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16th annual Frank Scott Memorial Art Show: The Art of Jazz

From Berks Arts Council

Jul 16, 2020

Berks Arts Council announces the 16th annual Frank Scott Memorial Art Show: The Art of Jazz is now open at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. Founded during the 2005 Berks Jazz Fest, The Art of Jazz honors the legendary local jazz musician Frank Scott. The Art of Jazz exhibit was to be held during the 30th Annual Boscov’s Berks Jazz Fest in March 2020. With the reopening of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, Berks Arts Council will be hosting the exhibit today through August 31, 2020 in the Schmidt Gallery, located on the 2nd Floor.  The show features artwork inspired by jazz and depicts the impact of art and music on the community.

Juror, Christiane David, shared the following about the Art of Jazz this year:

What better way to celebrate one form of art than to honor it with another. The artists showing in this year’s Berks Arts Council exhibition, “The Art of Jazz,” have brilliantly represented in the selected pieces the soul and spirit of one of our truly American art forms, Jazz.

 The Art of Jazz does not come from the notes being played and the sounds the musician makes on his instrument. Likewise the Art of Painting is not the result of marks made on a canvas by a painter. The Art of a Jazz piece, and the Art of a particular painting, are manifestations of the life experiences of the musician and the painter. The Art born out of Jazz, and the Art a painting or sculpture brings into the world are twins because they come from the same parents: the marriage of our common human experience and the emotion and meaning we draw from those experiences.

One local artist has said this: “Until the work of an artist penetrates the tough membrane of human emotion, it cannot be born as a work of art.” When I listen to Jazz, whether it is good old New Orleans style or contemporary blues, I am immediately compelled to go to my easel and begin painting. In the same way the jazz musician does not follow a formula in her creation, I stand with paintbrush in hand and begin. My intuition, some memories, events in the world and my current mood direct my hand, and after a time there is a painting that hopefully qualifies as art. 

The art of jazz deserves celebration because it is the reflection of life. To celebrate Jazz with a painting or sculpture is to celebrate life with life. It is with this perspective I have chosen the specific pieces for this exhibition. Besides evaluating technique, creativity, originality and presentation, I chose the individual pieces when I was able to catch a glimpse of the artist’s life . . . when I was able to see the “art” of the piece.

To schedule a visit to view the Art of Jazz Exhibit reservations are to be made with the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts at https://goggleworks.org/product/art-explorer-package-1-hour/

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts conventional approach for serving general visitors has been a

generally open-door, self-guided discovery model. In response to what they know about COVID-

19, GoggleWorks has planned an altogether different approach for visitors to enjoy their

public programs and facilities, outlined below. In an effort to gauge interest and to determine

their organizational capacity to serve this program approach, GoggleWorks is hosting some

different hours of operation. GoggleWorks is currently open the following hours of operation:

Wednesday: 2:30-8:30pm

Thursday: 2:30-8:30pm

Friday: 2:30-8:30pm

Saturday: 9am-9pm

Sunday: 9am-9pm

Unique experiences for a limited time:

At specific time slots during these hours, patrons (and scholarship recipients) can register for one or more curated program packages catered to their respective interests:

  • Art Explorer Package (1 hour) – Enjoy a socially-distanced, guided VIP experience of GoggleWorks, experiencing world-class art for your private group and seeing firsthand how it gets made. This package includes a tour, live artist demonstration, and shopping time in The New Store. The group can choose from a menu of add-ons, including a hands-on workshop, fine wine and spirits, and concessions. Our orchestrated scheduling allows you to enjoy a personalized experience and minimizes unwanted contact with others, apart from the dedicated staff tour guide. Guests will register and follow the safety measures listed below. 

The mission of Berks Arts Council is to inspire, engage and unite our community through collaboration, education and presentation. Berks Arts Council is a catalyst which addresses social and economic barriers through inclusive and integrative programs.  The arts play a critical role in engaging diverse communities, changing perceptions, creating safe environments and strengthening economic opportunities.  We work to make Berks County more creative, desirable and resilient. Learn more about our programs and services at www.berksarts.org

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