On Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the Davies Center Ojibwe Ballroom, the Multicultural Student Services(MSS) put on the sixth annual Black Essence event. This year, Black Essence featured music from the Harlem Renaissance to Beyonce’s 2022 Renaissance album, along with local black-owned businesses and students from the Eau Claire community.

Laken Jones, Black Essence organizer and Living Learning Community Coordinator for MSS, said the idea for a renaissance theme came from a student intern who wanted to celebrate fashion, music and black culture. 

Jones said the MSS office on campus is a place to help with “anything for anybody.” The office typically plans and holds events for heritage months to celebrate the cultures on and around campus.

“I think it’s important, especially on this campus, because I think sometimes it gets lost that Black History is everybody’s history,” Jones said.

According to Jones, the Black Essence organizers started inviting local black-owned businesses to the event three years ago.

“We have students who make art, or have goods of their own, come in and also sell, “Jones said. “So (MSS) was really just making sure that we’re highlighting our community, both here on campus and outside of campus.”  

“It really allows people who wouldn’t interact with them on a regular basis an easier introduction.” Jones said. 

One of the students that was featured in this event was fourth-year psychology major, Apollo Payno. Payno showcased his personal and coursework art as he is an art minor. 

According to Payno, he has been doing art his entire life. He advanced his art career after moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic. Payno lived in a small town on the southern end of the island called Padre las Casas where he lived for most of his childhood. At the age of nine Payno moved to Fort Atkinson, Wis.

In fourth grade, he took his first art class. His skill started expanding in high school when he started focusing on 2D art. Now, in college, Payno said he is focused on creating and expanding his portfolio to eventually sell his pieces.

Payno said he specializes in digital art, acrylic and oil painting. In his free time, he likes to make jewelry for friends and for himself.

“To me, Black Essence is just a really good time to showcase a bunch of other people of color or black people’s successes,” Payno said. “I am proud to be part of that process and just be out here.”

Payno said he is thinking about selling his artwork and using event opportunities to see what type of art people gravitate to. For those interested, Payno gives updates on his art account on Instagram at Payaapoll.

Black History month is not over yet. There is still an opportunity to go to events put on by the MSS office. On Thursday, Feb. 19, a Blugold Dialogue: Where do we go from here event is being held in Centennial Hall 1920 from 5-7 p.m. The Black Student Union is also putting on an African Dinner on Saturday Mar. 7, from 6-8 p.m. with a special surprise speaker.

Hattie Goethals can be reached at [email protected]