MEMPHIS IN MAY UNVEILS 2022 FINE ARTS POSTER HONORING GHANA

March 24, 2022 - MEMPHIS, TN. - Memphis in May International Festival unveiled the 2022 Fine Arts Poster honoring the Republic of Ghana tonight in the National Civil Rights Museum’s Hyde Hall. The original work for the Fine Arts Poster is acrylic on canvas and was created by Memphis artist Carl Moore.

“This will be Carl’s second work of art honoring Ghana, because the 2020 salute was postponed due to the pandemic,” said James L. Holt, President and CEO of Memphis in May International Festival. “Since we were forced the cancel the planned salute in 2020 due to COVID, we felt a new artwork for the 2022 celebration was appropriate, and Carl graciously created a beautiful new painting for this year’s eagerly anticipated salute to Ghana. There is a high degree of excitement about Ghana and we predict this year’s limited-edition poster will be popular among art enthusiasts and collectors.”

Mr. Moore attended the Chicago Art Institute and graduated from the Memphis College of Art with both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees of Fine Art in Painting and Illustration. He has participated in over 150 solo and group exhibitions and gives back to the community by serving on numerous boards and committees that support and promote the arts. Additionally, he curates exhibitions for several nonprofit and alternative gallery spaces.

Moore describes his art as a form of visual communication using simplicity and depth to express social and ethical issues, and uses color and composition to express mood, situation and ideas, and by placing people and objects in common and uncommon situations.

Moore focuses on the Ghana flag in this design. “The Ghana flag was adopted upon independence of the Dominion on March 6, 1957. It was designed the same year by Theodosia Okoh, a renowned Ghanaian artist.” Said Moore “I continued the design by incorporating the Monument to Gwame Nkrumah in Accra Ghana, First PM and President of Ghana following the country's independence from Britain in 1957. In the bottom of the design the monument is surrounded by just a few of the beautiful and unique flowers that grow in the country of Ghana and also a representative of the culture, colors and the beauty of Ghana’s people.”

The Fine Art Poster is a popular element of the Memphis in May International Festival salute and is always produced by a local artist and offered as a tribute from our city to the honored country. The 2022 Memphis in May Fine Arts Poster is sponsored by Farris Bobango PLC. “Farris Bobango is proud to sponsor Memphis in May and the Fine Arts Poster,” said John Bobango, “Memphis in May is important to our community in so may ways and we cherish the opportunities where we can support the greater good of our community.”

The 2022 Ghana poster and is available for $35, with the limited edition signed and numbered collector’s poster for $65 at 1910 Frameworks, the official framer of Memphis in May. The poster will be available at the Memphis in May office at 56 S. Front Street and online at memphisinmay.org starting May 1.

2022 Memphis in May International Festival Dates
Beale Street Music Festival April 29 – May 1, 2022
Honored Country Salute to Ghana May 1-31, 2022
World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest May 11 – 14, 2022
Great American River Run May 28, 2022

About Memphis in May

Memphis in May is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community-based organization whose mission is to promote and celebrate Memphis’ culture, foster economic growth, and enhance international awareness through education. Founded by racially diverse Memphians in 1977, racial equity and parity are embedded in the fiber and culture of Memphis in May, the official festival of the City of Memphis.

Recipient of 228 prestigious Pinnacle Awards from the International Festival and Events Association, it has been named to Travel+Leisure’s international list of Festivals Worth Traveling For, and in 2018, Memphis topped CNN Travel’s list of international destinations to visit in May because of Memphis in May events. Beale Street Music Festival was named by Oprah Magazine as one of “14 Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss in 2020.”

For additional information, please visit www.memphisinmay.org

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Randy Blevins

rblevins@memphisinmay.org