News

The Community Folk Art Center Presents : The 2024 Coming Back Together Alumni Exhibition “Community & Connection”

A Group exhibition by London Ladd, JoAnn Onofre, Chelsea Reeves, and Cedric T. Bolton

Now on view September 13th – November 30th , 2024

In Celebration we reflect on our shared experiences, this exhibition serves as both a reunion and a testament to the power of art in fostering community and building lasting connections. The Tri-Annual Coming Back Together (CBT) weekend is a celebration of Syracuse University’s Black and Latinx alumni, a moment to recognize the profound impact they have had across diverse fields.

It is a homecoming filled with nostalgia, triumph, and a deep sense of belonging. This exhibition, Community & Connection, reflects the very essence of this spirit—how the bonds we create extend far beyond the physical spaces we occupy, into the realms of memory, identity, and shared purpose.

The works showcased represent a collective narrative. Each piece speaks to the artist’s personal journey while contributing to a larger conversation about community, culture, and resilience. Whether through painting, sculpture, photography, or mixed media, these alumni artists have embraced the power of creativity to explore the multifaceted dimensions of connection—connection to self, to heritage, to place, and to each other.

At the heart of this exhibition lies the belief that art is a vessel for transformation. It has the unique ability to bridge divides, spark dialogue, and cultivate understanding. As you navigate the gallery, I invite you to engage with the stories these works tell, to see yourself within them, and to reflect on the ways in which art serves as a tool for both personal and communal growth.

This exhibition is also a celebration of the Community Folk Art Center’s mission to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of African Diaspora and other underrepresented communities. The artists featured in Community & Connection exemplify this mission, as their work not only reflects the diverse experiences of Black and Latinx communities but also underscores the significance of cultural expression in shaping a more inclusive world.

To our alumni artists, thank you for sharing your talents and your vision with us. Your contributions remind us of the enduring power of community, and of the connections that continue to enrich our lives long after we’ve left this campus.

To our visitors, I hope this exhibition inspires you to reflect on your own connections—those that define who you are, those that ground you in your heritage, and those that guide you toward a more just and compassionate future.

Meet The Artists

London Ladd ’06, G’22

London Ladd is a critically acclaimed illustrator showcasing work in prestigious publications such as HarperCollins, Philomel Books, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Scientific American. His distinctive mixed-media technique combines acrylic paint, cut paper, and tissue paper to bring a variety of subjects to life. Each image is emotion-filled, reflecting the artist’s devotion to representing life. Ladd creates picture books and editorial illustrations for print media and community-based murals. He is an Assistant Professor at Syracuse University, where he earned his BFA and MFA degrees. Ladd was honored with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the State University of New York and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. He was also shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards and received recognition from several organizations, including the Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the American Library Association.

JoAnn Onofre ’04

JoAnn Onofre is an Afro-Indigenous Honduran American documentary photographer, born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn and currently residing in the Bronx, NY. Through her lens, JoAnn is committed to highlighting Black and Brown communities across the globe. From her early days of filming at legendary music venues throughout NYC to documenting everyday life in the rural Garifuna pueblos of Honduras and to her most recent travels crossing the pond capturing British Afro-Caribbean life in London, UK. JoAnn is dedicated to documenting the true essence and spirit of her subjects. After photographing mainly in digital format for over 10 years, JoAnn recently fell in love with the film photography process; it has now become her favorite medium to shoot portraiture. Her current photo series (working title) “Nuestra Hijas” translated in English “Our Daughters”,redefines traditional father and daughter relationships, while connecting with her audience. JoAnn is a Syracuse University Alum (Class of 04’) with a major in Communication Rhetorical Studies and a double minor in Anthropology and African American Studies. She has been a media professional for 20 years & has worked with MTV, BET, HBO, Travel Channel, and Complex Networks, just to name a few. JoAnn recently expanded her photography training at the Bronx Documentary Center, a non-profit gallery and educational space for aspiring and professional photographers in the Bronx, NY. When JoAnn isn’t licensing your favorite songs, photos, or TV series, she’s traveling to Europe, visiting local museums, and trying new cuisines.

Cedric T. Bolton G’18

Multi-genre artist, Cedric T. Bolton (a.k.a. Blackman Preach), is an award-winning spoken word poet, music producer, recording artist, entrepreneur, scholar, and content influencer. Cedric received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Washington University and a Master’ in Cultural Foundations at Syracuse University. He is the architect of Poetic Black Fusion,

a poetry organization that provides access and opportunities to poets of African Ancestry; co-founder of Voices Merging, a student-led spoken word poetry organization at the University of Minnesota that provides a social outlet for undergraduate writers—to develop, network and express themselves on stage; co-developer of Verbal Blend, a multi-ethnic spoken word poetry program for student writers at Syracuse University; and co-founder of Nu Rho Poetic Society. Cedric is an adjunct instructor with the Renée Crown University Honors Program at Syracuse University. He has recorded three spoken-word poetry albums with music; The State of the Ghetto Address, Bumpy Tymes, and 12 Years Gone.

He published a chapbook entitled The State of the Ghetto Address. He has mentored students, staff, faculty, and community writers to be confident in their voice and writing for twenty-five years. His writer’s workshops are the embodiment of community, family, and the continuing presence of “One Mic, One Voice.”

Chelsea Reeves ’24

Chelsea Reeves, a Newark, New Jersey native, is currently pursuing a degree in Public Relations, on the Sports Media & Communications Track at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Passionate about photography, Chelsea is employed with Syracuse Athletics as a sports photographer, and also does freelance work. Every year Chelsea holds a solo exhibition to showcase her photography work. Through the exhibitions, she aims to merge different campus communities and cultivate a safe environment for creative expression. Chelsea is determined to intertwine her passion for photography and her degree to champion rights and foster equitable opportunities for women athletes of color. She is open to collaborating and networking within the realms of sports, media, and civic engagement.