Arts Center Sunday Article for October 27, 2013 Currently on display through December 7th in the Vereen Gallery are paintings by Atlanta Artist Jerome Lawrence. The exhibit has been extremely well received by our visitors to the Arts Center. People are drawn to the soft colors and shapes of the landscape and floral paintings by this gifted artist. More of Jerome’s paintings have sold than any other exhibit that I can recall. October is National Disabilities Awareness Month. The exhibit of Jerome Lawrence’s artwork and the Georgia Artists with Disabilities exhibit is here at the Arts Center to increase awareness of mental health. I had the opportunity to talk to Jerome about his art and the inspiration behind some of his paintings when he was here at the Arts Center. It is always a pleasure to gain insight what influences an artist. Jerome’s affirmable manor complements his art perfectly. With Jerome’s permission I am sharing with you Jerome’s bio summary from his website for you to read. His story is more compelling than anything that I could write. Please take some time from your busy schedule to view Jerome’s art. “I have done art all of my life. Having a love for nature, I remember as a small child lying in the yard and drawing pictures of grass and flowers. Our family moved to Decatur, near Atlanta from Griffin, Georgia when I was four years old and moved several times in the DeKalb county area nearby. I am proud to have made grades of A in every art class and I believe every assignment, until my senior year of college. Hoping to complete my studies and then to graduate and engage my profession, I was surprised to find grades of C and D on drawing assignments. One section of my sketchbook received an F! Days later I found myself in the hospital being diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia, a diagnosis since changed to Schizoaffective Disorder. My memory is sketchy but I think it was no more than a week and a half before I was released to seek treatment in the community. I returned to Georgia State University to graduate and then studied with Joseph Perrin, Head Emeritus College of Arts and Sciences for years. Many years in the system finally brought me to the nondenominational Friendship Center at Holy Comforter Church. They had an art program with free art supplies and a wonderful group of staff and volunteers that filled my heart with love. Teaching art class and selling my art at church events brought positive attention and Linda Fuller, co-founder of Habitat for Humanity, wanted to do something for the mentally ill. I came up for consideration for a Habitat for Humanity home. The build site was only a few miles from the Carter Center in Atlanta so Mrs. Carter had time to come out and lay the corner stone of my house with resultant media attention. It was here she learned of my art and invited me to present at one of her Conversations at the Carter Center with a one man show. President Carter showed up and talked with me in front of my art and also in front of media cameras including CNN news. I became sort of a media sensation. Much skill and talent in art had gotten me not very far until I was touched by the hand of Mrs. Carter - truly touched by an angel. As I remember, I had moved from part-time employment as Administrative Assistant to fulltime, but found less time to work on my art. My donations to the Carter Center Winter Weekend fundraiser were bringing incredible amounts greatly due to Mrs. Carter’s belief in me and endorsement of my art. This past auction took place in San Diego, California and the trip was exhausting. I began pursuit of an art career fulltime just days earlier. The success of the auction has brought much attention and I am working to prepare a plan going forward. I have not left the consumer movement, am willing to share what I’ve learned and wish all much success in life. The biggest lesson learned is that struggles are shared by all and that transactions of money are trumped almost always by transactions of love, though it is commonly thought the opposite.” My web address is JeromeLawrence.Net . In love and kindness, Jerome Lawrence
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 17:43:33 +0000
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