The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens presents Jazz ABZ: An A to Z Collection of Jazz Portraits by Paul Rogers with poems by Wynton Marsalis on January 20, 2010. The exhibition, on view through August 8, 2010, features 27 paintings of famous Jazz musicians by Paul Rogers. This exhibition includes selected poems by Wynton Marsalis and highlights jazz legends from A (Louis Armstrong) to Z (Dizzy Gillespie) through art and poetry. The Cummer is the first museum or gallery to display this exhibition.
"Although The Cummer is recognized for our integration of art, gardens, and education, the Jazz ABZ exhibition allows us the opportunity to bring two other art forms into the mix - music and the spoken word,” said Cummer Curator Holly Keris.HoHHHolh “The images by Paul Rogers and poems by Wynton Marsalis are so evocative not only of these well-known musicians but also of an era in American history. The Cummer is excited to present these works to the Jacksonville community in their first museum exhibition."
Capturing each musician’s spirit, Rogers’ works, along with poetry by Marsalis, evoke each musician’s personal sound. Each work of art alludes to song titles, artifacts, and other markers of the time, including artistic references to well-known artists who were particularly inspired by jazz music. The exhibition includes selected poems by Marsalis that are a must-see for jazz fans and poets of all ages.
The jazz theme continues with a local exhibition, Jazz ABZ: Improvisations by Students at S.P. Livingston Elementary School. The exhibition showcases 5th grade students’ Jazz-Inspired artwork as part of the Weaver Academy of Art at The Cummer. Young artists from the school’s Exceptional Student Education Department created abstract paintings, cityscapes, collages, and free-form alliterative poetry based on the sounds in jazz music, under the guidance of Cummer Education staff with documentation by photographer Ingrid Damiani.
Join us for the Opening Celebration and Family Night on Tuesday, January 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. for live music, art-making activities and poetry based on graphic illustration and hot jazz tempos. Illustrator Paul Rogers will conduct a gallery walk-and-talk tour of his works and sign copies of the book Jazz ABZ. The opening celebration is free and open to the public.
Jazz ABZ is sponsored by Elkins Constructors, Inc., Carl S. Swisher Foundation, Inc., City of Jacksonville and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Inc. The Exhibition Partner is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and the Program Partner is Ritz Theatre and Museum. The Education Partners include J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, Rice Family Foundation, Chartrand Foundation, Medtronic Foundation, EverBank and National Endowment for the Arts.
Special programs and events for visitors throughout the exhibition include:
Events
Opening Celebration and Family Night
Tuesday, January 26, 4 to 9 p.m.
Free Admission
Jazz ABZ: Call and Response
Tuesday, February 2, 7 to 8 p.m.
$5 Members and Non-Members
Jazz Fusion at The Cummer
Tuesdays, March 2, May 4 and July 6,7 to 8 p.m.
Free Admission
Sunday Jazz Concert with Noel Freidline Quintet
Sunday, April 25, 4 p.m.
$10 Members and Non-Members
Garden Jazz Concert with The St. Johns River City Band
Sunday, July 4, 7 p.m.
$10 Members and Non-Members
Classes and Programs for Children and Young Adults
The Jazz Café
Saturday, January 30, 10 a.m. to Noon
Ages 8 to 15
$10 Members, $15 Non-Members
Art Adventures on Saturdays
10 a.m. to Noon
February 20 Portrait of an Artist
March 20 Ceramic Instruments
May 15 ABZ Books
$10 Members, $15 Non-Members
Art for Two on Saturdays
10:30 a.m. to Noon
February 13 Painting Improvisation
March 13 Ceramic Percussion Instruments
May 8 ABZ Books
Members $10 per pair, Non-Members $15 per pair
Adult Programs
Especially for Seniors Talks & Tea
Wednesday, January 20 or Thursday, January 21
1:30 p.m.
$6 Members and Non-Members, includes free admission to the Museum and Gardens
Artist Talk with Paul Rogers
Tuesday, January 26, 1 to 2 p.m.
Free Admission
Cummer Theater Presents Art
Tuesday, March 30, 7 to 9 p.m.
$7 Members and Non-Members
One-Day Workshops
Jazz Collage
Saturday, April 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members $70, Non-Members $85, Active Docents $55
Ages 13 and up
Great Ideas in Jazz
Saturday, June 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Members $70, Non-Members $85, Active Docents $55
Ages 13 and up
For more information on any of these events or programs, please call (904) 355-0630.
