Spring Break
George Hunt's blues-inspired art on display at the UA
Amanda Wells
Issue date: 1/16/08 Section: Life & Style
George Hunt paints the blues.
It isn't the color blue that is the focus of his work, but instead the blues music that has been a part of the painter's life since he was a child growing up in the South.
The Memphis-based artist, born in rural Louisiana in 1940 and raised in Hot Springs, began drawing when he was about 4 years old. His grandmother helped to spark his early interest in art.
"As a small child, I was a sickly child, so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother," Hunt said. She provided him with crayons and paper to help him pass the time.
In fifth grade, Hunt was named as the official artist for his class, and he began to receive attention and praise from his teachers, he said. These days, Hunt is recognized by many as one of the most influential black artists from the South, and his blues-inspired paintings have been exhibited nationwide.
Some examples of Hunt's vibrant work can be seen on the lobby level of Mullins Library through February as part of the "My America: The Southern Blues" project. Hunt's exhibit, titled "Visions of Blues Icons," consists of several paintings hand-picked by the artist to spotlight the rich history of the blues in Arkansas.
"My roots are in Arkansas," Hunt said, "and Arkansas is one of the frontiers for blues. Many blues and jazz musicians came to Hot Springs when I was growing up, and I was influenced by those people."
One man whom Hunt found particularly influential was legendary blues musician Robert Johnson. The singer/guitarist was among many famous blues musicians - including Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Peter "Memphis Slim" Chatman - who played in Arkansas during their careers.
It wasn't until after Hunt left Arkansas, however, that he really began to express his love of blues music through his art. After studying art under a renaissance master at the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College - which is now UA Pine Bluff - he moved to Memphis, Tenn., and began post-graduate work at the University of Memphis.
It isn't the color blue that is the focus of his work, but instead the blues music that has been a part of the painter's life since he was a child growing up in the South.
The Memphis-based artist, born in rural Louisiana in 1940 and raised in Hot Springs, began drawing when he was about 4 years old. His grandmother helped to spark his early interest in art.
"As a small child, I was a sickly child, so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother," Hunt said. She provided him with crayons and paper to help him pass the time.
In fifth grade, Hunt was named as the official artist for his class, and he began to receive attention and praise from his teachers, he said. These days, Hunt is recognized by many as one of the most influential black artists from the South, and his blues-inspired paintings have been exhibited nationwide.
Some examples of Hunt's vibrant work can be seen on the lobby level of Mullins Library through February as part of the "My America: The Southern Blues" project. Hunt's exhibit, titled "Visions of Blues Icons," consists of several paintings hand-picked by the artist to spotlight the rich history of the blues in Arkansas.
"My roots are in Arkansas," Hunt said, "and Arkansas is one of the frontiers for blues. Many blues and jazz musicians came to Hot Springs when I was growing up, and I was influenced by those people."
One man whom Hunt found particularly influential was legendary blues musician Robert Johnson. The singer/guitarist was among many famous blues musicians - including Sonny Boy Williamson, Howlin' Wolf and Peter "Memphis Slim" Chatman - who played in Arkansas during their careers.
It wasn't until after Hunt left Arkansas, however, that he really began to express his love of blues music through his art. After studying art under a renaissance master at the Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College - which is now UA Pine Bluff - he moved to Memphis, Tenn., and began post-graduate work at the University of Memphis.
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