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| 1967 Photography by George Mitchell |
George
Mitchell
has been making serious photographs since his senior year in high school, when
he began photographing traditional blues artists he located or visited with a
Kodak Instamatic camera. He began making more professional photographs in 1967,
when the University of Minnesota School of Mass Communication and Journalism
lent him a camera. He went to Mississippi for the summer to record,
photograph, and interview traditional blues musicians. This trip resulted
in a Master of Arts paper and his first book, Blow My Blues Away, was
published by Louisiana State University Press. For several years in the
late 1960's and early 1970's, he was a reporter in Columbus, Georgia. Under
the tutelage of the photographers at the Columbus Ledger, he took the
photographs, which appeared with his stories. At the Columbus Times, he
was a reporter, a photographer, and later executive editor. During that
period, he produced his second book of photographs and text, I’m Somebody
Important. He
then decided to become a photography teacher, and returned to the University of
Minnesota where he studied photography teaching in both the journalism and art
departments. He taught photography in Atlanta at four high schools for a
total of 25 years. He also authored five more books of photographs and
interviews. There have been a number of solo exhibitions of his
photographs over the years, including three in Atlanta; one in Columbus, Georgia
(a number of his photographs are in the permanent collection of the Columbus
Museum of Art); Sacramento, California; Utrecht, Holland; Jackson, Mississippi
(at the Mississippi Museum of Art); Clarksdale, Mississippi; and Fort
Myers. Mitchell, who spent his first two years in Fort Myers, before
moving to Atlanta, has returned to Fort Myers, where he continues to photograph
for exhibition and publication.
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| Bon Bon by Hernandez |
Raymond Hernandez was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Puerto Rican, descent. He grew up amongst the rural nature of LaBelle, Florida and developed a passion for botany, art, and photography. Hernandez was awarded scholarships from the U.S. Sugar Corp. and the Art Institute of Dallas. His study of fine art and graphic communication, began his career in Texas. In 1985, he moved to New York City, exhibiting his art while illustrating and designing for such cliental as: Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Lancome, Coty, Revlon and Avon. His art has been published both national and internationally on cosmetic packaging, shopping bags, promotional, and novelty products. Hernandez returned to Florida in 2005 to focus on his fine art and encountered numerous artists on a similar path of exhibiting, creating and working together to bring the arts to Southwest Florida. He currently teaches art to children and teens in various Lee, Hendry, and Glades County programs. He was awarded The City of Fort Myers Art and Culture Individual Artist Grant for 2012, 2013 and strives to keep the arts alive. For more information Email: ray06usa@yahoo.com
Roy L. Benton III a Florida native, grew up in Fort Myers. He is a
fourth generation of Marine Contractors and is a Certified General Contractor.
Benton, in his spare time enjoys creating art. His art consists of metal, wood
sculptures and photography. “I taught myself how to weld as a young child
when I would go to work with my father at his marine construction
company. My grandfather built custom homes and I learned woodworking from
him. My uncle, Darryl Pottorf, an international artist taught me an
assortment of valuable techniques. He loves where he grew up and his art
reflects things that have been a part of his life. Benton loves to fish,
dive and enjoys the outdoors. His latest collection of artwork reflects this
and revolves around the marine life and his passion for nature.
Roy Benton III Metal Sculpture
