The Commonwealth Times; January 18, 2023

We’re back

OPINIONS

VARSHA VASUDEVAN Staff Writer SELNA SHI News Editor

VCU sent February open house invitations to fall 2023 applicants on Dec. 27, 2022 addressing recipients as “accepted students,” but admission decisions had not been made for everyone, VCU spokesperson Michael Porter stated.

See “acceptance” on page 4

Tim Doyle was once a coach on the sidelines assisting the head coach — now Doyle is at the helm as the new head coach of the black and gold, according to VCU Athletics.

See WVB on page 6

SPECTRUM

Contributing Writer

Negative space: the empty space in art surrounding the subject of a composition. A piece may utilize negative space to define forms, communicate certain concepts or to emphasize focal points, according to a press release from Reynolds Gallery

See Reynolds on page 9

Opinions Editor

Imagine you’re given an opportunity to completely separate your work identity from your personal one, resulting in two distinct consciousnesses in one body. The Apple TV show “Severance” explores this possibility and the consequences therein.

See Severance on page 10

ARRICK WILSON Sports Editor

EMILY RICHARDSON

KOFI MFRAMA

Campus starts anew. Photo by Arrick Wilson

Stories of the week

Months of delays come to an end, Ram City Market opens on campus

KATIE FARTHING Contributing Writer SELNA SHI News Editor

“They opened on a Thursday, and I passed [the store] and was like ‘oh, they’re open, they didn’t tell me,’” said Valentina Silva, a Ram City Market employee. “Later that night I got a call and they were like ‘are you available tomorrow?’”

Silva, a sophomore communication arts student, said the delay affected their employment because the management was unsure when they would be opening and when employees could start.

There are currently 30 employees at the store, according to an email statement by Anna Obermiller, communications specialist for VCU Business Services.

Ram City Market, located at 912 W. Grace St., opened on Dec. 5, 2022, after over a year of announcements, with a grand opening set for Jan. 25, according to an

There were multiple posts on VCU Dining Services’ Twitter that promised the opening over the course of the following year.

Instagram post by VCU Dining Services.

VCU first announced that Ram City Market would replace the previous Walmart on Campus grocery store in August 2021.

The university expected a late fall 2021 or early spring 2022 opening, according to VCU News.

Other students heard little information about the market in general.

“I didn’t even know there was going to be a Ram City Market until it opened,” Samuel Sarzaba said, a freshman computer science student.

Riley Strickler, a freshman pre-medicine track student, wasn’t frustrated with the delay — he didn’t know about the market.

“I didn’t really know it was going to be here,” Strickler said.

The market includes gluten free and vegan options as well as other allergen-friendly choices. The market is a closer option for fresh groceries for students, according to a previous report by The Commonwealth Times.

Aug. 26, 2021.

VCU News announced the market’s arrival

Oct. 30, 2022

VCUDine posted that Ram City Market would be opening on Nov. 2.

The store also contains cleaning and seasonal products, like holiday decorations. There are feminine hygiene products, fresh produce, canned foods and a coffee and tea station.

[meal] swipes,” Yager said. “Last semester I was able to get down to like 40, but I wasn’t able to use all of them. But this was definitely helpful.”

Sean Santos, a freshman information systems student, is hoping to use Ram City Market to buy fresh produce.

“I would definitely use my swipes more here rather than going out to other places,” Santos said.

The grocery store is a welcome shopping option compared to other places, like the P.O.D. Market, that the university offers for students like VCU junior Janya Dyson.

“Sometimes if I need quick stuff, like cereal, milk, it’s nice to have other stuff that’s not sold at P.O.D.,” Dyson said.

Trinity Yager, a freshman pre-nursing student and an employee at the store, said Ram City Market is a great place to buy groceries and use meal swipes.

“It’ll be very helpful, because I have 250

Nov. 1, 2022

VCUDine posted an update stating the market would open on Nov. 3 and that further detail regarding a grand opening would be posted on Nov. 9.

Nov. 2 2022

VCUDine posted another update stating the market would open on Nov. 7 instead.

The Commonwealth Times reached out to VCU PR through email and called its 24-hour hotline six times for a comment. VCU PR did not issue an official statement in time for this article’s publication, but it plans to release a statement Wednesday morning, Jan. 17 at the earliest, according to an email response.

Nov. 7, 2022 Dec. 5, 2022

VCUDine posted a third update on thanking students for their patience and asking them to “please stay tuned for the Ram City Market opening date.”

VCUDine posted that the market was open alongside pictures of students inside.

national: The national Republican party calls for Rep. George Santos, R-Queens, to resign after growing concerns about the legitimacy of his resume.

international: Peru extends a state of emergency in Lima as protests continue after National Police arrested former President Pédro Castillo due to an attempt to suspend Congress over impeachment.

Students wait in the Ram City Market checkout line. Photo by Andrew Kerley

I didn’t even know there was going to be a Ram City Market until it opened.”

Samuel Sarzaba freshman computer science student

VCU ranked in top 50 public research universities, receives $405.6 in grants

ANNA CHEN Copy Editor

“VCU research is unstoppable,” stated A.J. Hostetler, director of communications for the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation.

The National Science Foundation’s Higher Education Research nationally ranked VCU as No. 50 for fiscal research expenditures in December 2022, after VCU received $405.6 million in research grants, breaking the university’s institutional record.

The university was ranked No. 58 in 2021.

Various departments within VCU Health received the grant to aid in research, missions, clinical trials and other purposes.

This comes after the university received a total of $405.6 million for sponsored research funding for the fiscal year 2022. It is a 10% increase since the previous year and a 49% overall increase from five years ago, according to a VCU News article.

“It underscores that VCU is truly a public research institution, focusing on research that leads to new discoveries and addressing issues of inequities and disparities, while tackling our society’s greatest challenges,” Hostetler stated.

human experience as well as other global initiatives that seek to better humankind, according to Hostetler.

“Our researchers are among the best at breaking down barriers leading to knowledge creation, transformative innovation and bringing opportunities for the region and our community, including our students and the patients we serve,” Hostetler stated.

Of the $405.6 million, Stand Up To Cancer gave a $3 million grant to the VCU Massey Cancer Center for their research in health equity and the fight for racial inequality in lung cancer.

trends that we see here and every year we see it has been growing,” Rao said. “I think it’s truly a reflection of the amazing work that our people are doing.”

Dr. Robert Winn, director of the Massey Cancer Center, said he’s excited about the money that the VCU Health systems were able to bring in.

“It’s a recognition, not of how much we’ve been given, but how much we’ve actually earned with our research efforts through our individual investigators through things that Massey has been doing through team science,” Winn said.

Winn said the money also allows the university to be in highly rated programs nationwide.

“It finally puts us in a place where we are competitive with other elite academic institutions,” Winn said.

Lung cancer is among one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and Black men are typically No. 1 in that category, according to Winn.

“The question is, how do we get to African American men and screen them earlier?” Winn said.

“We believe that if we have some clues around reducing death rates for African Americans, we can also reduce rates for everybody else,” Winn said.

Looking ahead, Winn said the next steps for the cancer center would be turning their program into a Specialized Program of Research Excellence, which consists of various research programs targeting cancer prevention and more through clinical settings, by 2024.

In addition to this, the center also wants to add four more additional cancer team science grants.

“I think there’s a lot to be proud of here at VCU at this very moment in history,” Winn said.

All of the numerous areas of the university’s research seek to better the

Srirama Rao, vice president for research and innovation, said the university expands and the ranking improves every year due to the collective effort of the teams, Rao said.

“If you were to truly ask me, I would say numbers don’t mean squat. It is more of the

Researchers on the team have developed a multi-modal navigation strategy that works to screen patients for lung cancer and provide them with education and support related to lung cancer. The team will use these samples to research the developments of new biomarkers for lung cancer, particularly in Black men, according to Winn.

How Black Mothers Say I Love You HowBlack Mothers Say I Love You

It finally puts us in a place where we are competitive with other elite academic institutions.”

Dr. Robert Winn, director of the Massey Cancer Center

VCU Health receives $405.6 million in research grants. Photo by Kaitlyn Fulmore

VCU mistakenly refers to prospective students as accepted in email

VARSHA VASUDEVAN Staff Writer SELNA SHI News Editor

VCU sent February open house invitations to fall 2023 applicants on Dec. 27, 2022 addressing recipients as “accepted students,” but admission decisions had not been made for everyone, VCU spokesperson Michael Porter stated.

“We issued an apology and clarification on the same day and sincerely regret the mistake,” Porter stated in an email.

Patricia Merriman’s son received the email from VCU, his first choice for college, a few days after his birthday, according to WRIC.

Merriman said she believed VCU sent the emails mistakenly, but they needed to be “honored” regardless, according to the WRIC article.

The Commonwealth Times interviewed currently enrolled VCU freshmen about their experience getting accepted into the university.

VCU’s regular decision deadline is Jan. 17 and applicants will receive a decision by April 1, according to the VCU admissions website.

“ Otherwise, decisions are sent on a rolling basis until enrollment capacity is met,” the website states.

VCU freshman Mercer Freeman, who has not currently declared his major, said he applied under regular decision and received an acceptance around March or February.

Freeman said setting up his student

portal was not difficult, but was “definitely a little bit confusing” for some, as his roommate struggled navigating it.

Freshman art student Aryana Satti, said she applied to VCU to have an additional option and was uncertain about attending.

We issued an apology and clarification on the same day and sincerely regret the mistake”

Michael Porter VCU spokesperson

“I mean, I applied, and I got in,” Satti said. “I didn’t really think about it too much. It wasn’t too stressful for me.”

Satti said she applied around January 2022, and most likely heard back in March. Setting up her student portal and finding her roommate was “pretty easy,” according to Satti.

Freshman interior design student Larrieaux Kingston said VCU was the only college she applied to, applying early admission.

“I found out I got in like, before Christmas [2021],” Kingston said. “I got in and did all my stuff, and that was basically it. There wasn’t much to it.”

VCU will contact applicants that received the email and have completed application packets as of Dec. 27, 2022 by Jan. 23, according to Porter.

Office of Admission displays ‘VCU, I’m Ready!’ sign. Photo by Andrew Hill

Five men’s tennis games to watch this season

THAILON WILSON Staff Writer

A NEW YEAR AND A NEW SEMESTER START — with it, a new VCU men’s tennis season to look forward to.

The Rams still have four games against the University of Richmond, Temple University, James Madison University and Morgan State University to look forward to before the start of the International Tennis Association, or ITA, season on Jan. 30.

There are matchups against college teams from all across the country to look forward to. Here are the top five matchups for VCU fans to look forward to for this 2023 spring men’s tennis season.

Lynchburg, Virginia to face off against the Clemson Tigers.

The Tigers are a part of the Atlantic Coast Conference and finished No. 57 on the ITA rankings, according to Clemson’s website.

This game will be a good opportunity for the Rams to face some competition from a fellow top 60 ITA opponent. It will be a nice home-opener to start off the ITA season.

The black and gold’s first home game opposes another Power Five adversary

The Rams will be hosting their first home game of the season against Michigan State University from the Power Five conference.

2022 top 60 ITA teams match for the first Power Five

Clemson University is part of a Power Five conference, a university that participates in the top five conferences in the country. Shortly after the ITA Kickoff Weekend, the black and gold will head to

VCU has only faced the Michigan State Spartans once before in 2013, where the Rams defeated the Spartans 5-0, according to VCU Athletics. This first home game for the black and gold will see if the Rams can change that win streak from one to two.

Stat of the week

VCU track runners junior Lauryn Taylor and graduate student Symone Foster claimed new school-record times at the Virginia Tech Invitational, according to VCU Athletics.

Will VCU prevent Virginia Tech from taking back their winning streak?

This game will take place in Blacksburg, Virginia, which symbolizes a rivalry between the two Virginia colleges. The last time these two teams met was in 2021, where the Rams beat the Hokies, 4-2. This win broke the Hokies seven-game winning streak against VCU, according to VCU Athletics.

Will VCU close out their season with a win away against the College of William and Mary?

VCU will go to Williamsburg, Virginia to finish off their season against the College of William and Mary at their home turf. This game will finish off the Ram’s season and be their final game before the Atlantic 10 postseason championship tournament. These five matchups are definitely some of the key matches to look out for during this spring season at VCU.

The Roadrunners are seeking revenge

VCU will go to the Longhorn state to face off against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners, who the Rams hosted last year in Richmond. The Rams ended up beating the Roadrun ners 4-1, according to VCU Athletics.

This matchup will see if the Univer sity of Texas at San Antonio can get its revenge at home.

ARRICK WILSON Sports Editor

IN THIS WEEK’S PICK, WE ARE going to the NBA. The game to watch is the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles at the Crypto.com Arena on Friday, Jan. 20.

Two players who highlight this matchup are Grizzlies guard Ja Morant and Lakers forward LeBron James.

My pick is the Grizzlies for this matchup. Morant will be too much for the Lakers, scoring and creating points for the Grizzlies. Along with Morant leading the team to a win, center Steven Adams and guard Desmond Bane will help the Grizzlies gain the win.

Morant is currently averaging 27.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 7.9 assists; James is averaging 29.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists, according to ESPN.

James is on pace to break the NBA all-time points record set by

This will be the first time of the season that these two teams will go against each other. With the Grizzlies sitting atop the Western Conference and the Lakers sitting low, this may be a lopsided matchup.

The Lakers have a chance to win, but their efforts won’t be enough to stop the Grizzlies. The only way I see the Lakers winning is if James scores a 30-piece nugget or above — a 30-point game, not to be confused with chicken nuggets at your local fast-food joint.

The Lakers are not good, and they have slim chances of going to the playoffs. Their saving grace is a 38-year-old veteran in James. While James is arguably the greatest of all time, trust me, the Lakers will not win this game.

From someone who is a huge fan of James, it pains me to say that the Lakers will not come out with the win.

NBA Hall of Famer, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to the NBA.

Junior Matisse Bobichon returns a serve at the men’s tennis practice.

Photo by Alessandro Latour

Former volleyball assistant returns to VCU as head coach

ARRICK WILSON Sports Editor

IM DOYLE WAS ONCE A COACH on the sidelines assisting the head coach — now Doyle is at the helm as the new head coach of the black and gold, according to VCU Athletics.

During his tenure, Doyle helped transform the Rams into a premier team in the Atlantic 10. The team collected tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Tournament, according to VCU Athletics. Doyle said returning to Richmond from his previous coaching stint has been a great feeling.

“It’s the freakin’ best man, it’s a surreal moment for me,” Doyle said. “Having spent four years here and having the success that we did — it’s about really giving back to VCU.”

Doyle served as a VCU assistant coach from 2014-18, then accepted the head coaching job at the College of William and Mary. Doyle helped the Tribe record the most Colonial Athletic Association victories and advance to the league semifinals for the first time since 2009, according to VCU Athletics.

William and Mary announced in 2020 the discontinuation of seven varsity sports due to financial concerns, including the women’s volleyball team, according to its website. Even though William and Mary reinstated the programs months later, Doyle said he was thankful for the situation and it helped him grow.

“Although it was extremely tough, I’m also grateful, because it prepared me for the complete unknown and the volatilities and times of the college sports landscape,” Doyle said. “I’m prepared for anything, and no matter what gets thrown at me, I’m pretty good at adapting and adjusting.”

The black and gold have not won a conference championship since 2017, according to VCU Athletics. Doyle said he is excited

and eager to bring success back to Stuart C. Siegel Center at VCU.

“I bring an awareness of how to build a really healthy, positive team culture that I’m really just pumped to do it here at VCU, and get us back to not just winning on the court, but having a true sisterhood,” Doyle said.

Former VCU head coach Jody Rogers stepped down before the beginning of last season. Rogers coached the black and gold for nine seasons and recorded 180 wins in her tenure, becoming the highest-winningest coach in program history, according to VCU Athletics.

have a new coach and eventually compete for a championship next season.

“I’m really excited for a new person to come in and see what he does,” Knight said. “We want to win a conference championship at the end of this.”

Loftis said having a detailed coach who enjoys the game of volleyball as much as she does is very important to her, and Doyle has those traits.

“He is very methodical, very detailed, and you can tell that he just loves to coach. So I’m excited to play for someone who loves the game just as much as I do,” Loftis said.

Doyle is looking forward to fans of VCU becoming inspired by the volleyball team and representing the city they play for, he said.

“I’m excited for people to walk in and just sense that the players are there to inspire them,” Doyle said. “That’s what gives

MEN’S BASKETBALLAT LOYOLA CHICAGO WON 78-64

WOMEN’S BASKETBALLAT RICHMOND WON 54-51

MEN’S BASKETBALLAT DAYTON WON 63-62

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - VS. GEORGE MASON WON 55-45

MEN’S BASKETBALLVS. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST WON 83-55

VCU assistant coach Kevin Maureen Campbell was named interim head coach upon Rogers’ departure. VCU redshirt

sophomore middle Kylie Loftis said the experience improved the team personnel.

“It was initially a culture change,” Loftis said. “I think chemistry-wise and culture-wise, we formed a better VCU volleyball team.”

VCU redshirt sophomore middle blocker Jasmine Knight said she is enthusiastic to

I bring an awareness of how to build a really healthy, positive team culture that I’m really just pumped to do it here at VCU, and get us back to not just winning on the court, but having a true sisterhood.”

Tim Doyle, head coach

Infographic by Madison Tran Information compiled by Arrick Wilson Sources: VCU Athletics, College of WIlliam and Mary Athletics

VCU head coach Tim Doyle during his days as the College of William and Mary head coach. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics

Tim Doyle coaches on the sidelines during his days as the head coach of the College of William and Mary. Photo courtesy of VCU Athletics

On this day

The German Empire was founded on Jan. 18, 1871.

My jewelry is more than OK’: Affordability, quality are priorities for VCU business owner

ing a variety of jewelry pieces allows customers to see diversity which leads them to make a purchase, she said.

“I think people really like to have unique things,” Kendrick said. “The more options I have, the more likely someone is to buy something.”

OKNecklace has been featured at a variety of local markets, such as Carytown City Stadium’s holiday and spring markets, weekly farmers’ markets and the Ashland Strawberry Fair, where she shows and sells her jewelry, Kendrick said.

$6 to $40 determined by materials used, Kendrick said.

“Variation really helps, because if someone sees something that’s too expensive, most of the time there’s going to be another piece that’s similar and that’s less expensive,” Kendrick said.

Kelly Adams, owner of Stuff RVA, a store in Scott’s Addition featuring exclusively local artists, has carried OKNecklace for two years, she said. Kendrick heard about Stuff RVA from another local artist and reached out to Adams’ to be featured in the store, Adams said.

NATALIE BARR Staff Writer

What began as a way to own jewelry beyond a high schooler’s budget turned into an Etsy business and merchandise in two local Richmond stores.

Lia Kendrick, a sophomore in VCU’s real estate program, started her business OKNecklace in 2017. Kendrick wore a lot of jewelry but could not afford items she wanted, so she took matters into her own hands and learned how to make jewelry for herself, she said.

The main concept for her business is for others to be able to afford her designs and acquire high-quality pieces, Kendrick said.

“The motto is my jewelry is more than okay, and it’s because it’s affordable and high-quality jewelry,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick hopes to expand OKNecklace into more local stores and attend markets in Washington, D.C., in the upcoming year, she said. Kendrick supports small businesses when buying beads and other materials for her jewelry, and she hopes others will also consider supporting small and local businesses before buying from big retail chains, Kendrick said.

“Always check on Etsy before going to places like Amazon, because when you go to small businesses, there’s a face behind the business rather than just some corporate entity selling it,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick started out with crochet jewelry, then later branched out to colorful beaded jewelry. The color blue is a customer favorite and rainbow beads are known to catch people’s eye, she said. Charms and pendants are also used in her designs — Kendrick said she uses charms that correlate with seasons, such as turtles for summer or flowers for spring, along with wire-wrapped rings.

Customers are able to completely customize their orders; Kendrick found creat-

Always check on Etsy before going to places like Amazon, because when you go to small businesses, there’s a face behind the business rather than just some corporate entity selling it.”

Lia Kendrick OKNecklace owner

She brings about 200 pieces, jewel ry making materials and tools, such as her crochet hooks for crochet necklac es, extra beads and charms and wire for necklaces, bracelets and rings, to remake items that sell out, she said. Affordability is important, so her jewelry ranges from

“She [Kendrick] sent over pictures and her business hits a certain demographic of a younger adult that I did not have in my store,” Adams said.

Adams has enjoyed the ability to know every artist featured in her store and be a space in the community for artists to be featured, she said. She has seen the growth OKNecklace has had over its two years, Adams said.

“When you support the store, you’re supporting the artists,” Adams said.

Adams recognized important qualities from Kendrick, which all aspiring artists should have — determination and to not fear rejection, Adams said.

“If you do get turned down, you have to keep doing what you have a passion for,” Adams said.

Alina Skadra, a sophomore at James Madison University, knew Kendrick in high school when she started OKNecklace, Skadra said. Skadra said she loved the customization and quality of Kendrick’s jewelry.

“I bought my first piece, and I think it was a gold chain with a little pendant. I

wore it in the shower all the time and it never tarnished,” Skadra said.

Skadra has attended farmers’ markets with Kendrick and noticed OKNecklace catered more to younger audiences, and was the only jewelry vendor able to make pieces at the market, which sets her apart, Skadra said.

“I feel she is elite in that category of customizing jewelry on the spot and able to do that efficiently,” Skadra said.

Skadra attributed OKNecklace’s success to customization and staying on top of trends, she said. Kendrick strives to connect with her customers — a benefit small businesses offer, Skadra said.

“She has the best customer service, and she’ll cater to you, however you need,” Skadra said.

‘

A wide array of hand-made OKNecklaces’ on display. Photos courtesy of Lia Kendrick

Afrovisualism: Aesthetic theory advances Black creatives, artists’ spaces

Local artists find inspiration and cultural importance in obscure spaces with the help of Afrovisualism.

The term “Afrovisualism” coins the Black Aesthetic Continual Theory, according to founder of Afrovisualism, graphic designer and writer Justin Smith. It is the combining of Black historical frameworks to compare and identify the parallels in these different “aesthetics,” according to Smith.

The idea for the term came about in 2018 with inspiration from “Afrofuturism” and “Black visual culture,” Smith said. When he came up with this term, Smith chose to own his creative perspective, he said.

“This is my definition of what Black visual culture is,” Smith said. “The idea of the continuum — the work that Black artists create is continuous, always changing and evolving.”

Smith goes through a process in his research similar to “crate digging,” a term used for what music producers do when they go to record stores to find samples for their songs, he said.

Smith said much of his inspiration comes from music.

“I really started my deep dive into research because I love music,” Smith said. “I like knowing not just who’s the producer, but who the art director or graphic

designer are.”

CHLOE HAWKINS Spectrum Editor

Many examples of the influence of music videos, and album covers can be found on Smith’s Instagram page — some include Hank Willis Thomas’ “All Power to all People,” Jenn Nkiru’s “Hub Tones” and Arthur Jafa’s “Black Apparel.”

“I read album covers like I read artwork,” Smith said.

Smith said he loves to see that his theories are resonating with people, especially in the Black community. He never expected to impact so many people, and also help others make connections, Smith said.

“All of the artists I’ve spoken with have felt so free, open, seen and heard,” Smith said. “This is what I feel like should be happening more in artists’ spaces.”

Smith has hosted five live talks and discussions in Richmond ranging from locations such as the Institute for Contemporary Art and Blanchard's Coffee, he said. Smith was also a part of the Afrikana Film Festival last year, where he was chosen to virtually discuss his theory of the Black continuum with other artists, he said. He was personally chosen by Afrikana Film Festival organizer Enjoli Moon.

Moon chose Smith to be a part of the festival because he is very “learned” in regards to Afrofuturistic content creation, she said. This content ranges from cinematography and photography to other visual arts, according to Moon.

“I knew that his aesthetic and his approach to Black cinema was something

that was in alignment with Afrikana,” Moon said. “It was a natural collaboration.”

Moon said the work that Smith is doing through these lectures is a reflection of the term Afro visualism by asking what it means to see Blackness in these spaces and truly appreciate it.

“What does it mean to inspect, pull it apart, and find those spaces of continuum?” Moon said. “The way in which one thing has inspired and led to another.”

The impact of these theories is a “broadening of perspective,” Moon said. He’s able to draw accessible lines between the past, present and future in a way that is easy to understand, according to Moon.

“I think the impact is rooted in accessibility, and being able to offer ways to look at Black art in a different perspective,” Moon said.

Smith has had a “beautiful impact” on the Richmond community, according to Local artist and Virginia Commonwealth University alumni Deya Guy-Vasson. He graduated from the sculpting graduate program at VCU in 2019, Guy-vasson said.

Guy-Vasson immersed himself into the Richmond art community afterwards, and now works in Ashland as an arts fabricator, he said. It’s interesting to see the community of people that have flourished in the art scene, but are not inside of the “VCU

bubble,” Guy-Vasson said.

“It’s also interesting to see the artists that VCU has been bringing in from the outside community,” Guy-Vasson said. “It’s been amazing to be witness to these discourses.”

Guy-Vasson attended Smith’s talk on the Black continual theory. It’s refreshing to see “Black art made by Black people,” he said. Smith has also been able to give feedback on Guy-Vasson’s work and has been a “really helpful influence,” Guy-Vasson said.

“It’s nice to see Justin and other artists discussing where they pull ideas from in the diaspora,” Guy-Vasson said. “The way he [Smith] pulls everyone together — It’s beautiful to see and hear. He’s a curator.”

Justin Smith hosts a talk at the ICA. Photo courtesy of Justin Smith

Justin Smith poses for a headshot. Photo courtesy of Justin Smith

Reynolds Gallery group exhibition explores negative space across mediums

EMILY RICHARDSON Contributing Writer

Negative space: the empty space in art surrounding the subject of a composition. A piece may utilize negative space to define forms, communicate certain concepts or to emphasize focal points, according to a press release from Reynolds Gallery.

Reynolds Gallery’s current exhibition, “Deep Parts,” features a number of works employing negative space in a variety of ways, in multiple mediums from print to glass. Gallery Associate CM Turner curated the exhibition, consisting of 25 works.

“It’s an exhibition that serves as a window into the breadth and depth of artists we work with at the Reynolds Gallery,” Turner said. “The works on view offer multiple access points for viewers and collectors to engage with the exhibition.”

The exhibition is dominated by works in black and white and saturated with reds and yellows, creating a unique visual rhythm, Turner said.

“That allows you to get into the works and then have that rhythm punctuated and break you out of the routine a little bit,” Turner said. “It was very much in consideration of not only the works going on the wall, but how a viewer would navigate the exhibition.”

Paloma Wall’s “Urn” is an example of a work that both physically and conceptually addresses the idea of negative space, Turner

said. “Urn,” a stone pot with cremated remains baked into the work, features a hollow center through the base.

“Not only are we talking about the physicality of the work and how that matches, but then what kind of spaces are left in our lives when people depart,” Turner said.

“It has a belly, or it has a collar, or it has a foot,” Wall said. “You talk about a ceramic like it’s a person. To draw a comparison or a parallel between the human figure and a vessel is inherent.”

themselves.”

The background, which becomes the negative space, becomes an object. In that sense, it’s just as much of an element of the work as the lines themselves.”

Laura Snyder, printmaker

Printmaker Laura Snyder’s work in the exhibition is titled “Traveling Drawing, IV (Two Stones).” The work consists of a watercolor pigment called “Maya Blue” on a folded cotton paper.

The imagery used in “Two Stones” draws from Snyder’s study of the Mediterranean Sea while at an artist residency outside of Barcelona. The piece employs many lines to create a moiré effect, which occurs when different parallel lines are overlapped and disrupt the surface of the image, Snyder said.

“In my work I am very aware of the materials, and over the past years I’ve been only using the essential marks in order to create the image that’s coming out of the surface.”

Jack Wax, professor of glass and head of the glass program at VCU arts, has one work in the exhibition titled “(& Ugly),” a black and white cylindrical form of glass reading “beautiful” on one side and “ugly” on the other. Wax said the range of featured artists is one of the key points of the exhibition.

“Through the range of artists, you end up not addressing the same issues but using some of the same language to address different issues,” Wax said.

Reynolds Gallery, located at 1514 W. Main St., will hold an opening reception for the exhibition Friday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m.

Paloma Wall, one of 16 artists featured in the show and a VCU alumna, creates works aiming to explore the human figure while simultaneously examining ancient pottery vessels, according to the press release.

“For me, my sculptures symbolize how you can grow around loss,” Wall said. “In my work, those negative spaces are almost just as important as the form itself.”

Wall said incorporating cremated ash into an urn-like vessel felt natural to her, as some of the language used to describe ceramic works is similar to that used to describe a human body.

The work is part of a series Snyder works on as she travels the world, with the final works holding a physical history of their production through folds in the paper, according to the press release. Her work draws from a long history of minimalism, Snyder said.

“The background, which becomes the negative space, becomes an object,” Snyder said. “In that sense, it’s just as much of an element of the work as the lines

The show runs through March 3.

Art from ‘Deep Space’ exhibition on display at Reynolds Gallery. Photos by Emily Richardson

Quote of the week

“Our job is to taste free air. Your so-called boss may own the clock that taunts you from the wall, but, my friends, the hour is yours.”

— Mark Scout, “Severance” on apple tv

We are just as misinformed as our parents

KOFI MFRAMA Opinions Editor

I CAN HEAR HER VOICE CLEARLY.

“Don’t believe everything you see online, Kofi. There’s a lot of crazy people out there,” my mom said.

Her words ring truer now that I spend most of my days exploring the innards of the internet. Hopping back and forth from Twitter to TikTok, consuming everything with abandon.

Though I listened to my mom — sort of — I always saw the hypocrisy of what she said. She took information shared on WhatsApp and Facebook as bible, but rolled her eyes whenever I recounted stories or factoids I read online.

For a while I generalized her generation as being easily swayed by what they read online. Taking Facebook memes for fact and championing chain mail as the truth.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized my generation has followed in their footsteps. We are now the hypocrites for believing our parents and grandparents are easily misinformed when we are exactly the same.

The anonymity of the internet gives it a sense of trustworthiness. It’s easy to believe

something when it’s written right there in front of you without conflicting facts or opinions. Everyone, regardless of age, has fallen victim to this faux reliability.

We harp on older generations because it’s canon for them to engage with the internet this way. It’s only been a part of

Nigerian princes asking for lump sums of cash, but we assume we have a keen eye for spotting falsehoods. We cringe at the thought of believing anything on the graveyard apps of our forefathers, like Facebook. However, more and more I’ve seen our keen eyes grow blind spots.

Believing misinformation isn’t solely the fault of the user. The increasingly sophisticated nature of algorithms force us into echo chambers with folks who, too, aren’t keen on discrediting the polarizing conspiracies and falsehoods we happen upon. We also tend to only engage with content that aligns with ours.

We are fed so much news from social media that legacy outlets like CNN and The New York Times seem equally as reliable as the unprecedented amount of user-provided content from people with unknown credentials or none at all.

The internet is full of “experts” with no particular expertise, like Beyoncé said in a Harper’s Bazaar interview. Discretion is paramount when it comes to information we get online. Social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram have taken notice and started putting disclaimers on posts that are flagged for misinformation.

their lives for approximately 15 years, so it’s expected that they don’t have the tools to distinguish fact from fiction.

We as Gen Zers, those born between 1997 and 2012, have had the internet our entire lives. We may not fall victim to

Think of the many times one of your friends easily took a typo-ridden infographic as fact or shared a “post this on your story so Instagram doesn’t steal your information” posts on their account.

Though our parents may have begun the spread of misinformation on the internet, the apple does not fall far from the tree.

KOFI MFRAMA Opinions Editor

magine you’re given an opportunity to completely separate your work identity from your personal one, resulting in two distinct consciousnesses in one body. The Apple TV show “Severance” explores this possibility and the consequences therein.

The show follows Mark Scout, played by Adam Scott, who consensually undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work thoughts from his personal thoughts as a part of his employment at Lumon Industries. As events unfold, Scout becomes privy to the large web of lies and conspiracies surrounding his employer.

The procedure Scout and his coworkers underwent separates their consciousness while maintaining their physical form. The intention is to create an unmendable division between work and life — every company’s dream for their employers and every college’s dream for their students.

As college students, we are constantly preached at about the importance of a work-life balance. When I began watching “Severance,” I thought of the convenience of undergoing the

procedure. I thought a complete separation of work and life would maximize my efficiency in both fields.

But as the show progressed and exposed the evil underbelly of Lumon Industries, I realized just how difficult a balanced college life is to achieve. The overarching nature of modern college education forces us to exist in our work consciousness almost all of the time.

We’ve all been there. We’re out enjoying a night out with our friends when we feel our phones vibrate. We take a look and there it is — a Canvas notification. We are instantly ripped away from any fun we’re having and transported back to the anxieties we had when completing the assignment.

It’s not just Canvas notifications that make collegiate academics so consuming, it’s that so much of it bleeds into what should be our personal lives.

The fact that mostly everything is due at midnight leaves assignments and tasks lingering over our heads constantly. There’s always an assignment to be done, a project to work on or an essay to write.

At least in the show, characters are able to switch out of their work consciousness as soon as they leave. They can enjoy their personal lives without the stressors of their jobs looming over them, to an extent, of course. But for us, the work doesn’t end

when class is over, it follows us everywhere.

In the show, the conspiracy surrounding his work and “severed” — the term used for those who underwent the “severance” procedure — state of being begin to unfold, Scout starts to become consumed with his work life in his personal life consciousness. This is the antithesis of what the complete separation of work and life promises.

Having a work consciousness that supersedes a personal one prevents us from spending time understanding what makes us who we are. Our work shouldn’t be our defining characteristic.

When the characters are in their work identity, they ponder who they are outside of it. They wonder if they have families, what their interests are and how they navigate the world around them.

Like Scout, we find ourselves anxious about work and academics in our personal lives. Furthermore, the stressors of college aren’t just academic.

During this time, many students find themselves making large decisions that will alter the rest of their lives. Many students have to take out large loans to put themselves through college and have to mentally prepare themselves for the stress and anxiety of paying off those loans for, potentially, the rest of their lives. Many students are the first in their families to go to college and the pressure to be successful weighs heavy on their shoulders.

We deserve to be more than victims to overreaching academic institutions. We deserve to have the personal lives we were promised. Though the measures Lumon Industries went to ensure this balance for their employees, it implores us to question just how much we let work consume our lives — and just how far these institutions will go to make us wholly and solely theirs.

Illustration by Olivia McCabe

Illustration by Vivian Trinh

Los Angeles

Taylor Johnson

Dev of “The Newsroom”

Reef explorer

Willing partner

Thom __ shoes

Welling up

Enters, as data

Disputes

Loch resident, familiarly

Carry a balance

Winona of “Stranger Things”

Chapter in history

Pear-shaped instrument

Too far 71 Saudi Arabia neighbor

The Grand __ Opry

Serenaded

Blue

Tabula __

“__, vidi, vici”

International gas brand

Disney heroine voiced by Auli’i Cravalho

“Montero” singer Lil __ X

Pro Bowl org. 87 Frilly underskirt 90 Go on 91 Lawn party site 93 Was connected 95 San __ Fault 96 “Is it worth the risk?” 100 Novelist Patchett 102 __ homo 104 Fail to mention 105 Steadfast belief 106 More slick 107 Maritime 108 Yamuna River city 109 Comfortably familiar 110 First month of el año 112 Commerce pact until 2020 113 Figure of speech 117 Meet-__: rom-com device 118 Cash dispensers 120 “__ willikers!” 122 Flying formation 123 Connecticut’s Charter __

Los Angeles Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle

By The Mepham Group

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Nichols Lewis