Currently on a ten percent off sale for the summer at a variety of locations, ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, recently joined the line-up of books featured on the G.R.I.T.S. Online Reading Club for the month of July 2008.  

A showcase of award-winning art by Luther E. Vann, whose work is currently on exhibit at the Jepson Center in Savannah, Georgia, and writings by well-known author Aberjhani, ELEMENTAL has become one of the most acclaimed gift books on the market since its release in May.  The weekly newsmagazine Connect Savannah described ELEMENTAL as, “a beautiful book…the reproductions of the paintings are outstanding. The poems were inspired by the paintings, and make perfect companions for the reproductions… a real delight and was definitely worth the wait.” Art critic, author, and collector Ja A. Jahannes called it “A wondrously amazing book.” 

In addition to ELEMENTAL, other titles featured on G.RI.T.S. include: Say You’re One of Them, by Uwem Kapan; When a Man Loves a Woman, by LaConnie Taylor Jones; Heavenly Places, by Kimberly Cash Tate; and Release Me, by Farrah Rochon. The G.R.I.T.S. Online Reading Club was established in 2008 and is now celebrating “8 Years of Reading Excellence Online!” 

Copies of ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, can be picked up at the following locations: Barnes and NobleBlack Books Plus The Diaspora Market Place  (912-232-2626)       The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum (912-231-8900)  

Vann’s ELEMENTAL exhibition at the Telfair Museum Jepson Center for the Arts is currently scheduled to run until September 14 and Vann is presently considering options for an even larger exhibition of his work to go on tour.  ––30—
 

CTI News Room (Savannah, Georgia USA)– Acclaimed artist Luther E. Vann became the first Savannah-born African-American artist to have a one-man exhibit at the Telfair Museum’s Jepson Center for the Arts when his show opened there April 16, 2008. On May 29, the Jepson Center will host “An Evening with Luther E. Vann and Friends,” an event open to the public from 6-7 p.m.

The event will include a presentation by the artist reading from his newly released book, ELEMENTAL: The Power of Illuminated Love (Soar Publishing); a statement of interpretation of Vann’s work by Dr. Ja A. Jahannes; and other surprise events followed by a book signing.  His book is now available at the Jepson Center Gift Shop, telephone (912) 790-8831 and through Soar Publishing at this url: http://www.soarpublishingllc.com/ . 

“This event,” said Vann, “is very special for many different reasons. For one thing, it represents a major successful effort on behalf of the Telfair Museum, working with the Friends of African-American Arts, to interact more inclusively with Savannah’s African-American community. Secondly, the book ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, is one that I started with the author Aberjhani almost two full decades ago, so it’s a true blessing to see the project coming to such beautiful fruition and we’re grateful to all those who helped make it happen.”  

Vann has some 16 pieces of art on exhibit in the Jepson Center’s Lewis Gallery. His new book includes more than 60 reproductions of his art along with accompanying poems and introductory essays by Aberjhani. In addition to ELEMENTAL, Aberjhani recently released several new books, including his profile of life in Savannah entitled The American Poet Who Went Home Again.

The Telfair Museum of Art is one of the oldest public art museums in the United States. In addition to Vann’s show, it also currently has on display photographs of the legendary Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. Moreover, the museum is the permanent home of a collection of portraits by Kahlil Gibran, the celebrated author of The Prophet.

The Telfair’s Jepson Center is located at 207 W. York Street. For more information, please call (912) 790-8800.   –30–