Musical Performance to Kick Off Exhibit at UA’s Paul Jones Gallery of Art

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A musical performance by Atlanta-based visual artist and musician Lonnie Holley, known to locals as “The Sandman,” will kick off the next exhibit at the Paul R. Jones Gallery of Art in downtown Tuscaloosa.

The exhibit, “The Whole Mine,” will be displayed March 3-April 11 and will showcase works by Holley as well as works by University of Alabama students that are inspired by Holley.

Holley recently performed his music at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City and has been featured in The New York Times Magazine.

Holley’s Tuscaloosa performance is part of a reception being held at the gallery Thursday, March 13 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Holley’s performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. The performance is sponsored by the Sonic Frontiers concert series in New College and by UA’s department of art and art history.

The gallery honors the late Paul R. Jones who, during his lifetime, amassed one of the largest collections of African-American art in the world. In 2008, Jones donated 1,700 pieces of his collection, valued at $4.8 million, to UA. Jones was known as a passionate collector who sought to collect from both well-known and lesser-known artists, a quality which makes his collection distinct.

The exhibit’s title is derived from “The Whole Mind,” a phrase often employed in the visual and sonic lexicon of Holley that implies an expansive source from which to draw. Graduate and undergraduate students taking advanced drawing classes at UA will have works on display and will curate the exhibit.

Holley, a Birmingham native, has created an internationally recognized body of sculptures, paintings and art environments. He is a long­time performer of unique, soulful and improvised songs. His first album of original music, “Just Before Music,” was released to critical acclaim in 2012 by Atlanta’s Dust to Digital recording company.

Sonic Frontiers is a cutting-edge concert series of innovative and experimental music that enriches the cultural life of West Alabama. The goal of the series is to invite creative exchange between world-class performers of adventurous music, students and the greater community through public performances and lively post-concert discussions. All Sonic Frontiers events are free and open to the public. This event is sponsored by New College, the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Music and Creative Campus.

New College was founded at The University of Alabama in 1971 “to serve as an experimental unit with the expectation of exporting successful innovations to other sectors of the University.” From the outset, the purpose of New College has been to offer ambitious, responsible and self-disciplined students the freedom to build a curriculum from several departments. It is part of the College of Arts and Sciences.

The Paul R. Jones Gallery is located at 2308 6th St. in downtown Tuscaloosa. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m.

The Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art is part of UA’s College of Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships, Goldwater Scholarships and memberships on the USA Today Academic All American Team.

Contact

Stephanie Brumfield, communications specialist, College of Arts and Sciences, 205/348-8539, stephanie.brumfield@ua.edu

Source

Katie McAllister, mcall007@as.ua.edu