March 16, 2023 – Fredericton, NB
Most evenings Jola Adeniji can be found in his apartment. After a long day of working as a personal banker, the NBCCD Foundation Visual Arts alumnus lets his artistic side out after hours, often to the tune of African and African Indigenous music.
For the past couple months, he’s been building pieces for his new collection, Diary of a Mad Black Woman, which will debut at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre this weekend.
The work of Jola Adeniji, whose professional work is under the name Macanjy Arts Organization, said he uses art to speak on societal issues, and for this exhibit in particular to encourage and empower Black women.
“Art, for me, is communal; there is movement.”
His work has been up since February 2, when it debuted during Fredericton’s Gallery Hop. From February 2 to March 16, his Black Woman series was displayed. His new work that he’s been working on while he’s artist-in-residence at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre will be displayed in a new exhibit on Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18.
Adeniji said the inspiration to focus on Black women for this exhibit came from being inspired by the Black women around him. He said as a Black man from Nigeria he’s had to work hard admist culture shocks and being an international student.
“Coming here, I saw Black woman doing things, really big things: heading organizations, owning businesses, and being a boss lady. It’s striking to see that. It’s not that easy to do.”
The pieces in this weekend’s exhibit has a special focus on charcoal drawings. All of Adeniji’s works that have already been on display since February will be displayed, including acrylic paintings and photography, plus his new pieces.
Adeniji graduated from the Foundation Visual Arts certificate program at NBCCD in 2022. He said NBCCD taught his the valuable skill of structure and introduced him to many people within Fredericton’s arts community. He said he didn’t only grow as an artist, but learned how to promote himself.
“[NBCCD taught me] how you can present your work and how to showcase yourself in a distinct way…Presentation is key in today’s market.”
“NBCCD was very instrumental to my growth.”
Jola Adeniji said he wants to focus on storytelling as his next step in his creative journey and aims to be a full-time artist.
“I’m pushing myself, making waves, and doing the best I can in my craft.”
ABOUT THE NEW BRUNSWICK COLLEGE OF CRAFT AND DESIGN
Located in the heart of downtown Fredericton, the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD) empowers its students to achieve sustainable, creative careers in fine craft and design.
We offer eight diploma programs, each focused on a specific field of fine craft and design; and two certificate programs—one program will expose you the foundational principles of visual art and design, the other is focused on creative entrepreneurship.
Whether your creative goal is to start your own arts studio practice, get a job as a creative professional, or return to the classroom one day as an arts instructor in one of our programs, we give you the tools and opportunities to get there!
Start your journey to your arts career with our Foundation Visual Arts program in Fredericton, New Brunswick; Saint John, New Brunswick; or online.
