Atlanta, Georgia Local News
Buckhead Art & Co. debuts newest exhibit on James Brown, “Echoes of the Flame”
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Legacy filled the room. June is Black Music Month and this year brings a special tribute to the legendary artist and Augusta native, the late James Brown.
On June 15th, Buckhead Art & Company, in collaboration with the James Brown Foundation, debuted the James Brown exhibit, “Echoes Of The Flame.” Running until June 30th, the exhibit showcases multiple artists paying homage to the iconic “Get On Up” singer.
LaMont Z. Russell, events and marketing manager for Buckhead Art & Company, explained that the idea originated with a phone call to the gallery. The proposal for the show in Buckhead was made possible through collaboration with the James Brown estate and Primary Wave, the record company that holds the rights to Brown’s music as well as music by Whitney Houston, Burt Bacharach, and Prince.
Russell highlighted the cultural importance of James Brown’s music and its connection to various genres, especially hip-hop. Brown’s pioneering work in freestyling and his broader impact on music underscored the necessity of bringing the exhibit to a city renowned for its place in the art and music worlds, “Everyone loves James Brown, especially here in the south, but also just looking at the hip- hop show that we did and how his music relates to so many other genres,” Russell told The Atlanta Voice.
Selecting the artists for the exhibit was straightforward for Buckhead Art & Company. They chose artists already affiliated with their gallery, focusing on those skilled in realism and depictions of people. These artists were invited to contribute their unique perspectives and talents to the exhibit. The exhibit’s alignment with Black Music Month added an extra layer of significance.
Among the featured artists is Shawn Stewart, known professionally as “Stu.” Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Stewart moved to Atlanta in 2017 with little more than clothes on his back and big dreams. Reflecting on his journey, Stewart shared that the move was driven by a lack of opportunities in Dayton and a desire to give his art a chance to flourish. Before pursuing art, Stewart had played football since he was seven years old. When his football dreams ended, he felt a void that was unexpectedly filled when he decided to create a painting for his new condo’s dining room.
Stewart expressed deep admiration for James Brown’s cultural contributions, both musically and artistically. For his piece in the exhibit, Stewart chose an image of James Brown that deeply resonated with him. The image, depicting Brown in a tracksuit and glasses, captured a different side of the artist—one of comfort and confidence, contrasting with the more familiar image of Brown as a sweaty, cape-clad performer. “James Brown represents a golden age of music, laying the foundation for future generations of African American artists to express themselves creatively,” said Stewart.
Veteran Buckhead Art & Company artist Dean Beresford from Clayton County, was also among one of the artists submitting for the exhibit. Upon the initial invitation to submit a piece for the exhibit, his immediate thought was to capture James Brown’s dynamic stage presence. Recognizing Brown as one of the greatest entertainers of all time and the Godfather of Soul, Beresford felt compelled to depict him performing with all the intensity and passion he was known for. Over 60 hours, Beresford transformed a carefully selected reference photo into a stunning pencil drawing, enhanced with rhinestones and stones to add an extra pop. “I wanted to do a piece that just invoked him, performing, singing his heart out, and just using that to showcase my skills and my pencil drawings,” said Beresford.
Dr. Yamma Brown, a clinical pharmacist, and James Brown’s daughter, expressed deep pride in seeing her father’s legacy celebrated in such a meaningful way. Dr. Brown highlighted how the exhibit honors her father’s monumental impact on music and serves as an inspiration for new generations of artists. “Atlanta is very near and dear to my heart because I’ve lived here for so many years, and it is a very richly rooted African American city, and has been for a long, long time. It’s apropos for a city like this to be the city that gives back to my dad,” said Dr. Brown.
Heather Hayes, a close friend of Dr. Yamma Brown and daughter of legendary musician Isaac Hayes, shared her thoughts on the exhibit. Hayes, who danced for James Brown for six years starting in 1995, described the experience as a profound blessing. She recounted their first meeting at a show, where she hid her identity for the first six months, auditioning under her mother’s maiden name.“Once he found out, he was like, ‘You should have told me Isaac was your daddy. I know your dad,’ ” Hayes shared. This discovery brought Hayes closer to Brown and his family; their bond growing stronger during rehearsals. “If Yamma would come on the road and she would want to go out, he would only let her go out with me,” Hayes recalled.
The exhibit is open through June 30.
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Noah Washington
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