Roots and Branches
Exploring the Origins and Progeny of Jazz and Blues
by Emmy Award-Winning artist
James Gayles
Opening Reception
Saturday, May 12th (1pm-6pm)
The exhibition is free and open to the public.
Who: Emmy Award-Winning artist, James Gayles
What: Roots and Branches opening reception
Where: Evolve the Gallery, 2907 35th Street, Historic Oak Park,
Sacramento
When: Saturday, May 12th (1pm-6pm)
Please note: All works will be on display at Evolve the Gallery from
May 12th - June 9th
Evolve the Gallery presents Roots and Branches, a collection of works
by Emmy Award-Winning artist, James Gayles. Having studied under
Jacob Lawrence, Gayles is clearly adept at capturing the heart and
soul of some of America's renowned jazz and blues masters.
Melodic memories are conjured when you encounter his rhythmic,
soulful and dynamic watercolor portraits of international songbirds
like Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughn, Billie Holiday and Etta James and
regional greats like John Handy, Marcus Shelby, Joshua Redman and
Sonny Simmons.
Art critic and curator Adam Mikos states of Gayle's Blues Master
series, "Gayles has focused his talents on fusing sight with sound,
cajoling color and line to communicate like guitar strings and piano
keys. Gayles clearly has a special touch with watercolors. Each
portrait and image in the exhibition shows mastery over different
styles of the medium. Dreamy realism, hard-edged contours, and
abstraction push and pull on perspective. Gayles' use of color is
stunning. These are not the grainy, black and white images many think
of as representing the blues. Bright reds, oranges, and blues catch
the eye immediately and allow the lyrical quality of the watercolors
to lift off the wall."
About James Gayles. Emmy Award winning artist James Gayles attended
Pratt Institute in New York, where he studied under renowned painters
Jacob Lawrence and Audrey Flack He simultaneously pursued careers in
both fine and commercial art; winning a television Emmy Award for
design and illustration. Gayles has illustrated for McGraw-Hill,
Random House, Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, as well as
several advertising agencies on both the East and West coasts. His
artwork has been represented by galleries throughout the U.S. Most
recently he won a public art commission from the City of Oakland
Craft and Cultural Arts Department, was honored at the Art of Living
Black by receiving the Jan Hart-Shuyers Award, received the City of
Oakland's Individual Artist Grant in 2005 and 2007, and was
commissioned by the Alameda County Art Commission and the City of
Richmond to create a series of paintings.
Evolve the Gallery
2907 35th Street, Historic Oak Park
Sacramento, California 95817
Gallery Hours:
Second Saturdays (1pm-6pm) or please call first, (916) 572-5123