Curatorial Statement by Jymi Bolden

Though the inspiration for the exhibit, UPRISING, is drawn from the headlines of current events; the issues are of historic proportion. The imagery of this exhibit confronts the viewer with the injustices to which today’s young artists bare witness. The viewer is also reminded

of the fact that these injustices are reruns of race-based atrocities through the lens of images drawn from the life experiences of the veteran artists in the exhibit.

UPRISING attempts to add the dimension of time to the beauty of these expressions meant to counteract the ugliness of hate and bigotry. Historically, art has been a vehicle used to illustrate, protest, and in best case scenarios, heal social injustices. The images of UPRISING

exemplify all of these possibilities. This exhibit seeks to be a participant in the process of social healing.    

As a way to give back to the community, art prints and postcards of each of the images on exhibit will be available for sale, with net proceeds split between the artist (50%) and the remainder being donated to the Ohio Justice and Policy Center (50%).

BIO: 

Jymi Bolden is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Since receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, majoring in photography, from the Art Academy of Cincinnati, he has enjoyed a successful career working both sides of the artist’s fence.  For more than 25 years he has combined the creative freedom of being a fine arts photographer with the discipline of working as a documentary photojournalist and commercial photographer.

For the first ten years of its existence, Bolden was the Photo Editor of CityBeat. His work has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, with multiple First Place News Photography awards.  Bolden’s photos are published regularly in national media such as Ebony magazine, as well as a host of other publications.

As founder and principle photographer of Not On Fourth Street Gallerie Photography since 1986, Bolden has amassed a long and impressive list of commercial clients comprised of corporate and small businesses, community service organizations, arts and educational institutions, as well as individuals.

The fine art photography of Jymi Bolden has been exhibited in galleries as far away as Munich, Germany and Havana, Cuba.  The museum and gallery exhibits and alternative-venue shows in which his work has appeared are too numerous to mention in this format.  There is a multitude of his photos and drawings in museum, corporate and private collections.

Between freelancing and creating new work, Bolden has found time to give back to the community. He has sat on numerous arts organization committees and boards. He has participated in various local and regional arts and social initiatives. Bolden has also been a mentor and taught youth photography classes at the Cincinnati Art Museum, and local after-school programs. In 2009 he was inducted to the Cincinnati Scholarship Foundation Hall of Fame.

Bolden has been Gallery Director of Art Beyond Boundaries gallery since March, 2007.  Their mission is to showcase the work of and promote the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the arts, both as participants and spectators.