John Ross Palmer to Havana, Cuba for 2016 Art Series

At an intimate cocktail party of Palmer’s First Class Club at his Historic Houston Heights Art Gallery on Thursday, January 14th, Palmer announced the location where he will create his next prized and popular international art series: Havana, Cuba.  Palmer is planning a well-rounded trip to explore all aspects of Cuba: art, architecture, natural landscapes, music, government relations, classic cars, and baseball.

Front-Geshe Denma Gyaltsen, CM Amanda Edwards, Alfredo Tijerina Back-April Ayers, Karen Bean, Carolyn Watts, Richard Jennings, Dr. Lynn Dickens and Julio Montano
Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards with Palmer’s First Class Club

This year’s theme for the series is based on art and politics.  First Class Club (“F.C.C.”) Members were asked to submit an essay to Palmer with this prompt: describe how politics influences art, and, describe how art influences politics.  Palmer selected recently-elected Houston City Council Member Amanda Edwards to decide the winning essay this year.  CM Edwards joined the FCC at Palmer’s gallery to announce her decision and read the winning essay.  Edwards selected the essay written by inaugural FCC Member Judy Lindsay as “the best.” Lindsay’s essay highlighted the masterful effect that art had upon naming the Grand Canyon as a protected land by the federal government.  Ryan Lindsay researched destinations worldwide before landing in Havana, Cuba.  With the United States’ recent relaxation of restrictions on travel to Cuba, this location was ideal.  Palmer wants to see Cuba while it still remains largely unaffected by mass tourism and commercialism.  Palmer hopes to serve as a proud ambassador of his hometown of Houston, Texas while staying in Havana and it is a goal to present a piece of his artwork to a notable individual.  Last year in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, Palmer presented his Statue of Liberty painting to sitting Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

John Ross Palmer presents artwork to PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar
Palmer presents artwork to Trinidad & Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

Since the creation of the F.C.C. in 2010, Palmer has amazed the group with unique series from Berlin (2010), Dublin (2011), Jerusalem (2012), Sao Paulo (2013), Nice (2014), and Port of Spain (2015).  Previews for the F.C.C. at Palmer’s gallery will begin on Monday, July 18th.  A VIP unveiling for Palmer’s collectors will take place on Friday evening on July 29th with a public unveiling scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday, July 31st.

If you have any questions about Artist John Ross Palmer, his First Class Club, or his trip to Cuba, please contact us at 713-392-6882 or [email protected].

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