NWLA Artis Directory Artist Name Jerry Davenport Artist Statement Art is my life!! Since the age of 5, I learned drawing techniques from two of my older brothers. In 1967, I received my first public art award when I was 12 years old (sixth grade) at the Little Theater, New Orleans. I won First Place in Crayon and Color in the Vieux Carre’ Property Owners’ Art Contest, with a drawing of the Saint Louis Cathedral. The Times Picayune noted that I was the only Negro (Black) Student Winner in the Art Division and my photograph was featured in the paper with my artwork! Later as an adult, I had a plaque made from the photo and newspaper article that hangs in my home to remind me of the beginning of my professional art journey!! For over 50 years, I’ve created art to develop the way I view the world. Through colors, lines and textures on paper, canvas, walls, stone, wood and many other objects, I build emotions through motion, light and sound in painting, drawing, photography, dance and song. From the Ninth Ward of New Orleans where I grew up, art has been with me around the world! Resume JERRY DAVENPORT
Juried Artists’ Roster –
Northwest Louisiana Artist Directory (NWLAAD) – nwlaartists.org or SRAC website: shrevearts.org
ARTIST: Creating and teaching art in various media from youth to present. PORTRAIT ARTIST: 1974 to present
Creating portraits & paintings for both for private & public commission in:
-Acrylic
-Charcoal
-Graphite Pencil
-Pastel
-Oil
-Water color MURALIST / DECORATIVE ARTIST: 1974 to Present
Painted murals in homes, schools, businesses and military bases
Public Art Project Murals:
*2000 – ‘Once in A Millennium Moon’ Mural – AT&T Building, Cotton & Marshall Streets, Shreveport, LA – Contract Artist Team Member 2011 – ‘A Call to Action’ Mural, Shreveport-Bossier Convention & Tourism Bureau Building on Crockett Street, Shreveport, LA – Contract Artist Team Member & Mural Painter. (Note: Lead Project Concept & Design Artist, Alison (Ali) Bahler included in her ½ a street block building mural design in one of the painted vignettes represented with avatar likenesses of performing artists Jerry & TaraMa Davenport as dancers, located next to the vignette of Elvis Presley. 2012-2018 – Mudbug Madness Festival – Shreveport, LA
Featured Professional Contract Artist in “the Kids on the Bayou” Section. Annually designed & constructed a 4 1/2 foot mudbug/crawfish sculpture and a 4ft X8ft crawfish black lined art mural for children up to 12 years who attend the festival to paint & interact with. Each completed sculpture & mural was displayed the following year at a designated festival site. PHOTOGRAPHER: 1979 to Present – Local & Regional
Black & white and color portrait photographs for private clients, organizations, newspaper media, businesses and public venues. PAINTING-DRAWING & PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITIONS:
Discipline Multidisciplinary Art Exhibitions –
ARTSPACE: ‘Bonifide!’ 2009, Acrylic Painting
ARTSPACE: ‘Impromptu’ 2011, Tile Mosaic
ARTSPACE: ‘Critical Mass’ 2011-2019, Acrylic Paintings and Mixed Media
SHREVEPORT REGIONAL AIRPORT: May-July 2018 Acrylic Painting Discipline Visual Art Exhibitions –
“National Anthems/Patriots’ Dreams” 2011
BARNWELL CENTER – WAFER ART GALLERY:
My artwork was submitted by the Wafer Gallery to be featured as an advertisement in The Shreveport Times newspaper promoting the exhibition of 15 professional artists, and it was also featured as the podium display at the opening art reception. Solo Visual Art Exhibitions –
MULTICULTURAL CENTER OF THE SOUTH:
Sep-Oct 2009 ‘Jerry Davenport-3D (Painting- Drawing-Photography)’ PAMOJA ART SOCIETY:
May-August, 2014 -“Fan In The Window: An Art Journey With Jerry Davenport” Solo & Discipline Art Exhibitions –
SHREVEPORT MEMORIAL LIBRARY/ Various branches in the city & Caddo Parish; Art Exhibition/Displays of Various Paintings for recognized library calendar celebrations and programs – as a local community contract artist, mentor and volunteer. ARTISTS CALLS / RESIDENCIES – Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC),
Shreveport, LA
December 2016 – March 2017: Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians Exhibition Artist Team Member – personally selected by Big Chief Howard Miller of New Orleans, LA as one of two resident artists for the exhibition and performance. As an Artist Team Member, was also Resident Docent/Tour Guide/Performer & Hands-on Art Activities Artist for the Artspace exhibition during school tours. In addition, as Resident Team Member, participated & assisted in the class/workshop of the Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians Regalia/Costume Beading Workshop held at Artspace presented by Chief Miller and Queen Rukiya (also of New Orleans) for the close of the residency. As a Team Member, was interviewed by the local media in live telecasts and recorded programs July 2015-March 2016: Shreveport “AS IS” Art Project Artist Team Member – personally selected by internationally known, fabric sculptor, visual & performance artist (SoundSuits) and dancer, Nick Cave, in a one of a kind show performance in March 2016 at the historic Shreveport Municipal Auditorium. Jerry was featured in a photo in the May 2016 national JUXTAPOZ Art & Culture Magazine with Artist Nick Cave and a few local participating students that Jerry taught at Volunteers of America, The Lighthouse Center in the Beaded Blankets and Spirit Sticks Project; and Jerry was was also featured with the team in an episode of the Louisiana Public Broadcasting/PBS television series “Art Rocks” about the project. He continued with another phase of the project for the “AS IS” Beaded Blankets & Spirit Sticks Exhibition at Artspace in December 2016. As a Team Member, interviewed by the local media in live telecasts and recorded programs. 1993-2019: ARTBREAK FESTIVAL – Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC)
Shreveport, LA – held annually in April (a week long event that is the Largest Arts Festival for Students in the South) – Artist/Arts Educator: created, and taught hands-on make & take art activities for area public, private & home schooled students in Northwest Louisiana during the week, and to families on the weekend. Provided additional mini-drawing lessons and engaged students and adults with creative entertainment. Interviewed by the local media in live telecasts and recorded programs. BIO – JERRY DAVENPORT
Jerry Davenport is a New Orleans native, (with parental roots in Shreveport, LA) who grew up in the Ninth Ward in a family of 15 children. In 1988 (from Air Force active duty assignments in Turkey, Spain, Europe, etc.), he was assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base, Bossier City, LA. Since his separation from the military, he has been a professional multi-disciplined contract artist and instructor in Visual Art -drawing, painting, portraits, murals, photography, graphics, etc.; Performing Art – dance, choreography, vocal music and much more! He is on the Juried Artists’ Roster of the Northwest Louisiana Artist Directory (NWLAAD) – nwlaartists.org or SRAC website: shrevearts.org, His professional associations as an Arts Educator /Instructor include Shreveport Regional Arts Council-SRAC (Artspace/ArtBreak, etc.), Bossier Arts Council, Pamoja Art Society, etc. and he has taught and participated in many of their programs to include working with national and international known artists. In addition, Jerry has been an art instructor at Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC), Robinson Film Center, Renzi Education and Art Center, Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation (SPAR) Centers, Shreveport Job Corps, many branches of the Shreve Memorial Library system, plus other local and regional arts and community organizations. He is very dedicated, has a strong commitment to children and adults of all ages, and special needs students. Jerry connects with them as an artist with his unique style, sometimes incorporating physical, life skills and culture. He teaches visual art in various mediums and also dance classes, and provides an environment that boosts confidence and creativity regardless of age or ability. His passion for dance, music and singing stems from his youth performing with his family throughout New Orleans. He is an Air Force Veteran, whose assignments took him all over the world. While serving, outside of his regular military specialty duties in communications systems/technology, he performed in the Air Force Tops in Blue Competition, traveling extensively worldwide, and was a winner at all levels. He also continued using his extra-curricula talents in visual art, photography & performing during his military service as well. He received numerous awards for both his military duty specialty & off duty skills and talents. In 2006, he co-founded Shreveport’s first Mardi Gras marching krewe, Blanc et Noir Marching Society. The krewe plays an important role in the annual Highland Mardi Gras Parade because they lead this major community area parade dancing and singing accompanied by a New Orleans style brass band. Being a part of Blanc et Noir on the streets in Shreveport, dancing and singing, is reminiscent of days in his hometown of New Orleans. As a dancer and instructor, he has performed (with artist wife, TaraMa) at the Red River Revel Arts Festival, The Strand Theatre, Southern University, Multicultural Center of the South, Diamond Jacks Casino & Hotel, Harrah’s Louisiana Downs, the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival, and many other public and private venues. To name just a few, his many awards and honors include a Shreveport Mayor’s Award of Excellence for Outstanding Representation of the City of Shreveport and a Shreveport City Council Resolution of Recognition for Artistic Excellence; Southern Black Theatre Festival Legacy Award in Art; Black Star Excellence Art Award; and he has received multiple gold medals in dance with artist wife, TaraMa, ( he has a silver medal in vocals as well) in the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition, and after winning they have been invited six straight years to the annaul national festival to perform in the professional stage shows at prominent concert theatre venues in major cities such as Boston, Reno, Milwaukee & more. He is also one of the 2016 First Inaugural Reconciliation Dinner of Shreveport Honorees for working to encourage reconciliation and achieving social justice efforts through community involvement in art and improving relations. Jerry has also been featured in numerous newspaper and television media to include several Shreveport Tourism promotion videos. Jerry Davenport is passionate about the arts, and respects and embraces the diversity & creativity in others. Education College / University
Xavier University – New Orleans, LA