-Editorial
The annual Black & White Art Exhibit returned to the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center on Tuesday evening, captivating audiences with a striking collection of monochromatic artwork. The 2025 edition of the highly anticipated exhibit once again provided a platform for local and regional artists to express their creativity through the simplicity and depth of black-and-white compositions.
The exhibit, which runs from February 11 to February 21, 2025, features a diverse array of paintings, photographs, and mixed-media pieces that explore themes of contrast, emotion, and storytelling.
As guests entered the gallery space, they were met with a carefully curated selection of works that showcased the power of black and white to evoke emotion and depth.
For Jazz Ledbetter, a Brawley-based artist, this year’s Black & White Art Exhibit was more than just an opportunity to showcase her work—it was a reflection of her life, her family, and her evolution as an artist and writer.
Ledbetter’s featured pieces in the exhibit tell deeply personal stories. One of her works represents her immediate family, with each heart symbolizing one of her children. The varying sizes of the hearts reflect their ages and the differences between them, while the textured background conveys the ups and downs of life—“even though it gets rough, it’s still very beautiful.”
Another piece, titled “Infinity,” speaks to the idea that even when we repeat the same actions, each experience is slightly different. Ledbetter also showcased a special artwork: a self-portrait from her participation in last year’s 2024 Black & White Exhibit, capturing a moment in time and bringing it full circle by displaying it again in this year’s show.
Ledbetter’s passion for art began at an early age. “Ever since I was a little girl, I always loved painting,” she shared. One of her earliest influences was watching Barney & Friends, where the segment featuring the Barney Bag—filled with arts and crafts—sparked her love for creativity. By the time she was two or three years old, artistic expression had already become a central part of her life.
But Ledbetter is more than just a painter—she’s also a published author, blending her storytelling abilities with her artistic vision. Her writing, she says, is another form of her artistry, poetic in nature while metaphorically weaving stories together.
Her journey as a writer began under difficult circumstances. She started writing her first book while incarcerated in Juvenile Hall in San Diego, where she spent her 18th birthday. Fellow detainees eagerly awaited each new chapter of her story, encouraging her to keep going. However, life took its course, and the book remained unfinished for years. It wasn’t until her 31st birthday that she finally completed and released it—a decade-long journey of perseverance.
Ledbetter’s past experiences have shaped her into an advocate for the formerly incarcerated and efforts to reduce recidivism. After being rescued and sheltered by WomanHaven, she was able to focus on finishing her book, a pivotal moment in her life that led her to where she is today.
Art and writing were her solace during incarceration, a means of escape and self-expression. “That was my favorite thing—I’d get my colored pencils, I’d color, I’d draw, I’d write, and I would share my work with others. We would just have a great time enjoying each other’s creativity,” she recalled.
For artist Marco Calderón, this year’s Black & White Art Exhibit at the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center was not just an opportunity to showcase his talent—it was a deeply personal tribute. Known for his vibrant oil paintings in an impressionistic style, Calderón typically works with bold colors on canvas, but for this monochromatic exhibition, he turned to a more intimate subject: his late dog, Christie.
Calderón’s featured piece, a detailed black-and-white drawing of Christi, was created in memory of his beloved companion, who passed away just weeks ago after 14 years by his side. “Since we’re presenting in black and white, I decided to do a drawing of my dog that just passed away,” Calderón shared. “This is in her honor, for the many years she was with me.”
While Calderón is best known for his colorful impressionistic works, he has explored black and white compositions in the past. Another piece featured in the exhibit, titled “Time Clock,” depicts a large clock with a man standing behind it, symbolizing the relationship between people and time—how we exist within it, yet constantly try to keep up with it.
