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Artist becomes the art
Seventeen years ago, Jerry Gray had a conversation with friend and fellow artist, Richard Reed, discussing the artwork that they like and, ideally, if they could build a collection, what would it include. Reed’s answer was, “If I had the money and ability to collect art- work, I would only buy self portraits.”
That echoed in Gray’s mind through the years and inspired his new exhibit, de- buting at Switchboard on October 17th.
Desire to create
Ever since he could hold a crayon, Jerry Gray has felt a burning desire to create. Gray explains, “The first piece I can remember creating was at Sunday school. The instructor asked us to draw a picture of happiness. I can’t remember if I used fingerpaints. or crayons or markers, but I remember the image. It was a full sun while it was raining and that was one of my first relatively abstract thoughts. It began an emotional connection to something I created.”
That moment sticks out to Gray because he was not copying or trying to imitate, this was original thought and it made him realize that he loved making things.
The journey to ‘capital A Artist’ for Gray started in college, when he found joy in working with materials and getting his hands dirty. Free from a desk and a computer and with the ability to move in any direction his inspiration pulled him, Gray remarks, “That’s when
I realized that I liked to create what I wanted to create. I didn’t want to have a job to create what others wanted me to create.”
For Gray’s new exhibit at Switchboard the subject will be. . . his own face. Reflecting on the exhibit, Gray said this process has challenged him in ways he didn’t expect. Self-conscious as the center of his own work, but optimistic for what people will take away from it. “I’m hoping that viewers will find the exhibition fun, perhaps. . . amusing…. I’m trying to be lighthearted about it.”
The goal of the new exhibit is to explore new processes and materials without changing the subject of the work, Gray’s own face. Asked what he was most proud of in the exhibit he says,
“The entirety of the exhibition will have been created within about 2 1/2 months beyond when the photos were taken. That feels pretty cool to me.”
Check out Jerry Gray’s new exhibition at 912 Monroe St. Switchboard419.com. Opening Thursday, October 17th at 6pm.
