Published: March 20, 2008 03:47 pm            

Artist Jim Moon's work on exhibit

North Carolina artist Jim Moon, an icon among Southern painters and mentor to more than 50 artists throughout the world, will exhibit his work at the Art Spot at the Peachtree Branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library, at 1315 Peachtree Street, directly across the street from the High Museum, March 29 through May 3. His opening reception will be on Saturday, March 29, from 4 until 6 p.m.

Painting in a personal style reminiscent of Henri Rousseau, his influence stretches back more than half a century. Entertaining dinner guest at his Palladian home in the North Carolina woods, once a part of the 4,000 acre Cooleemee Plantation on the Yadkin River, he often expounds on his personal recollections of some of the greats in the Twentieth Century history of art. These may include stories about social gatherings or events involving his friendships with such luminaries as Peggy Guggenheim; Yves Tanguy; Carlo Scarpa, the famous architect; and Tony Bower, managing editor of Art in America.

In the years since his first solo exhibition in New York City in 1949, North Carolina artist Jim Moon has worked mainly in oil painting and serigraph. Educated in the USA (Cooper Union, NYC), Italy (Accademia Pietro Vanucci, Perugia), and Mexico (Mexico City College), his paintings explore centuries old human hopes and follies with a mastery of color and composition and sly wit. His works are in many public and private collections including New York’s Museum of Modern Art. .

In 1967 Jim Moon became the founding director of the Art Department of the North Carolina School of the Arts. During his tenure there he was instrumental in founding the North Carolina Dance Theater and the Alamance County Arts Council, and initiated Salem College’s Art Summer School Program in Asolo , Italy.

In 1995 Jim Moon founded the Asolare Fine Arts Academy as a not-for-profit community service arts organization. It is very active in mentoring and creating exhibitions for artists, and its annual exhibitions at Lincoln Center’s Cork Gallery in New York City have included artists from North Carolina and Virginia. The Asolare Fine Arts Academy is a co-sponsor of the Art Spot, alternating monthly exhibits with Georgia artists of the Georgia Fine Arts Academy.

In 2001 Jim Moon began collaboration with the Macedonian artist Sergej Andreevski, resulting in an exhibition for Mr. Andreevski at Lincoln Center, followed by one man shows at the Captain White Gallery of the Alamance County Arts Council in Graham NC, the Domicile Gallery in Winston- Salem NC, and the Waterworks Visual Arts Center in Salisbury NC.

In 2003 the Asolare Fine Arts Academy sponsored an exhibition organized by Mr. Andreevski of 10 Macedonian artists at Lincoln Center’s Cork Gallery in New York City. In recognition of his work, Jim Moon was awarded the 2003 “Macedonian Spiritual Konaks” title in Struga, Macedonia, given annually to one Macedonian and one foreign artist for their achievements in the field of the arts. In 2006 Jim Moon was given a one man show at the National Gallery of Macedonia in Skopje. From the exhibition the National Gallery acquired 18 his works.

In 2003 Jim Moon created the Asolare Foundation, putting his property into a trust for the Foundation as a pe rmanent center for the instruction and support of the arts.

In the Art Spot exhibitions the library walls are transformed into an exhibition space. The program is sponsored by the Georgia Fine Arts Academy and the Asolare Fine Arts Academy of North Carolina. Its goal is to transform library space into an exciting environment that will visually inspire the reader as he conducts his search for books and videos to inspire his mind. Future exhibits will include Georgia artists and some of the 50 artists the Asolare Fine Arts Academy encourages and supports from North Carolina, Virginia and Macedonia. The Asolare Fine Arts Academy has held annual exhibitions at Lincoln Center in New York during the past 12 years.

For more information on the Art Spot at the Peachtree Branch of the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, contact Mary Silver, manager, at 404-885-7830.

        

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