Name: Christina Hairston
Age: 22
Major: Communication Arts, Minor in Art History
Hometown: Orange County, Virginia
Class: Senior Spring 2017
Why did you choose VCU?
I chose VCU when I finally decided to commit to my dreams of being an artist. I transferred here fall 2014 to become a VCUarts student.
Tell me a little about your involvement on campus:
On campus I am highly involved in aspects of service, arts and activism. I am currently the vice president and cofounder of the student organization Black Art Student Empowerment (B.A.S.E), I am an organizer and cofounder of Black VCU Speaks, I held the position of Family Team Captain for the Office of New Student and Family Programming this past summer, I am a Student Admissions Ambassador, and I am a student worker and Graphic Designer for the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs. I truly believe being involved on campus has helped shape my perspective on service, the arts, and activism and has ultimately help me find my career path and leave my mark at VCU.
What got you interested in art?
Art has always been something I was exposed to, my dad and many other members of my family are artists so art was always something I grew up with. What got me interested in art as a career path was taking the time to do some research and seeing all of the careers and aspects artists play a part in industries. After I learned about the avenues I could take as an artist I realized I could use my talents to have a successful career.
What is most important to you?
What is most important to me is the understanding that art is transformative. So many issues are apparent in our society, using art as a means of transformation can make people aware of these issues, change their perspective, or bring about action. It is highly important to me that artists continue to use their art as a way to bring important conversations and issues to light.
What recognition do you feel Black art deserves within VCUarts? In general?
I don’t necessarily feel that Black art deserves recognition within VCUarts, I wouldn’t quite use that word. I think Black art at VCU over the last three years that I have been here has slowly been carving out its place within VCUarts by the help of artists. What Black art needs within VCUarts is more encouragement and support. This is gained by having professors knowledgable on the subject matters that Black art can begin to identify and having like minds help develop the Black artists’ concepts they are trying to tackle. In general, I truly believe that when someone feels they do not have a “place” or a “seat at the table” they carve it out for themselves, and most of the time that can be a great benefit because they can create and have exactly what they feel they really want and need! I believe Black art has and always will do that.
How would you describe the artwork you make?
The artwork I make if I had to sum it up in one word really deals with identity. As a young black female artist I continue to learn about the intersections of my identity. This forces me to look beyond myself but at others that may have other intersections than I do. My art focuses on black identity and the endless facets of black identity and some issues these intersections face.
For example, my latest work The Few. The Restricted. The Black. Female Marines. focuses on the issues black female Marines face to comply with female hair regulations for marines.
My work Though Sexualized We Are Beautiful, Even Boxed In We Shine and After All We Thrive deals with the intersection of being a person of color and a woman. The black female body is typically sexualized and exploited for that reason.
Lastly, Black Boy Joy focuses on the Black male and the struggle of the social construct of masculinity. Particularly, black boy joy characterizes the notion of black men displaying their joy while in a time of struggle.
Are you on social media?
Yes! I have my personal instagram @cnhairston and art instagram @c.n.hairston and I have a website www.cnhairston.com