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Tall Grass Arts Association Presents ‘Something Jazzy’


Something Jazzy at Tall Grass.

"Something Jazzy" is coming to Tall Grass in February.. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Tall Grass Arts Association will present an invitational exhibit entitled "Something Jazzy,” beginning Friday, February 12 and running through April 11, 2010. The exhibit was designed to showcase artists whose work interprets the spirit of jazz. Michéle P. Owens, one of the exhibit’s curators, notes, “There is something jazzy in all of us. It is our rhythm, our muse, our passion. It is the interpretation of the sounds of jazz and a reflection of our soul.”

CouSandra Armstrong, another of the curators, added that the artists are expressing themselves about a form of music that is loved worldwide – jazz. “Noticeable in many images are colors such as subtle blues, soft oranges, blasting reds and cool yellows. All are from one universal language, the language of jazz,” she said. ”Something Jazzy” will open with a reception on Friday, February 12 from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Admission is free.

“Something Jazzy” was also curated by Janice Pratt. Invited artists are: CouSandra Armstrong, Terry Boykin, John Blanton, Keith Conner, Reynaldo Ferdinand, Quinton Foreman, Dennis Jennings, Patricia Moore, Roger Paris, Marcellous Lovelace, Michéle P. Owens, Janice Pratt, Dr. Yemonja Smalls, Pearlie Taylor, Cheryl Toles, Craig West and Doyle Wicks.

Included in the exhibit are works in a variety of media including painting, mixed media and photography, both realistic and manipulated. Keith Connor created the image, Jazz Man,” that was utilized on the promotional materials for the exhibit. It is a mixed media painting that depicts a musician soulfully playing a soprano saxophone in a jazz club. Keith has donated a print of his painting to be raffled at Tall Grass.

The one three-dimensional work in the exhibit was created by Roger Paris. It is a drawing of New Orleans street musicians on a tambourine mounted on a pedestal. Roger is also exhibiting two manipulated photographs of guitar shapes photographed at the Gibson Guitar Factory in Memphis, Tennessee near Beale Street. Roger is the former Director of the Tall Grass Art School and currently teaches photography in the school.

Doyle Wicks is a former fashion photographer, working for a major department store and various publications. His three works in the show are manipulated photographs of jazz great Miles Davis.

This invitational show is dedicated to the memory of Tall Grass artist Jeanne Paris. Well known for her serigraphs, Jeanne’s work often focused on music and musical instruments. She was a committed member of Tall Grass almost from its inception. Jeanne died two years ago but her love of art lives on in the collections of many south suburbanites.

The artists participating in “Something Jazzy” will be available at the reception to discuss their work. The gallery is located at 367 Artists Walk, in Downtown Park Forest, adjacent to Village Hall.

For additional information or directions, call the Gallery at (708) 748-3377, or CouSandra at (708) 642-8477. Additional information about participating artists and other exhibit details can be found on the Tall Grass Arts Association web site www.tallgrassarts.org.


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