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| Mimi Jones - MV Jazz Summerfest 2012 |
“Martha's Vineyard Jazz in Black & White” is an on going photographic project created by Martha's Vineyard artist Michael Johnson. Since beginning this project in 2011, Mr. Johnson has created images of many luminaries of the jazz world when they performed on Martha's Vineyard. According to the artist, "Martha's Vineyard is a locale with a rich history of local and visiting musical talent. I am drawing on that ready fount of talent while attempting to channel the artistry and feel of the old school black and white jazz imagery of the 1940s through the 60s."
Michael Johnson was born in Harlem, New York City and heard his calling to the fine arts at an early age. As a youth he spent many hours in the public libraries and museums studying the works of the great masters of art motivated by his love of their work. Among his favorites were the painters of the Renaissance, while he also spent abundant amounts of time studying the Flemish masters and Art Nouveau. But his odyssey as a visual artist didn’t begin until his late twenties when he decided on a whim to enroll in a community college video production class. It was while attending this class that his earlier studies came to the fore, and he realized that he had some “natural” talent for composition and camera work. He prevailed on his father to lend him three hundred and fifty dollars to buy his first camera. Shortly afterward he moved to Martha’s Vineyard Island where he taught himself the art of photography. He has traveled and photographed many American states, the Caribbean, Europe, Cuba and, Thailand.
Michael has has been a full time artist since 2001. He now lives 5 months of the year on Martha’s Vineyard and runs his own gallery in Vineyard Haven. He endeavors to keep the traditional techniques of hand crafted black and white photography alive with his work. Michael says of his creative process: “All of my work is informed by my deep belief in God. I try to tell the truth with my images, but it must be told from the view point of dignity and beauty. Whether it is nature, architecture, or people, God creates the forms and the moments and I draw on my talent and spirit to capture them. My job is infinitely simple, but infinitely rewarding.”
http://www.michaeljimage.com
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The Vineyard Haven Public Library's "Art in the Stacks" space features rotating monthly exhibits and is managed by the Friends of the Library. The library also has a permanent collection of artworks that are displayed throughout the year, including 12 paintings by Vineyard artist Captain John Ivory. Artists interested in showing their work may contact the library at (508) 696-4210.
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