The Baum Gallery of Fine Art is featuring the Say Something: Art As Protest exhibit Jan. 21-Feb. 19.

“The show is a chance for people in different media…to show how they use their work to talk about enacting or recognizing social inequality,” said Brian Young, Baum Gallery director.

“Not just recognizing it, but in some cases, trying to take a side. It’s always kind of been a role in art, but I think we’re seeing it more recently.”

The exhibit features work in “fiber, graphic design, painting, sculpture, installation work, drawing and photography,” said Young.

The pieces on display “deal with homelessness, sexual abuse, school shootings, gender identity, immigration, white nationalism” and more, said Young.

Despite being titled “Art As Protest”, the exhibition is “a quiet, introspective show,” said Young. “A lot of times in our social discourse, we’re doing a lot of shouting, whether it’s on social media or whether it’s in person or at rallies.”

According to Baum Gallery’s website, “the title of the show comes from a quote by civil rights activist and former Senator John Lewis, who said ‘When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.’”

Some photographs on display are from the Sticks and Stones collection by Donna Pinkley, Professor of Art in Photography at UCA.

Her work features photographs of interracial and same-sex couples.

Her inspiration comes from a time she “photographed a married interracial couple many years ago in New Mexico, and they told me of the racial slurs that they had experienced, and I never forgot it,” said Pinkley.

Pinkley has been working on her collection since 2014, and it currently has 50 installations.

Pinkley’s best advice for a young artist is to “be true to yourself and never be afraid to express yourself.”

In one room the installations are monochromatic showing that the exhibit “has a couple of hard-hitting themes,” said Young. “But mostly, it’s about just people’s identity and that can be really introspective. And if you’re empathetic or sympathetic, it can hit you a little bit.”

One of the most prominent pieces on display is a dress worn by singer Lizzo at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.

“I think this is the kind of thing that students might walk in and say ‘I didn’t know they could get that here,’” said Young. “My colleague, Sue Bennett, contacted a UCA alum named Mark Monroe, and he’s Lizzo’s stylist. He arranged it.”

“I wanted the show to be something to show younger artists that just about any medium could be a medium they use,” said Young. “So it can be hair, fabric, drawing, photographs, screen printing; and this is just in the gallery with no color.”

Baum Gallery is located in McCastlain Hall. The Say Something: Art As Protest exhibit is open from 10 a.m to 5 p.m Monday-Friday.

The exhibit is also available online, through Baum Gallery’s page on UCA’s website.