Tag Archives: Springfield Museum of Art

Things to Do in Ohio in the Month of July

As the summer heats up, enjoy some time outside with some of these fine ideas for exploring Ohio in the month of July.

 

My Interview with Artist Jimi Jones, Leader of the NeoAncestral Movement

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Interviewing Jimi Jones was, for me, the opportunity of a lifetime.  I admired his latest collection at The Springfield Museum of Art in Ohio where he was the headline exhibitor at this Smithsonian-affiliated institution.

Arriving at Jimi’s studio in downtown Cincinnati, I was a bit jittery with excitement as this was not only my first interview, but a chance meeting with an artist I admired.  Having recently written my amateur, artistic review of his work, I was more than elated when he contacted me through my website and suggested I meet him in person to weigh in on my thoughts.  I had so many questions to ask him and looked forward to this opportunity.

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Jimi Jones has mastered the ability to tell a story through his paintings.  His artistry evokes thought-provoking debates and cleverly captivates the mind of his audience.  The masterpieces that have been majestically displayed at numerous museums represent all aspects of human culture to include history, politics, philosophy and religion.

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Providing his audience with a glimpse of history, Jones’ first painting on display at his Faces & Places exhibit was the “SS Turner”.  Artist JMW Turner, with the ambition of making a political statement, painted his macabre work of art based on the horrific fate of the slave ship, Zong.  It was his hope that it would encourage Britain to change its current pro-slavery beliefs.   Taking inspiration from Turner’s historical art work titled “The Slave Ship”, Jones has also shown his passion for modern day public opinion, political issues and ethical concerns.

Jimi Jones’ ethereal “SS Turner” is also an anti-slavery piece, yet centered around the Civil War Era. Jones admired Turner’s powerful approach in exhibiting his view on the current politics of the day.  It is through his paintings that Jones has found his calling in displaying his position in a subtle way that invokes both contemplation and conversation.  It is his hope that he can create a masterpiece that “will make a difference [in one’s life] or even change a country’s thoughts.”

I felt privileged that Jimi would grant me the insight into the thought process of his artistic prowess.  His art is thoroughly planned and deliberate long before he takes his first stroke upon the canvas. Studying “The Slave Ship”, he explained how selecting the color red for the soldier’s jacket represented bloodshed and that the ghostly blue was perfect for symbolizing death.  I felt the intensity of pain through the graphic, diagonal lines as the slave ship lingered in the distance, while the innocence of the slave woman in the background tugged at my heartstrings.  It was because of this painting, I wanted to learn more.

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One of the most fascinating pieces of Jimi Jones’ exhibit was titled “Why These Cultures”. At first glance, I desperately wanted to understand the connection between the young African girl to the left of the painting and the Geisha girl towards the right.  “Why These Cultures” perfectly exemplifies the societal differences between the Eastern and Western cultures, but how can they relate to one another?

As I studied the layers of complexity to this painting, I found myself more and more drawn to the intricate detail that only establishes Jones as one of the greatest artists of our time.  His defined use of sepia and pression blue are hypnotizing, but the colorful elements of the costumed horses and the facial expressions of their riders are astonishing.  I am afraid that if I stare too long or too closely, the characters will convince me to make their acquaintance.  A quick jump into the painting and my life would be forever changed as my destiny would be decided between the cultures of the East or the traditions of the West.

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Jimi Jones is a self-proclaimed Renaissance man and one of his favorite, artistic legends is Rembrandt.  While many artists included their likenesses in their paintings or commission their own portraits, I found it interesting that Jones would paint a collection of friends and acquaintances to establish his own portraiture.  It is a fascinating thought as he explains that “We are a reflection of the people we knew and the people that supported us.”  We take on their habits, are influenced or challenged by their beliefs and model their behavior to make us who we are today.

One of Jones’ supporters and fellow artist is Thom Phelps.  They came together to collaborate on an ideal that led them to the philosophy of “Neo Ancestralism”.  Other influencers in his life include Carl Solway, Owen Findson, Aiden Sims, Catherine Marie Klenke, Courtney Hellebuyck who were honored in his 2016 Faces & Stories Exhibit.  What a beautiful homage to the people that Jimi holds in high regard and credits for making the artist, storyteller, political influencer, historian and man he is today.

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There are so many layers to Jimi Jones and the depth of his thoughts and processes make him bottomless, profound and all the more interesting.  While his artwork is the result of years and years of painting, it is also a manifestation of his life experiences.  A successful career in graphic design that provided him the ability to travel the world and an early passion for art, have laid the groundwork for Jones’ success and the foundation for continued greatness in the future.  I anxiously await his next collection and anticipate the opportunity to be inspired, moved and encouraged to discover more.

Have you had the opportunity to see the artwork of Jimi Jones?  Check out this link for samples of his exhibition pieces: http://jimijonesart.com/exhibitions/martyrs.html.  I would love to hear about your thoughts and artistic opinions if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below!  Many thanks for reading about my experience learning more about Jimi Jones and his fabulous artwork,

I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Jimi Jones for sitting down with me to discuss his amazing artwork!

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The Art of Jason Morgan, A Springfield Museum of Art Exhibit

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Flipping through a copy of Ohio Magazine, I was drawn to an article about a local artist Jason Morgan from Yellow Springs, Ohio.  I learned that he would be exhibiting at the Springfield Museum of Art, and booked a Saturday to see his artwork for myself.   I was fascinated by his amazing still life scenes and wanted to learn more about his artistic style.

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Prior to entering the exhibit, I picked up a small guide with an overview of the artist and his work.  Located at several stations throughout the museum, thought provoking questions were posed to encourage a deeper reflection on some of the paintings.  I found this practice to be very helpful and enjoyed thinking about Morgan’s artwork in a more artistic manner.  Outside of the left wing was Morgan’s “Strange Pilgrims”.

My eyes were first drawn to the Hawaiian-like totem figure and then to the yellow pepper which seemed out of place.  Reminding me of a scene in the movie Toy Story, I was fascinated by the colors in the yo-yo and the reflection of the light on the egg.

The artwork on display was primarily acrylic on canvas dating from 2002 to the present.  I quickly  noticed Morgan’s talent for painting portraits which progressively evolved towards a photographic style.   I provided some of my thoughts on only a small number of pieces on display and separated them into two categories, portraitures and still-life.

Portraiture

I began my exploration of Jason Morgan’s artwork starting with Moonstruck which was painted in 2001.   Compared to the 2012 painting of Dr. Cotton, the images in his earlier paintings had more subtle backgrounds but not as much definition in their facial expressions.

The work titled “Tim & Brooke” was one that first captured my attention in the next collection of portraitures.  The attention to detail and texture is phenomenal in this painting.  I was most fascinated by the natural bunching up of Brooke’s white t-shirt.  The shadowing gave the piece of clothing such a unique three-dimensional feel.

“Acala at Ten” was an extraordinarily elegant black and white portrait.  I was drawn to her eyes and her defined facial features.  The simple background allowed my focus to remain solely on her.

I had reached the “Dr. Cotton” painting and I found this to be one of the most interesting portraitures in the collection.  I was impressed with his use of texture and dimension in the background, especially the brick and the fall-like plants/trees that can be seen through the window.  Of course the main focus was on the doctor himself.  Morgan was able make scrubs look interesting with the use of shadowing and his ability to create an added component of depth is fascinating.  I was mesmerized by the recreation of the doctor’s hospital badge as well as the detail that was not overlooked in the watch and pager.  The detail of the doctor’s hands, all the way down to his fingernails and cuticles, was extremely life-like and photogenic.

The Use of Portraiture and Still Life

“Mirror in the Mirror” seemed like an transition from Morgan’s painting of portraits to still life, incorporating aspects of both people and things.  The girl in the background appeared softer with less detailed features while the items in the foreground took center stage.  I noticed that the painting had a three dimensional feel with the daisy in glass at the front, the skull and pomegranate in the center and the young girl towards the back.  She was paying no attention to the items laid out in front of her, but rather taking more of an interest in the IPhone that she was holding in her hands.

Still Life Paintings

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“Pins and Needles” was another opportunity to explore Morgan’s mastery with the use of lighting and for painting reflections as they would appear on his objects.   Light reflected off, not only the orange, but each pin that had been stuck into the spool.  There were several aspects of the painting that seemed to have been included to challenge Morgan artistically.    First was the orange.  There was a great amount of detail given to the flesh of the orange looking as though it had just been squeezed.  Instead of a perfectly sliced orange, there was an element of experimentation in the modified object.  This could also be said for the re-creation of the photograph of the man and the young child, which brought Morgan’s attention to detail to a whole new level.

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I wandered towards the center of the exhibit where there are samples of objects that Morgan used for his paintings.  The display also provided and explanation of the process for which Jason Morgan creates his designs, using a three-step process.

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The Perfect Photograph

Towards the end of the exhibit, I found myself spending the most time viewing “Indian Four”, an acrylic on canvas.  Mesmerized by the artistic detail of this painting, I noticed the intricate reproduction of each of the motorcycle’s parts and hardware. There is rust on the metal, the chipping away of body paint and the reflective lighting on the bike was incredible.

The next three pieces that were painted from 2011 to 2013 were, in my opinion, the most developed in the way of lighting and the detail of reflection.  The positioning of items in the painting “Enzo” was unique as the items are facing away from viewer.  The back lighting gave the painting a distinctive depth in the ridges of the cantaloupe and the marble’s reflection on the table was perfectly executed.

The same could be said for “Grapes of Wrath.” A partial mirror image of the light bulb was painted on the table which was a result of the lighting.   “One for Steve” took the reflective concept a step further showing the table’s reflection in the plum.  Impressive was the remaining peel left by a bite in the piece of fruit.

It is clear that Jason Morgan is successful in capturing the details and textures that come from his intense strategic placement and lighting of his subjects.  Whether portraitures or still life images, the attention to each element is clearly exhibited in the artwork he creates.  I look forward to seeing where his talents take him and hope to see more of his work in the near future.

Do you have a passion or love for art?  What draws you to a specific artist?  If you visited the Jason Morgan exhibit, I would love to hear your thoughts about his work.  Please take the time to let me know about your opinions and comments about my post in the comments below!  I would love to hear from you!

What to See and What to Do:

The Springfield Museum of Art
107 Cliff Park Road
Springfield, Ohio  45504
Telephone:  937 325 4673

If you would like to explore Jason Morgan’s fascinating artwork, visit his website at www.jasonmorganportraits.com.

  • Admission Fee: Adults for $5, Students with Valid ID for $3; Seniors 65+ for $3; Children 17 and under are Free and Wittenberg students are Free.  Special exhibitions may incur an additional cost, so check the website prior to visiting
  • Hours:  Wednesday – Saturday: 9AM to 5PM; Sunday: 12:30PM to 4:30PM; Closed Monday, Tuesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day and the Sunday after Art Ball.
  • Amenities:  Partnership with the Smithsonian, Exhibitions as well as Workshops and Classes
  • Length of Visit:  1 to 2 hours
  • Tips for Your Visit:  Check the website to confirm any additional fees for special exhibits.

Where to Stay:

Marriott Courtyard, Springfield Downtown
100 South Fountain Avenue
Springfield, Ohio  45502
Telephone:  937 322 3600

Where to Eat:

Seasons Bistro and Grille
28 South Limestone Street
Springfield, Ohio  45502
Telephone:  937 521 1200

My favorite item on the menu is the Bibimbap, a Korean rice bowl with marinated beef strips and seasonal vegetables served over white rice.  Topped with a fried egg and Korean chili paste.

Another seasonal favorite that is offered on a limited basis is their grilled Chilean sea bass.

  • Schuler’s Donuts:   Their chocolate cream-filled doughnut is their best seller…”home of homemade”. The bakery has several locations in Springfield.
  • Simon Kenton Inn:  This historical home is an inn, restaurant and entertainment venue.  With great food, I love the atmosphere of the Simon Kenton Inn.
  • Guerra’s Krazy Tacos:  One of my favorite places to eat in Springfield, Guerra’s is known for their unique gourmet tacos.
  • Salato Deli:  I love stopping by this deli for their charcuterie board
  • Le Torte Dolci Bakery;  Located next to the Salato Deli, this European French bakery also serves amazing gelato.
  • Mike & Rosie’s Deli:  This staple of Springfield is located near the Wittenberg campus and I am extremely fond of their Reuben sandwich.

Where to Drink: 

What to Read:

  • The Book of Springfield, Ohio, 1906, by Springfield Commercial Club
  • Springfield, Ohio:  A Summary of Two Centuries, by Tom Dunham
  • Ridgewood in the Country Club District, by Tamara K. Dallenbach
  • Still Standing:  A life of pain, adversity and perseverance, by James Cooper
  • Hometown Killer, by Carol Rothgeb

Photo Guide for Springfield, Ohio:  

  • Hartman Rock Garden
  • Westcott House, Frank Lloyd Wright House
  • Glen Helen Nature Preserve in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Heritage Center of Clark County
  • Tecumseh Land Trust in nearby Yellow Springs
  • Ohio Caverns in nearby Bellefontaine
  • Oakes Quarry Park in nearby Fairborn, Ohio

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Here is another look at part of the process…From cute bunny stuffed animal…

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To adorable painting of bunny hopping over mushrooms!  A Great Escape

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Display in the exhibit to explain Morgan’s artistic process

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