James Brown Music Festival News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2006
Augusta, Georgia USA

Media Inquiries: Anthony R Page
Chair of Exhibitions Committee
404.786.3277 apage@jbmf.org

Visual Artists Across 5 Continents Celebrate the Godfather of Soul’s 50th Anniversary

The James Brown Music Festival “We Feel Good” committee announces today that more than 65 visual artists from more than 40 cities across the world will participate in the inaugural tribute to the Godfather of Soul. A growing list of well known and emerging artists submitting original drawings, paintings, etchings, photography and some three dimensional works, with the theme of Mr. Brown and his musical legacy, will be on display at select exhibition sites throughout the city of Augusta. The committee sought a culturally diverse group of artists working in all styles and media in an exhibition dubbed Visual Soul. The collection of works can be seen between May 1st and June 14th in Augusta and is expected to travel to other cities across the United States through 2007. Paul R Jones, one of the top collectors of African-American art, will be the official juror for the exhibition and has been named honorary chair of the exhibitions committee. Mr. Jones has one of the largest private collections of African-American art in the United States. He recently donated a significant portion of his work to the University of Delaware to launch an African-American art studies program.

Notable artists Ralph Megginson (Atlanta, GA); Karen Pike (Los Angeles); Dr. Chouaieb Saidi (Paris, Atlanta); Vikki Myers (Calgary, Alberta - Canada); Ruth Olivar Millan (San Felipe, Mexico); Lotfi Seghaier (Monastir, Tunisia - Africa); Youn Woo Chaa; (Los Angeles, California / Seoul, Korea); Justin Jenkins (Morgantown, West Virginia); Sandra Betancort (Caracas, Venezuela); Anna Ivanova (Tashkent, Uzbekistan); Gujjarapa Benegare (Bangalore, India) and Bob Cauley (Hugo, Oklahoma) among many others will be flanked by local favorites Grady Abrams, Rhian Swain-Giboney, Audrey Crosby, Billy S and Elizabeth Barnes. Internationally renowned artist Terrence T. Hill of Red Springs, North Carolina will make an official presentation to Mr. James Brown & his family. The presentation will be an original work with estimated value of $20,000. Mr. Hill has made similar presentations to other highly regarded figures including Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Rev. Al Sharpton, Tiger Woods, and several memorial leather carvings on the 1st Anniversary of 911 for the City of New York.

City leaders see this not only as an occasion to celebrate a musical legend, but an opportunity to showcase the area’s growing cultural diversity while promoting its thriving arts community. Augusta Mayor, Mr. David “Deke” Copenhaver will offer a special award for his choice of “Best in Show,” which will be presented during the overall music festival’s opening event. Local educators are developing a plan for an arts exhibition that will highlight student talents.

To find out more about Visual Soul visit our website at www.visualsoul.org

More about the Festival:
The James Brown “Soul of America” Music Festival
The first annual James Brown “Soul of America” Music Festival will be held in the Memorial Day Weekend - Thursday, May 25, - Monday, May 29, 2006 in historic downtown Augusta, Georgia. The festival will be a national celebration for the “Godfather of Soul” and his influence on music and culture worldwide. The festival planners will also use this occasion to celebrate America’s greatest legacy: its comprehensive embrace of diversity and the quality of living that has been built on its creed. Through the contributions of one of America’s greatest sons, Mr. James Brown, the ‘Festival’ will celebrate the “Soul of America.”


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