Yo Grits and Good as Ours: Support SpiritHouse and NCCU 2/17!!!

Yo Grits Aint Good as Mine: Support SpiritHouse and NCCU February 17!!!

Three artists, three fantastic visions, one night…

January, 08 2007

For Immediate Release
Durham, N.C. - Harry Davis, Derrick Mayo and Rodney Edwards: three artists from completely different worlds, drawn to canvas for different reasons. Harry Davis, an Army veteran and Wilmington, North Carolina native, was re-birthed through paints and canvases after an accidental shooting left him wheelchair bound. His subjects vary from tribal, to Americana to spiritual, but his masterful use of bold colors remain the same. His work is in the private collections of Halle Berry and Denzel Washington. His showings range from venues as varied as the CIA to our very own Artsplosion in Raleigh, North Carolina
Derrick Mayo looks more like an Indy rock star than the talented painter he is; sultry, brooding eyes and long dreadlocks complete the impression. His instruments are paintbrushes and his fans are the many canvases which welcome him with open arms when he begins to stroke their surfaces with a rhythm and cadence that produces such works as Expressions of Melody or Bird Lives or Lady Day. He pays homage to late, great jazz artists and angels of dance. If passion were a song it would be his alone, the words written across the surface of his canvases. His talent has been recognized and appreciated by the Durham Regional Hospital and Charlotte Mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon.

In each family there is a wild, errant child, but we love him nonetheless. This triumvirate is no different. Rodney Davis, foster child, in and out of prison since he was a teenager, was convicted of murder by the time he was nineteen. But did that kill the spirit in this man? Never. He twisted and manipulated his anger into an art form which through its sheer power made its way outside the prison walls into banks, corporations and art aficionados' personal coffers. His pain ripples across the surface of his canvases in broad strokes of darkness and light, transferring itself to the viewer. Inspirational, aching and revelatory all at once, his work will leave you emotionally dazzled.

On February 17, 2007 from 7-10pm these artists will have their work on display at a reception being held at North Carolina Central University's Law School. Hosted by the Grits and Gravy Filmmakers and Writers Festival as its first annual Artists in Motion fundraiser event, all work purchased is tax deductible for up to twenty five percent of the purchase price.

Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
For more information contact Aisha Hicks at (919) 636-1751 or at gritsandgravy08@nc.rr.com.