Soul Talk features the voices and perspectives of Black artists, scholars, and community leaders on the complexity and necessity of Black art in contemporary society.
Dr. Terron Banner, the panel moderator, received his Ph.D in Arts Administration, Education, and Policy from The Ohio State University. As an artist, he advocates for open access, just resource allocation, and culturally relevant decisions made in the arts administration and arts management process. As an educator, he supports culturally responsive teaching that accounts for the lived experiences of students and as a researcher he seeks to encourage more education reform discussions that are grounded in issues covering cultural diversity and socioeconomics.
Dr. Tiffany Bourgeois is an Assistant Professor of Arts Management Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy at Ohio State. Bourgeois earned both her PhD in Arts Administration, Education and Policy and master’s degree in Arts Policy and Administration at Ohio State. She most recently served as Audience Development Director of the Ensemble Theatre in Houston, Texas, and as Adjunct Professor for the University of Houston-Downtown. Her scholarly work examines the relationship between sports mega-events, cultural organizations, cultural outcomes and changes in perception. Bourgeois’ most recent publication can be found in Place Branding and Public Diplomacy.
Arris Cohen has fostered an affinity for the Arts since early childhood. Upon graduating from the Cleveland School of the Arts in 2003, he attended The Ohio State University, where he would major in African-American/African Studies with a focus on the Diaspora. He began to re-focus on his passion for Art, but this time professionally, once the pandemic of 2020 caused for him to be laid off from the workforce at the beginning of 2021.
Mario Hairston has over a decade of experience in fashion and retail. His role as creative director allows him to utilize all the tools he has developed throughout his various roles in the industry. He oversees and develops all creative aspects of the business such as photo, video, graphic design, social media, email blasts, and merchandising. In addition to his work in the fashion industry, he’s been a freelance event production specialist for eight years, being contracted by companies like Nike and The Ohio State University.
Marshall Shorts is a creative director and designer in Columbus, Ohio by way of Cleveland. He’s the founder of Artfluential, formerly Soul Theory Creative, a design consultancy that brings culturally informed creative direction, strategy, and design to the small businesses, agencies, and creatives. He’s also the co-founder of Creative Control Fest, an annual conference and platform that centers creatives of color and advocates for diversity within the creative class.
Christopher Sunami, the “Pop Culture Philosopher,” lives in Columbus, Ohio. A pioneer of the internet, he works professionally as a programmer. He is the author of “Three Ways of Being Human”, “Hero For Christ” (a progressive Christian devotional) and the critically acclaimed picture book “How the Fisherman Tricked the Genie.” For the last ten years he has worked with the innovative arts outreach ministries of the groundbreaking Christian social services organization, Community Development For All People, bringing free vocal and instrumental lessons to a diverse group of inner city youth and adults. Since 2012 he has been the director of the Columbus Invitational Arts Competition, which recognizes organizations that combine artistic excellence with exceptional community commitment.
Iyana Hill, creator of Irrepressible Soul, is a Studio Arts major at Ohio State, with a Photography emphasis, in addition to majoring in African American and African Studies and minoring in Arts Entrepreneurship. Through her work, she explores Black culture and celebrates Black culture as an act of liberation with the hopes of creating conversations around Blackness and showing the beauty and brilliance of Black people.
Sierra Hamilton is an Art major at Ohio State with minors in Arts Entrepreneurship and Design Thinking. Her work focuses on the impact of societal pressures, personal trauma, and self-exploration as she navigates the world as a Black female artist. While experimenting with collage, mixed media, and found objects, her art investigates the relationship between her mind and body, seeking ways to heal through creation.
Irrepressible Soul is a collaborative project, introspective exhibition, and community-engaged event with critical and reflexive programming centered around recognizing and celebrating the complex and intersectional Black experience and identity. Through arts immersion and culturally responsive exhibitions, Irrepressible Soul hopes to help create a better understanding surrounding “Blackness” through art and creative dialogue.
