Dick Griffin, Round Midnight in Bright Mississippi, 2012, 60x48 in
On April 8th, The Bishop Gallery will launch a new exhibition, The Jazz in Art, highlighting the relationship between music and the visual arts. With nearly 20 pieces from a diverse group of artists, ranging from renowned jazz musicians to musically influenced, emerging and established artists and a master painter, the exhibition is a representation of various artists and how they are influenced by not just music, but specifically one of America’s original art forms – Jazz.
The Jazz in Art features legendary jazz trombonist and painter Dick Griffin whose music career spans over 40 years and consist of working with luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Tito Puente, just to name a few. Like his music, Griffin’s paintings are influenced from his experience. “When you hear me play, what I put out there is what I’ve experienced; and when I paint, I put the same thing on canvas-in a different way” said Griffin. These sentiments are evident in Round Midnight in Bright Mississippi, a painting that’s dedicated to the great Thelonious Monk, whom Griffin had the pleasure to share a close friendship with. Round Midnight, is a vibrant, abstract piece of work with jazzy brush strokes that in-advertently outline a bold but subtle, capital T. The exhibition will also showcase the release of Griffin’s newest album – Homage to SunRa.
Also featured in The Jazz in Art exhibition are works from accomplished artist and illustrator Maria Dominguez. With over 30 years in the art industry, Dominguez has received numerous awards and has permanent public works in New York City, but it was her passion for Jazz that influenced her best selling series Hot House. Maria states, “my influences derived from my husband the musician, attending musical performances and listening to my local radio Jazz station WBGO.” Featured in the exhibition is one of the few remaining pieces from her Hot House series, titled Sassy Diva (36x48in, 2008). Like the other pieces in the series, Sassy Diva consist of deep contrasting colors where musicians are immersed in colorful spotlights and their changing facial gestures are captured, depicting either pain or pleasure as they attempt to reach a particular note.
A special edition to the exhibition is master painter Samuel Adoquei, author of Origin of Inspiration. Adoquei’s Rodney (72x40in, 1995) is a timeless piece of his friend Rodney, standing tall with one arm resting on a borrowed guitar, captures the poetic struggles between an aspiring musician and his realities.
Other notable participants in The Jazz in Art exhibition include:
- Juan Carlos Pinto, painter and mosaic specialist (widely known for his metrocard mosaics)
- Abstract emerging artists, Delilah Benitez and Tariq Tucker
- Edward Taylor’s collection of historical photos and documents from the Harlem Cultural Council’s Jazz Mobile, Newport Jazz Festival, & Jazz Opera (courtesy of Rasheed Campbell)
- And legendary photographer, Hugh Bell’s limited edition, Between the Rain Dropsphotography book. The photographer’s work is currently on display at Harvard University’s Cooper Gallery as part of their Art of Jazz exhibition
The Jazz in Art exhibition is presented with Rise Sport Entertainment and is on display from April 8th through April 29. To learn more about The Bishop Gallery’s latest exhibition, please follow @bishoponbedford on Instagram or visit: www.bishoponbedford.com.