Airport Collaborates with Art Groove Gallery on Latest Art Exhibition

Fresno Yosemite International Airport Collaborates with Art Groove Gallery on Latest Art Exhibition

Fresno, CA Ahead of National Black History Month 2023, Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is pleased to collaborate with the Art Groove Gallery on an art exhibit. As part of the airport’s latest art exhibition, three local artists showcase their artistry within the Airport’s Arts & Culture Gallery to welcome travelers on their journeys. The artists’ original works include oil and acrylic paintings giving homage to African and African American culture will exhibit through Spring 2023.

“We are excited to partner with the Art Groove Gallery and their featured artists to bring an eye-catching and creative body of works to travelers,” said Director of Aviation Henry Thompson. “Celebrating and showcasing the diversity that makes up our region with a wide-audience is the foundation of the Airports Arts & Culture program.”

“Our creative journey has led us to work with many extraordinary people and organizations. We are grateful we can add the Fresno Yosemite International Airport to our list of collaborative community partners,” said Melanie Glass, Art Groove Gallery Featured Artist.  “We are excited to be working with the FAT Airport Team to showcase our artwork paying tribute to National Black History Month.”

Melanie’s association with B AWESUM connects FAT with the Art Groove Gallery and presents an opportunity to highlight collections by other local artists. In addition to the original works of art honoring Black History Month, the Spectrum Art Gallery will highlight national park-themed photography in the gallery’s featured exhibition space.

In celebration of the FAT Black History Month Exhibit, the Art Groove Gallery will host a reception in association with River Park Shopping Center and B AWESUM. The reception will take place Sunday, February 19, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at River Park’s Art Groove Gallery, 7786 N Blackstone Avenue, Fresno CA 93720.

Festivities begin in the Gallery and outdoor concert area with featured artists Melanie Glass, Byron Elmore, and Bill Wolfmann. Live performances by local musicians and cultural groups as well as guest speakers will round out the event.

Featured Artists – Art Groove Gallery

Melanie Glass is the CEO and Founder of B AWESUM, a start-up business that transforms unoccupied buildings into Creative Spaces for artists and community members to “express, explore, and experience” the Arts. B AWESUM’s fifth transformed vacant retail space at River Park Shopping Center, houses over 25 diverse visual artists and serves as a platform for all Creatives. Glass’s work specializes in expressionism and mix media art.

Byron Elmore is a self-taught fine art painter and a digital artist based in Clovis. Elmore moved to Clovis with his wife after their house burned in the Paradise Fire. Before making the drastic change to become a graphic artist, Elmore worked as a draftsman for various engineering firms for 20 years. Now, he is an Environmental Inspector.

Bill Wolfmann first discovered his talents in fashion drawing and later, while taking art classes in Chelsea and Hampstead Studios in London, in oil painting. After a 25-year career in the fashion industry, Wolfmann decided to pursue painting full-time. Wolfmann began studying art locally and then traveled worldwide, learning techniques from skilled artists in Italy and China. Recently, in 2021, Wolfmann premiered his pandemic self-portraits series, “The Eternal Silent Scream,” at River Park’s Art Groove Gallery.

Featured Artist – Spectrum Art Gallery

Tim Fleming has been a full-time professional photographer since 1978 and is a member of the Spectrum Gallery Photography co-op.  He enjoys photographing the national parks including Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Death Valley, Grand Canyon, and areas of Southwest and West Coast.  His work has been shown in many galleries and art shows on the West Coast, Colorado and is held in private collections nationwide as well as in Canada.

Note: View video highlights of the art exhibit at flyfresno.com.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport and Fresno Chandler Executive Airport are municipally owned entities operating as a self-supporting enterprise.               

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