TheArthur Wright
A short biography
I was born in Little Rock Arkansas in 1940. Three years later, during the Second World War, the family moved to Seattle where my father found defense work at Boeing Aircraft Company. Joining the U.S.Air Force after high school I spent three years in Japan, a country that impressed me immensely then as it continues to do even after all these years. After discharge I attended Central Washington State College in Ellensburg for a year then moved to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in October 1964. I am the father of four children, three robust young males and a lady.
My first writings were published In the early seventies and my art sold well initially but I have done little artistically since those times and it was only since 1994 that I have picked up the paintbrush again with serious intent.
My present and future projects are laid out in a series of panels that I call suites. These panels are works depicting African, African-American, and ethnic themes and experiences. Each suite is composed of related pieces that are also able to stand individually on their own merit as valid works of art. Projected, as well as current, themes are;
The Zulu during the times of Shaka Zulu
The Tuskeegee Airmen
Famous figures of African and African descent
Other pieces of course have come along during this time frame that were not planned events but were still challenging and commanded intense interest and focus on the job at hand. Noire Mystique, one of my first pieces, now adorns the face of a watch that sells with the idea of ‘fine art on the wrist’. In Jack London Square in front of Timeout for Fun and Games is a full-scale standup of Jack London that I painted for a dear friend who owns the gift shop. A print of Noire Mystique was recently selected to hang in a prominent display in Germany. And most recent in December of 1998 was a book cover that is on ‘Garnets and Blackberries’, a book of poems elegantly written by a gifted writer, Ms Brenda Mitchell-Walker. I trust there will be many more of these type challenges to come.
Some of the events I have participated in since 1994 was as follows;
A private showing at the home of Ms Mary Joseph 8/95
Constellation Art Gallery 10/96
Jack and Jill Fund-raiser at Blackhawk Country Club 11/96
Jack and Jill Fund-raiser at Blackhawk Country Club 11/97
Barnes and Noble(Jack London Square) 1/96
Tuesday Art Series-Jack London Square 11/97
Ethnic Notions in Benicia 12/97
Richmond Art Center 2/98
United Nation Center(SF) 2/98
Napa College 2/98
Monterey College 2/98
ProArts Open Studios 2/96
ProArts Open Studios 2/96
The Art of Living Black Open Studios 2/97
A commemoration to On-Air Anchors 4/97
Prescott-Joseph First Annual Art Show 4/97
Artlofts Open Studios 2/97
The Art of Living Black Open Studios 2/98