"Georgia on Our Mind" by the US Collective

Put on the earphones at Drek Davis' untitled, interactive piece in the collaborative ''Georgia on Our Mind'' show. The familiar swelling of Ray Charles' voice as it fervently belts out the similarly titled song is a jarring contrast to the art on the wall: a scruffy blackboard listing ''Today's Fun Facts,'' which present woeful statistics concerning Georgia's dropout rate and poverty levels...''we are about much more than multi-cultural issues,'' explains Davis, who has been a part of the group since its inception about three years ago. ''We're definitely about art.'

--Mary Jessica Hammes, OnlinAethens; January 3, 2001

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...Davis dwells squarely in the world of human rights and responsibilities. Davis succeeds as few young artists can in creating solid work from collage elements and found objects. His feel for the interplay of shapes and colors is excellent, and he incorporates text without robbing the work of its focus or composition. Be sure to actually read these artworks. His "Untitled" installation includes "Today's Fun Facts" such as: "Did U know, that 25% of the Clarke County population lives below the poverty level? That in 1998/99 the dropout rate in Clarke County was higher than that of the state of GA?" In fact I did not know that, and it puts the lie to some of the Fun Facts your city government would have you believe. Davis elaborates a bit more in his "Supporting the Illusion" pieces, by revealing that a good chunk of those poverty numbers are UGA staffers (and not just undergrads either). I'm told that one maintenance worker retired recently after 25 years making just $6 per hour. Was he actually expected to support a family on that? ...

--Jennifer Schultz, Flagpole magazine; May 3, 2001

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"Since 1998, we have expanded, and we now have some exhibitions under our belt," Davis said. "We are just starting to really hone in on everyone's strengths. We are still molding and shaping ourselves as far as the future is concerned." The show's theme provided a broad base for artists to express their views. "The theme is so wide open because it is simply 'Georgia on Our Minds,' and we relied on each artist to internalize the theme," said Davis. "We are all Georgians, and we truly wanted to see what the interpretation of each person was, especially since we have people from all different social standings, religious beliefs, and racial backgrounds."

--Laura Callahan, Red & Black; January 16, 2001

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25th Juried Lyndon House Exhibition

..."Time to Build: As History Records" by Rodrecas Davis, which revisits that rebel emblem as part of his exploration into images and words which have defined African Americans throughout history - lynching, a looming Reconstruction era specter and the toiling of a faceless laborer, a lost and desolate visage of a present-day black man - all combine to address a broad context of existence in ethnicity. ..

--Jennifer Schultz, Flagpole magazine; May 3, 2000

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