Melvin Clark

In 1986 Mr. Clark, received a fellowship to do his first woodcuts at the prestigious Printmakers Workshop, NYC. Later that year, he and his wife made the move from Detroit to New York City. In New York, he was able to see live, all the living legends of Jazz. In 1988 he received a New York State Council on the Arts – Artist – in – Residence - Lower East Side Print shop in New York City.

Early on my live music experiences in New York because it had an effect on my art work. I often use musical themes in my art. The energy of live musical performances is what I strive to capture in my compositions.
I vibrate the shadow imagery of my compositions and infuse them with streams of color and energy. I also combine musical imagery with a Still Life motif. I see these works as statements of our need for both physical and spiritual food 

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Influences during this period were varied. I liked the work of the “Post Impressionist”. I especially developed strong admiration for Van Gogh’s drawings. I was impressed by his strength. The German Expressionist work was also of great interest to me. The distortion to enhance expression was awesome. Other influences included Charles White, John Biggers, the Mexican Muralist {Diego Rivera, Arozco, Alfaro Siqueiros and later Tamayo} and the traditional art of Africa, Central and South America, Native America and Oceania.

In 1996 I moved with my wife to the Pocono Mountains. I am now away from the everyday hustle and bustle of the big city. However, I am still close enough to replenish my spirit with a good helping of live music when it’s needed. I continue to exhibit my work worldwide. 

Exhibitions:

• 2005 Fine Art at the Riverfront - Wilmington Delaware 
• 2004 Phillips Fine Art – Evanston, Illinois 2000 MoCADA – Museum of Contemporary African Diasporic Arts, Brooklyn, NY 
• 1999 Ayo Exhibit – Newark, NJ 1998 East Stroudsburg University – East Stroudsburg, PA 
• 1997 Dell Pryor Galleries – Detroit Michigan Color, Lines and Objects – Baltimore, Maryland Artisan Gallery – Stroudsburg, PA 
• 1996 The British Jazz Awards – London, England Art Expo – New York, NY the Hurt Gallery – Nottingham, England 
• 1995 The Museum of Science & Industry – Chicago, Illinois Charity Art Exhibit/Earthquake Relief – Osaka, Japan the Modern African Arts Gallery – Amsterdam, the Netherlands Metropolis Gallery – Baltimore, Maryland 
• 1994 Snug Harbor Cultural Center – Staten Island, NY 
• 1993 North Sea Jazz Festival – Den Haag, the Netherlands Gallery New Morning – Paris, France Rotunda gallery – Brooklyn, NY 
• 1992 Gallery 41 – Stockholm, Sweden Gallery Pocketboger – Copenhagen, Denmark 
• 1991 The Modern African Art Gallery – Amsterdam, the Netherlands Crossing over/Changing Places – The Arts America Program


AWARDS: 

1994 Best of Show – Black Creativity Juried Exhibition, the Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago, Illinois 
1988 New York State Council on the Arts Artist – in – Residence, Lower East Side Print shop, New York City 
1986 Artist Fellowship, the Printmakers Workshop, New York City 




COMMISIONS: 

1998 Mural Commission – New Jersey Transit – Penn Station, Newark, New Jersey 
1997 Poster Commission – The Mississippi Delta Blues Festival, Greenville, Mississippi 
1996 Poster Commission – The Birmingham International Jazz Festival – Birmingham, England 1994 Poster Commission – AMA’R Blues Festival, Copenhagen, Denmark 
1993 NYC School Construction Authority Mural Project – NYC Percent for Arts 

COLLECTIONS: 

The Museum of Modern Art, New York City 
The Modern African Arts Gallery, Amsterdam, 
The Netherlands The Printmakers Workshop, New York City The Lower East Side Print shop, New York City 
The Detroit Board of Education, Detroit Michigan The Pehl Collection, Eldersburg, Maryland.

CFP

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