History Happy Hour at Sandy Spring Museum: The Art of Storytelling

Local Legends – The Art of Storytelling

$15.00 in advance online

$20.00 at the door

Join the Sandy Spring Museum for its January History Happy Hour as we learn how art can be used to create local stories!

Join Jon Mort as he explores the art of storytelling and how local stories can help inform the artist in creating beautiful works of art!  Jon will guide guests through his artistic journey – talking about the storytelling of greek mythology and local Sandy Spring stories – and guide the visitor through his new exhibit, “Local Traditions.”

Local Legends is a collection of large-scale graphite works showcasing the myths and heroes of Classical antiquity, as depicted by a native artist Jon Mort and portrayed by members of the community.

This body of works presents a fascinating counterpoint showing works presenting the sweeping epics of famous and beloved mythological tales, made possible through the participation of members of the Sandy Spring community.  The pieces range in their narrative subjects from ancient interpretations of the planets to well known classical epics such as the Odyssey, but the group together is their common lineage of mortal inspirations from the Sandy Spring community. Each includes not only a written description of the work, but also a biographical profile of the model that participated the project and their role in the community.

Jon Mort is an emerging contemporary artist who was born Sandy Spring, MD. After receiving a BA in Studio Art from Franklin & Marshall College, he studied architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. A self-described ‘storyteller’, Mort cites influences in his work from archaeology to astronomy. His graphite renderings embrace the narrative potential of portraiture, mythological inspirations, and still-life compositions. Mort has exhibited in galleries and museums across the East Coast, including an annual open studio in Port Clyde, ME, and his work can be found in private collections around the country. As stated by Mort, “My influences are wide-ranging, from ancient mythology to the modern portrait. My graphite depictions are at once allegiant to the craft of physiological exactitude and immersed in the breadth of fantastical narrative. I believe in the potential of work that blends time-honored technique with fresh composition.”

More information on the art of Jon Mort can be found online at www.jonmort.com, and by searching ‘Jon Mort Artist’ onFacebook. Watch Jon Mort’s Portraits, a short video featuring a selection of his works on YouTube, and follow the artist’s latest projects at jonmortstudio.tumblr.com