Known around the country for his vibrant watercolors and sharp graphic design and art direction, James Gayles has spent most of his artistic career creating a body of work that bridges cultures and disciplines. As a result the Emmy award winning artist has become one of the most well known community artists in Oakland.

Two new exhibits running now in downtown Oakland highlight some of his most impressive pieces and provide a comprehensive overview of his work.

A selection of paintings can be seen in the Downtown Marriott, showing courtesy of the Joyce Gordon Gallery, and tonight the Asian Resources Gallery opens a month long show featuring Gayles jazz portraits.

Gayles' watercolors, which have brought him the most acclaim in the Bay Area, are vibrant depictions of life featuring prominent and forgotten African American jazz musicians and cultural figures. The pieces feature familiar giants like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk and Pharoah Sanders just as prominently as lesser known but equally important Bob Geddins, “The Godfather of Oakland Blues”, and Sid LaProtti & The Not So Famous Jazz Band. As a whole his work celebrates African American history while providing a lens to a past that is often overlooked.

Exhibit on Black Music

Asian Resource Gallery

Opening Reception: Thursday, February 18TH, 6pm

Exhibit runs through March 2010

310 Eighth St., Oakland

http://www.ebaldc.org/

James Gayles Jazz Images

Oakland Marriott City Center

Exhibit runs through Feb. 28

1001 Broadway Oakland, CA 94607

510-451-4000

http://www.oakland-marriott.com