SB Art & Culture Art of Jerry Wray

ORIGINS:

ART BY JERRY WRAY

The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum has opened a display of two prominent women opened a display of two prominent women artists titled, “Origins and Retrospective: A Celebration of Color,” which will be open through October 8, 2021. A Curators’ Reception will be held on Thursday, Septem ception will be held on Thursday, September 16, from 5-7 pm in the West Wing Gallery. ber 16, from 5-7 pm in the West Wing Gallery.

“Origins by Jerry Wray” will feature works in watercolor and acrylic on paper, canvas, and driftwood by Shreveport artist Jerry Wray (1925-2018). Lovingly curated by her daughter, Mary Virginia Hill, you can expect a true celebration of color. Her creations were her non-verbal language for expressing her spiritual journey. “The message in my art is my love for God,” she said. For decades, Jerry Wray shared what she saw in God’s beautiful handiwork with a multitude of art lovers, collectors, and art students. Now, if you’ve never heard of

Jerry Wray or seen her vast collection of work, here’s all you need to know to convince you that she is a Shreveport legend and art world icon. Her work can be found in numerous museum collections across the nation including the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, The Goddard Museum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and the Maier Museum in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is also represented in The Ninth Life Fine Art Gallery in Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, the Ward Nasse Gallery in SoHo, New York, the Art Effects bration of color. Her creations were her non-verbal lan- Gallery in Merion, Pennsylvania, and the Macon Art Gallery in Macon, Georgia. In her own words, Jerry Wray would say to you, “I would like to touch the hearts of those viewing my work. I hope to express the universality of Christianity and the comlectors, and art students. Now, if you’ve never heard of mon bond that binds all mankind together.” From homes

Jerry Wray or seen her vast collection of work, here’s all you need to know to convince you that she is a Shreveport legend and art world icon. Her work can be found in numerous museum collections across the nation including the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Museum at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, The Goddard Museum in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and the Maier Museum in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is also represented in The Ninth Life Fine Art Gallery in Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, the Ward Nasse Gallery in SoHo, New York, the Art Effects Gallery in Merion, Pennsylvania, and the Macon Art Gallery in Macon, Georgia. In her own words, Jerry Wray would say to you, “I would like to touch the hearts of those viewing my work. I hope to express the universality of Christianity and the common bond that binds all mankind together.” From homes

in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama to homes in England, Germany and Singapore - even the King of Saudi Arabia’s Summer Pal-the King of Saudi Arabia’s Summer Palace, Jerry Wray has captured the hearts and minds of private and public collectors. With a painting career that spanned over 50 years, her work has been honored by inclusion in Louisiana Women of Arts, the National Association of Women in the Arts and tional Association of Women in the Arts and the Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques for Landscape by Hazel Sloan. Disciplined and certainly prolific, Jerry Wray painted over 1000 pieces of art in the last 10 years of her life. Still, she found the time to paint with her daughters and grandchildren. Her goal of leaving something for prosperity has been accomplished. Her legacy is not only what she has left on her canvas but how only what she has left on her canvas but how she touched the lives of so many people. To see the art of Jerry Wray, visit the Louisi-see the art of Jerry Wray, visit the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum absolutely free of charge at 3015 Greenwood Road during regular museum hours: Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.