1 minute read
DARRELL WILSON
Story by MELODY CUENCA | Photo by WILL CROOKS
With 25 years of art education experience, Mauldin Middle School art teacher Darrell Wilson shares his creativity to help others.
“Acquiring and sharing my knowledge as an artist will always be my passion as I continue on this journey to polish my craft,” he says.
Wilson creates mixed media art using materials such as acrylics, cardboard, hot glue, and torn paper to create texture and depth. “Emphasis is put on the image using hot glue to create the focal point of my message to capture the audience’s attention,” he says.
Realistic and positive ways of living are shown through themes of childhood, work, and leisure time in Wilson’s art. “The message my artwork sends is one of being proud of being an African-American in today’s society,” Wilson says.
Art links events in black history to the future while recognizing African-American accomplishments, Wilson says.
Black History Month elicits grateful feelings in Wilson for all the history being made in the arts, civil rights, engineering, medicine, and women's rights. As an educator, Wilson feels black history deserves equal inclusion in American history books.
“Without black history, there would be no history,” he says.
Education in black history is more important now than ever in Wilson’s eyes. “Many of the youth today feel that they are entitled to everything without working for it, but they are sadly mistaken,” he says. “Many of them do not really know the struggle and what it took for us as blacks to be an integral part of the American society.”
Wilson says downtown needs more diversity among its artists. “Greenville has so much to offer and the art scene truly has a place here, but there is not enough diversity shown in the art venues and businesses throughout the city,” he says.
Wilson’s work can be seen on Instagram @dwilsonartflow.
