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Artist Exhibitions:
The Art of Living Black
(TAOLB) 2008. The twelwth
annual non-juried group
exhibition featuring over
seventy San Francisco bat area
artists of African descent.
Artist reception 02/09/08 at
the main gallery of the
Richmond Art Center,2540
Barrett Ave. Richmond, CA
www.therichmondartcenter.org
and www.taolb....
Further Information
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Artist Galleries:
The Tilford Art Group Studio
Gallery : 5449 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, Ca. (323)4397
www.tilfordartgroup.com...
Further Information
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Artist Reviews:
Coming Soon!
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Collections:
Coming Soon!
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Commissions:
Coming Soon!
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Artist Statement for Chester Elmore
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Art has always been a part of my life. I was fortunate enough to have been born in San Francisco, which has always been a cultural beacon for art in general but for African American Artists in particular. The social conditions of my neighborhood (Haight Ashbury) as well as the rest of the country at that time, allowed for voices to be heard that had heretofore been muted.
I was born into a Family that contained two formally trained working artists (my uncles). From an early age I made enough of a pest of my self that it became impossible for either of them to ignore my desire to learn from them. I began to imitate their works and eventually refine technique by critique and impromptu lessons.
As a child and adolescent I took advantage of the many free public programs for youth in San Francisco.. At age thirteen I received a scholarship to the San Francisco Academy of Art. I attended class in the evenings and weekends while attending Roosevelt Junior High School. I worked in the graphic design shop and the Fine Arts Department. This was a turning point in my life as I was told emphatically: that there was no place for art depicting black people; that there was no classical standard for African Art; and that there would be no professional career for Black Artists. This was the challenge that drives my work today.
I joined the San Francisco Police Department in 1978. I was nominated by the department to attend the FBI Police Art Course. There were twelve slots open and 30,000 applications for the course. At the time a total of 220 people had graduated the course. I passed and began work as a regional artist. I did composite drawings from interviews, Forensic reconstruction of skeletal remains, photo retouch, and model making for courtroom use. I worked with Time Life and the Smithsonian to identify the mummified remains of a cowboy found in a traveling carnival. I retired from the department in 1988.
I began creating again in 1998 when I discovered scratchboard. Scratchboard is seven layers of clay on masonite with a final coating of black India ink. This art form was originally used to illustrate scientific plates in the early 1800’s because of it’s’ ability to render precise lines. These lines were formed through the use of sharp instrumentation to carve into the surface. Scratchboard fell out of favor with the advent of other forms of illustration.
I have developed my own technique of scratchboard artwork by combining skills from the past, instrumentation of the present, and a vision of the future. The black surface requires reverse imagery to release the image inside the board. The artist must work to bring the light to the image that is already within the medium. Just like life!
Resume Chester Elmore
DeYoung Museum Summer Youth Program
San Francisco Boys Club Ernest Ingold branch Arts and Craft Shop
Apprenticeships: Eugene White, Matego (Irving Cobbs), and Walter Cobbs.
Scholarship: 1967 Academy of Art San Francisco
FBI Academy Police Artists Course, Quantico, VA 1986
Arts Commission Alameda County California
Shows and Competitions
Pasadena Convention Center 1972
Winner Maritime Art exhibition San Francisco 1973
Gaylords Restaurant, Fishermen’s Warf San Francisco 1973
Casaj Art Gallery, Oakland CA. 1999-2004
A.R.T. Inc. Castro Valley CA Members Only Exhibition Merit Award 2004
The Art of Living Black Exhibit 2004 Richmond Art Center Richmond, CA
The San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society Gallery, 2004
Tilford Art Group Aug 2004 What!!! Mixed Media a Group Exhibition
A.R.T. Inc. Castro Valley CA Members Only Exhibition Hon, Mention Award 2005
Artescape San Ramon CA. BLACK 2005 – Feb 6-Mar 3 2005
San Ramon Public Library San Ramon CA Feb 17- Mar 22 2005
Artescape Studios San Ramon CA Wine Women and Song Mar 6 –Apr 3 2005
Red Dragonfly Gallery San Jose CA Woman Spirit Mar 24-Apr 22 2005
Hayward City Hall Hayward CA Techno-Primitive May 20-July 14 2005
Pro-Arts Open Studios San Ramon June 2 – June 17 2005
Artescape Studios San Ramon CA Summer Solstice June 18 – July 30 2005
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