Frank Morrison Art Collection
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Frank
Morrison Born in Massachusetts then brought by his
family to live in New Jersey at an early age, Frank
Morrison was reared and spent his formative years there,
an affable, precocious and inquisitive youngster whose
curiosity about everything around him seemed limitless.
Then, as an energetic pre-teen, he was interested and
enthused by the youthful fads, interests and activities
which marked his world: the neighborhood D.J's with
their followers and fans at neighborhood parties, the
colorful ‘tags’ of local characters which
were splashed across fences, parks and buildings, and
the loose-jointed "B" boys and break-dancers
who enlivened week-end party scenes. In this setting
his world was suddenly rife with possibilities and
he became convinced that he, too, could DO this! |
In
no time, invested with a brilliant flow of creativity,
his eye for and execution of colorful ‘tags’ and ‘R.I.P’ scenes
began to bring him considerable ‘street recognition’ and
local acclaim. But what soon pleased him more was his mounting
reputation as a "B" boy--break-dancing, popping
and locking with such skill and control that he became a
regular on the dance crew of R & B star Sybil. After
a couple of years traveling with her, he joined the touring
crew of The Sugar Hill Gang, appeared on "Show Time
At The Apollo", performed on the video "Rap Mania",
and with the dance company of the movie, "New Jack City".
In fact,
it was while dancing and touring the nation and European
continent that he chanced to visit The Louvre Museum
in Paris that he "met his Muse". As he walked the
halls there, he was consumed by what he saw. Looking at the
work of the Masters in The Louvre, he was reminded of what
he had unconsciously reached for in his sprawling graffiti
pieces; he recognized realms of color, style, passionate
expression and possibilities that he had never before imagined.
Upon
returning to New York, Morrison became a ‘regular’ at
local museums and galleries--knowing that he had to return
to his art. With a renewed vision and an informed eye, the
still teen-aged Morrison followed his heart, began the development
of an expressive style of his own, crafted his first portfolio,
and set out to market his paintings.
One need
take only a cursory view/examination of his portfolio or
his work ‘en gallery’ to find that his power
and inspiration are products of his deeply religious grounding
and his loving commitment to his family. His innate musicality,
natural rhythmic bent and intrinsic understanding of physical/spiritual/emotional
expression both invade and explode from his paintings.
Notable
collections of Morrison’s art are owned by
former New York City School Chancellor Rudy Crew, New Orleans
Senator Gregory Tarver, renown actor/philanthropist Bill
Cosby who prides himself on nurturing the talents of emerging
African American artists, and Dr. Lorraine Hale among others.
His work has enhanced the settings of televisions shows "Malcolm
and Eddie", "New York Undercover", "Cosby" and
has been a featured artist on the Home Shopping Network.
Morrison
has received commissions from the irrepressible radio/TV
commentator Tom Joyner, the Essence Music Festival
in New Orleans, and executed serially mounted musical scenes
for the compact discs "Impulsively Ellington: A Tribute
to Duke Ellington. and Down-to-the-Bone’s "Crazy
Vibes and Things". His artwork has been displayed in
prestigious locales shows such as "The National Black
Fine Arts Show" produced by Jocelyn Wainwright, at the
Savacou Gallery in Manhattan, and was honored and given a
one-man show at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black
Culture sponsored by ESSENCE ART and Toyota.
He earnestly declares that he is rendered speechless with
pride when he finds his work displayed adjacent to and in
conjunction with Romare Bearden originals.
His initiatives
include publication of two illustrated children’s
books "Zazzy Miz Mozetta" and "Harlem Morning".
Which will be readied for publication in fall 2004.
Morrison’s work is inspired, not only by his rich
and varied life experiences but, by his love and gratitude
for his family--his wife Connie, three sons and a daughter
and the omnipresent Hand of God. Each of his paintings bears
his signature, of course, accompanied by the notation "TTG" representing
and reminding all of his "Thanks To God" for the
blessings of his gifts--his family and his talents.
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