Mikal Floyd - Pruitt with painting that can be viewed at the exhibition “IMITATING LIFE: Synthesizing Saneness” at the Terry McCormick Gallery: Contemporary Fine and Folk Art. (Photo courtesy of Anwar Floyd - Pruitt.)
A meaningful connection was established, with Kevin Boatright, Anwar Floyd-Pruitt, and Mikal Floyd-Pruitt, after Evelyn Patricia Terry, founder of the Terry McCormick Gallery of Contemporary Fine and Folk Art, crossed their paths at various venues during Milwaukee’s last Gallery Night. The young emerging artists passionately discussed gaining visibility and building patron bases, two subjects that are dear to Terry’s soul. She said, “Artists desire to thrive and patrons assist in achieving that goal.”
The resulting exhibition “IMITATING LIFE: Synthesizing Saneness,” featuring their artwork opens with a public reception Saturday, December 10, from 12 Noon – 5 pm. The gallery address is 2522 North 18th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For questions, interviews, or appointments at other times, contact terryevelyn@ hotmail.com.
Awestruck by the synchronicity of “associations, interests, and goals,” Terry sees strong foundations for promising art careers for the trio. Thrilled to welcome them, as comrades, to the art scene, she noted that this collaboration represents a reacquainting. A professional artist, herself, she previously met them when they were youngsters. Just in the fifth grade, Anwar, persuaded his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Pruitt, to buy one of Terry’s large watermelon pastels, after she gave a slide lecture at his elementary school. Mikal was a toddler then, but now articulates so many of Terry’s thoughts and concerns that she was moved to say, “I am enthralled by our conversations – I understand because I have been there.”
While a talented art student at Lincoln Center Middle School of the Arts, Kevin worked on a cafeteria mural in Terry’s studio. She was Artist-In-Residence from 1985 through this year. Also, Kevin is the half-brother to a son of George Ray McCormick, Sr.; who passed in 2009. Folk artist, McCormick, Terry’s eleven-year close friend and companion, inspired the creation of the Terry McCormick Gallery after his transition.
Kevin attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. In 2005 he won Best of Show in the Riverwest Artist Association’s Annual Art Walk. His technique involves combining caulk with traditional acrylic paint to create a bizarre surface texture. His themes capture and portray the existence of interior dark emotional realities.
Both Anwar and Mikal graduated from Harvard University. Mikal majored in Filmmaking and took a few art courses. His paintings and original prints present visual stories loosely reflective of his themes as a hip-hop performer and lyricist. Anwar, with a degree in Psychology, functions like a consummate obsessed, selftaught visionary. His subject matter is artmaking and he incessantly creates conceptual folk art composed of “stuff” from recycled found objects
Also represented are the regular gallery artists, Eamon Quinn Bridges, Shana R. Goetsch (watercolors), George Ray McCormick, Sr. (folk art), Ras `Ammar Nsoroma (pastel portraits and paintings), Jacqueline A. Richards, Ktinsley, and Evelyn Patricia Terry (brooches and mixed media artwork).
IMITATING LIFE:
Synthesizing Saneness
December 10, 2011
12 Noon – 5 pm
Location: The Terry McCormick Gallery: Contemporary Fine and Folk Art
2522 North 18th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53206
414.264.6766
terryevelyn@hotmail.com
W: www.evelynpatriciaterry.com