Press release:
The Paducah Arts Alliance (PAA) is pleased to welcome Jim Morris from Batavia as the current participant in the Artist-in-Residence Program. Morris is a professor in the Art Department at The College at Brockport in Brockport. He began his studio/residence in the LowerTown Arts District at Pinecone Gallery, 421 N. 7th St. on April 24, where he will be creating new works through May 13.
A professional artist, Morris uses mylar to create collaged, mixed media works that emphasize the idea of transparency and obfuscation of information. He often begins his creative process by making an ink drawing on paper, which he scans to produce a computerized image tracing or vector file. He continues to build upon this base by laser cutting the digitized drawing, hand drawing over the prints in acrylic ink or layering this imagery over official documents. Morris’ collaged, mixed media works force the viewer to look closer by emphasizing the concept of transparency.
Morris received his MFA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is an alumnus of the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. His work has recently been featured in group exhibitions at The Fowler-Kellogg Art Center, Chautauqua Institution; and internationally at The Kunstverein Tiergarten/Galerie Nord, Berlin, and a solo exhibition at Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey.
Morris has also received fellowships that include a summer Fulbright to Malaysia and Singapore, a Pollock-Krasner Fellowship, a NEA/Mid Atlantic Artist’s Fellowship, and a fellowship from the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in North Carolina.
Though he’s only been in the neighborhood for a short time, Paducah’s creative placemaking efforts have left a favorable impression.
“The Artist-in-Residence program is brilliant,” says Morris. “The buildings are handsome and the people are very generous and kind. The artists who visit here will spread the good word about Paducah and the Paducah Arts Alliance and encourage others to visit.”
While in Paducah, this internationally connected artist will be building personal and professional relationships, collaborating with Paducah artists, visiting museums and galleries and experiencing the artistic assets of our UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art. He is looking forward to opening up a creative connection with his hometown of Batavia, which has a population of 15,269 according to the 2013 figure by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The public is welcome to visit Pinecone Gallery, Tuesday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m. through May 8 to meet Morris and talk about his creative processes and the thoughts/meanings his work evokes. Pinecone Gallery will host an exhibit of his work on Second Saturday, May 9, from noon-5 p.m.
For more information regarding the artist, visit his Web site at www.jimmorris-art.com.
About Paducah Arts Alliance
PAA initiated the Artist-in-Residence Program in 2008 with funds provided by the City of Paducah. The program was established to enhance Paducah’s identity as an international art community and to promote the growth of individual artists through education and outreach programs. Since January 2009, PAA has hosted nearly 40 visiting American and international artists from 13 states and four countries. Over the past five years, resident artists have conducted more than 50 events, which include workshops, lectures, exhibitions, performances and installations. The Paducah Arts Alliance is a 501c3 organization.
