You might be surprised to get this email. Over the last 10 years, you may have given me your email address or maybe I have sold something to you online, but I am finally getting serious about my email list. My plan is to send one or two emails every month to keep you up to date with my art projects. I will do my best to keep the information interesting and exclusive, so you will not see the same thing repeated on my website or blog. If you don't want to receive these emails, I'm very sorry for adding to the unwanted emails in your inbox. there is a link to unsubscribe at the bottom of this and all future emails.
Ok!
Here's a little bit of what I've been up to:
A goal of mine is to learn how to combine my passion for art and travel. Every time I take a trip, I learn a little more and get better. In February, I spent 2 weeks in Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. You can visit my blog to see some of the projects I worked on during that trip. Here is a link to those posts:
http://www.kenswinson.com/wordpress/
I want to use this email to give an exclusive, first look at some of my artwork. So here are a few linocuts from the last trip while I was in Savannah and Beaufort, Sc.
Savannah, GA
Beaufort, SC
Beaufort, SC
I haven't posted them on my website, blog or any other social media, because I want you to feel special and have the first look.
My parents were from Georgia farm country, and they left as soon as they graduated from high school. My dad was a military officer, and we moved around a lot. I never identified myself as a southerner, but the more I learn about my 'roots' the more curiosity I have about this unique part of the country. I've packed my van so I can follow the Ohio River down to Mississippi!
I like to work in charcoal while on the road. It is very portable, and I love working in black and white.
Another tool I have been using a lot is the ipad. it is even more portable than charcoal...plus it lets you work in color!
I did this sketch from Cario, Illinois. This is the point where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi river.
A little further down the river is Memphis, TN. A city rich with southern culture. They are famous for the blues and soul music that came out of the city.
First, I sketched STAX records. It is considered the birthplace of soul music. It is now a museum.
 Then I sketched SUN records. It is famous because a lot of important musicians like Elvis recorded here.
I love downtown Memphis, particularly the Main Street Arts district. The old buildings and streetcars felt like a time travel, and remind me of a southern version of the Over The Rhine neighborhood in Cincinnati.
I had an interesting experience at the Lorraine motel. When I saw it, my first feeling was sadness because I immediately thought about how that was the place where Martin Luther King Jr was killed, and how devastating that must have been. I was looking for a place to sketch the building, and I noticed a woman protesting outside the museum with some inflammatory signs. I wanted to know more, and learned that she is a civil rights activist, and has been at that corner for 20 years.
She believes the museum is not an appropriate way to honor the MLK legacy and she had some good reasons for it.
we talked for at least an hour about her life and ideas. I decided not to visit or commemorate the building with a sketch.
While on this trip, I have been trying to come up with an idea for a group show titled 'prints for peace and justice', and I think Jackie Smith's story would make a good art piece. Memphis has an amazing civil rights history. Meeting a contemporary activist was a great way to get to know the south. Talking to her made me think about gentrification, an issue we are dealing with in Cincinnati too, so I think it will be a good fit. You can read about the Prints For Peace and Justice show here:
http://www.tigerlilypress.blogspot.com
I want these emails to be filled with artwork in development that you can't see anywhere else, so here are a few more sketches of river life in the south:
Church is very important in the south
small river town
Please feel free to forward this email to any of your friends who you think would enjoy it.
If you aren't already on my email list, you can follow this link to subscribe:
http://www.kenswinson.com/mail.php
Finally, please write back if you have any comments. I love to hear from you, and one of the downsides to travel is that it can get lonely on the road.
Have a great week!
Ken
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