Savannah State Continues Fine Art Series with Phil Starks' "Gaia, Earth Goddess" Exhibit (Part 2)

October 24, 3:09 PMAfrican-American Art ExaminerAberjhani

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"Daugher of Gai" sculpture by Phil Starks. (Press release photo
by Gwendolyn Glover)

For part one of this article, please click here  Part two begins now:

The Artist Makes His Move

Phil Starks moved to Savannah from New Jersey in 1999 with the intention of enrolling in the Savannah College of Art and Design and taking classes in its then newly-announced sculpture department. The opening of the department, however, was delayed and Starks never attended the famous art school. Instead, he continued to follow his own creative and spiritual instincts to achieve artistic growth.

Eventually, he became a concierge with Savannah’s Old Town Trolley Tours, a position that has allowed sufficient time to focus on his art and learn a great deal about his adopted city. He also became one of the pioneering members of The Friends of African-American Arts, the group largely responsible for the publication of the gift book ELEMENTAL The Power of Illuminated Love as well as a member of the progressive Creative Force Artist Collective.

Starks was a notable behind-the-scenes presence during the recent Jerome Meadows installation, titled Reframing a Perceptual Paradigm, at the Telfair Museum of Art. For that installation, he contributed a number of distinct frames that added to the illustration of Meadows’ “Reframing” concept. “I loved that experience,” said Starks, “being in the museum, being in the studio [Indigo Sky Gallery] and using my skills for something so special. I felt honored.”


More to Come

Starks’ show at the Savannah State University Art Gallery is the latest exhibition in a year-long calendar of events scheduled by the University’s Fine Arts Department. From September 21 to October 16, the gallery featured the work of artist Suzanne Jackson. Moreover, an SSU Student Art Showcase got underway at the Sentient Bean Restaurant, October 15, and will run until October 31.

Flyer for SSU Students Art Showcase at Sentient Bean.


Other exhibitions scheduled to show at the SSU Art Gallery include the following:

• November 23rd - December 11: BFA Program Senior Thesis Exhibition with
• Katrice Kinlaw and Tony Zachery.
• January 8, 2010 - January 22, 2010: Paintings by Roosevelt Watson III.
• January 25th - February 19: Sculptures by George Worthy.
• February 22- March: Paintings by Amir Farris.
• March 22nd - April 9: Sculptures by Madeline Corey-Thomas.
• April 12 - April 30: Watercolor Paintings by Napoleon Wilkerson.
• May 3 - May 31: BFA Faculty Exhibition.

Phil Starks is the second artist featured in the Portraits of U.S. Artists in the Southeast Series by Aberjhani, the African American Art Examiner and author/co-author of eight books including Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance and The American Poet Who Went Home Again.