Art drawn from the birthplace of blues and jazz will go on show in the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival, thanks to support from a local gallery.

The Kaya Gallery on Southside Street will be hosting an exhibition of jazz and blues-inspired art, timed especially to coincide with this year’s ten-day festival, which runs from May 1-10.

The gallery has secured some stunning pieces from leading New Orleans artist Bob Graham, who has lived and worked as an artist in the city’s French Quarter for more than 25 years. He is one of America’s best portrait artists, particularly noted for his vibrant jazz images, as well as the Hall of Fame player portraits for the New Orleans Saints.

In addition, the gallery has sourced a number of pieces from one of Bob’s own pupils, Theresa Jones, who studied with him once again capturing the spirit and energy of the New Orleans jazz scene.

Norman Holmes, Kaya Gallery’s owner (and a jazz and blues fan), has also shipped over work from Californian artist Bettie Grace Miner, whose paintings are bought by jazz enthusiasts worldwide. Plus work by Plymouth painter Martin Bush will also be in the music-themed exhibition.

Said Norman: “Music and painting are intertwined by their very nature. Both use rhythms, beauty, climactic moments and the interplay of balance and interest, and I’ve put together a selection of work that I believe really captures the colour and emotion of the music.”

The exhibition runs simultaneous to the Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival, from May 1-10.
For more details, call Norman at the Kaya Gallery on 01752 267474.

More exhibitions as part of the Festival
There are exhibitions elsewhere as part of the Festival’s existing programme. Plymouth photographer Neil Holden will be exhibiting his work in Festival HQ (The B-bar, Castle Street, Plymouth, PL1 2NJ), plus self-portraits taken by young people with their musical instruments will also be on show there, following a competition to find happy-snappers amongst Devon’s junior players.