Above and Beyond III
Welcome to a series of interviews by local artist and 2021 Benefit Art Auction afficionado Grace Eason, featuring the generous donors who have created pieces for this year’s event!
This week for the Benefit Art Auction’s artist spotlight, I got to speak with Jeromy Morris, who contributed Above and Beyond III (available here). Morris is deeply embedded in the Lawrence arts scene, and is curator for the Cider Gallery. I asked him about the piece he made for this year’s auction, and shared his views about the importance of community in art:
“At 81 inches tall and 36 inches wide, my donation to the Lawrence Arts Center Benefit Art Auction is one of the largest pieces I’ve made to date. Above and Beyond III was created in early fall 2020 during the height of the pandemic, and is a bird’s eye view of downtown Lawrence. Our resilience as a community has been inspiring on many levels. This is my homage to a time when most went above and beyond to care for others in our community.
A community that supports the arts has a more vibrant inclusive culture. The Arts Center is a driving force behind our local scene. I’m happy to do my part to support organizations that make it possible for artists not only to succeed, but also flourish. The Lawrence Arts Center does just that.”
– Jeromy Morris
Morris’ piece is one that can be appreciated online, but really shines when it is viewed in person. I love that you can feel his reverence for Lawrence in the the magnitude and detail of this painting. More of his work is available online here. We are so grateful for his contributions to the community and to the auction!