"Random Minors, Major Players"

An Exhibition of Art about Music by Nine L.A. Artists at the William Grant Still Arts Center,   10 October - 14 November 2009

Featuring the Art of Moses Ball, Lili Bernard, Mark Broyard, Thom Dower, Michael Massenburg, Norman Maxwell, Ray McCray, Emi Motokawa, and J Michael Walker Curated by Ami Montevalli

"Random Minors, Major Players"

An Exhibition of Art about Music by Nine L.A. Artists at the William Grant Still Arts Center,   10 October - 14 November 2009

I was recently invited to exhibit some of my artworks that focus on mudic, for a group show at an LA community arts space. I had just completed my commissioned portrait of Gustavo Dudamel, for which I had created the character study shown below, so I was interested to dig through my archives and see what else I might have. The pieces at left - John Coltrane and Big Band - are some early works, and I relished the chance to view them again. In the show, the Big Band piece is paitred with the mermaid piece here at bottom; they are 20 years apart in execution and, much as  love the Big Band piece, it is a wonder to me that, as a self-taught artist, I got to the point of creating something as realistic as these two works below.