized and participated in several events on the Southern University campus and it‘s surrounding community. The first event organized by CAS was PoeARTry, featuring the artwork and poetry of CAS members and the spoken word of the Southern University “Mocha Room” poets. In fact, Spring semester 2006 will be the third annual PoeARTry event, and we hope to continue to incorporate more of the performing arts and other talents Southern has to offer. CAS has also, organized and collaborated on several events for Prescott Middle School. Through the efforts of Mr. Sean Joffrion, Prescott teacher and program coordinator, CAS organized a food drive for Prescott Middle, exhibited artwork, and participated in their Brotherhood/Sisterhood program. We have exhibited at the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Black History program. The Creative Arts Society has instructed a couple of art workshops for Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and for Black History month, 2006, we were invited by the Southern University Masters of Public Administration Association, to exhibit and speak at their program, “Celebrating our Past & Present.” April 12, 2006 we will exhibit our work at Greenville Elementary School for their “Discovery Days” program. In addition to these events, we have been featured in the Southern University Digest as an organization and as individual artists on many occasions. We, as Southern University students have a deep love and respect for our HBCU institution and our fellow student body. Therefore, our goal is to bring a greater sense of culture and appreciation of the arts to our peers, our University, and our surrounding (and World Wide Web) community.

Creshawn Garrett, President
Creative Arts Society

The Creative Arts Society formed in the fall of 2003. With Quaja Bell serving as the first president, Fine Arts students decided it was time to organize, to personally affect the enrichment of their collegiate experience. The first year of organization was filled with positive experiences and accomplishments, culminating in a field trip to New Orleans at the end of the academic year. In New Orleans we visited the Stella Jones (African Diaspora) Gallery, where we saw an exhibition of nationally acclaimed artist Wadsworth Jarrell, and Civil Rights photographer Chris McNair. On display at the New Orleans Museum of Art, was the traveling exhibition, “Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art;” it included major works by outstanding artists such as: Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Hughie Lee Smith and John Biggers. For lunch, we dined at a Japanese sushi restaurant – a new dining experience for most of the students.

As advisor for the Creative Arts Society, I would like to personally thank you for visiting our web site. I am very proud of the accomplishments of these young people, as an organization and as individual artists. As you navigate through the site, you will see over 250 images from twenty one CAS member- artists. There is art work represented from every discipline taught in Fine Arts. They include: design, drawing, painting, printmaking, computer graphics, ceramics, and sculpture. There are works that embody classroom assignments and works that exemplify the artist’s own personal creative expression. Each student wrote an “artist biography” and “artist statement.” These are requirements for professional artists. At least one of the students represented here, now knows from real life experience, the importance of having a biography and statement. Creshawn Garrett along with Wendal Dillon were both honored at the Louisiana Arts & Science Museum, during the “Anyone Can Fly - Faith Ringgold: A Survey” exhibition opening and reception, February 19, 2005. The biography and artist statement for each student was read before they received their awards. It is of the utmost importance that the artist is articulate in the written and spoken languages as well, for only they can speak most accurate about their life and art.

Aside from individual’s artwork, you can also see pictures from CAS programs and events. The group has organized “PoeARTry Week,” a celebration of poetry and art; they have performed community service, and exhibited their art work, both on and off campus. This is a committed and ambitious group who has individual bright futures, and will be major contributors to our cultural environment. I encourage you to visit each artist’s page, enjoy, learn, and be inspired by their art and their words.

Please feel free to contact us with questions, comments, or invitations.

Robert Cox
Advisor, Creative Arts Society
Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Southern University and A&M College
500 Jesse Stone Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70813-5000

Telephone: (225) 771-2070, or 2071
Fax: (225) 771-2780
Email: robert_cox@subr.edu

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Creshawn Garrett, President
Creative Arts Society