ARTIST STATEMENT

"In my mind, violence, bigotry, and racism strips us of our dignity as Americans thus taking a toll not only on our society but on us individually, mentally, physically, and spiritually, thus our
Holy Cost."

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ARTIST BIO

Gale Fulton Ross holds a B.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Arts and an M.F.A. in painting from the California College of Arts and Crafts. Initially trained as a museum curator, Fulton Ross received early acclaim as a portrait artist of such African American luminaries as Jackie Robinson, Justice Thurgood Marshall, and A. Phillip Randolph among others.

Fulton Ross has traveled extensively to paint, study, and lecture throughout Europe and Africa. In 1996, she went to China as an award recipient from the U.S. Visiting Artist Program. Her many other awards include: LaNapoule Fellowship (France)1990, West Coast Center for Human Development 1996, and National Coalition of 100 Black Women, 1997.

Gale Fulton Ross' art works are in many private, corporate, and museum collections. Forbes Gallery, N.Y.C., Ford Collection, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, The Arthur Ashe Foundation, Whitney Houston, Thurgood Marshall Estate, Women's Museum of Art (Washington D.C.), Boston Museum of Fine Art, American Museum of African American Artists (Boston), California Museum of African American Art (Los Angeles), Michael Dukakis.

Although Fulton Ross originally hails from Medford, she now divides her time between her galleries and studios in New York and Sarasota, Florida.

Gail Fulton Ross
b. 1947

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ARTIST INTERVIEW

I decided to be an artist when:

"As a little kid (in Boston), drawing paper or a colouring book took up hours of my time. I might have been five or six years old when I remember someone telling me, ‘you’ll probably be an artist when yougrow up.’ That stayed in my. . . I was born to do this."

My inspiration was:

"When I would see art work that enticed me- magazine covers, newspaper articles, anything illustrated. I would look at these pictures, know that somebody did them, and I would aspire to do them just as well. The only difference was, I wanted to put black people in the pictures."

My creative juices are stimulated by:

"It can be the smallest thing, a conversation, something a friend says. It can be my mood, (if) I’m feeling. . . frustration or anger or sadness or incompleteness. If everything is absolutely perfection, which doesn’t happen too often, the last thing I want to do is paint."

My artistic dilemma is:

"I want to express myself as an American artist and do it based on my ethnicity, but I do not want to be called a ‘black artist’ — I want to be called an artist."
My work habit idiosyncrasies include:
"I like to work early in the morning and paint by music, but by the middle of the day, I turn on the soap opera and work on painting while Erica is having her 15th husband. "

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PRESS RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA, PA — September 22, 2001 - ArtJaz Gallery is pleased to announce the solo exhibition of International Artist Gale Fulton Ross entitled " The Holy Cost", Thursday, October 4th through November 1st, 2001.

Fulton Ross triumphantly returns to ArtJaz Gallery for her second exhibition. The exhibition is a two part series. Series I, black and white figurative sketches based Fulton Ross’ creative interpretation from photographs from 1840 to present. They are a compelling depiction of African American achievements and African American culture.
Series II are abstract paintings focused on visual gestures that delve into the human psyche from Fulton Ross’ perspective. Fulton Ross was influenced by American artist, Franz Kline (1910-1962) that is particularly visual in the painting entitled "Shattered" (36" X 33 1/3") with its bold black dynamic strokes. You feel the emotion that affects one mentally and spiritually. In Fulton Ross’ words " In my mind, violence, bigotry and racism strips us of our dignity as Americans thus taking a toll not only on our society but on us individually, mentally, physically and spiritually, thus our Holy Cost".

ArtJaz Gallery one of Philadelphia’s premier fine art galleries specializes in contemporary fine art and custom framing. ArtJaz Gallery is located 51 N. 2nd St. in Old City, Philadelphia. " The Holy Cost", October 4, 2001 through November 1, 2001. Opening Reception, Thursday October 4, 2001 6pm — 9pm.

For additional information, call 215-922-4800.

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