I’m originally from the Washington D.C. Growing up, my family spent a lot of time experiencing the great museums, theaters, and galleries that DC has to offer. My parents also believed in giving time and talent to those causes and organizations that were important to you. Through that, not only did I develop a love and appreciation for the arts in many forms, but I also saw firsthand what it meant to give back to your community.
I earned my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Florida A&M University and moved to the Twin Cities in 1996. Much of my professional life has been spent in corporate sales, and consumer insights and analytics roles. I like to say that my job is about blending science and art, by leveraging data to craft compelling stories.
I live in Minneapolis with my wife, Teresa, and our son Landon. We enjoy the local arts community, spending time outdoors, and traveling.
WHAT DREW YOU TO HP?
I was really drawn to Highpoint’s mission. It often goes unmentioned how ambitious the commitment is to provide a state-of-the-art workshop for practicing artists; to establish an Editions program that creates work through collaboration with nationally and internationally recognized artists; to maintain a beautiful gallery space and execute several exhibitions each year; and, then to enhance local arts education by providing education programming for hundreds of school-aged kids each year.
How could you not want to be part of an organization like that??
Jerry viewing artwork at the QUE CONSTE /FOR THE RECORD opening reception
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR INVOLVEMENT?
Since joining the board, I have served as Secretary, Board Co-Chair, and now as Board Chair. My experience has been truly wonderful. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from so many experienced board members, artists, and especially from our founders Carla and Cole. The knowledge, expertise, and passion at all levels is a constant inspiration to me.
WHAT PROGRAMS DO YOU FEEL MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT?
If I’m forced to choose one(!), then it would have to be education programming. Central to HP’s mission is promoting the art of printmaking. And, I believe an important step in achieving this is to provide an introductory experience that is both welcoming and that gives that student a sense of possibility…that feeling that “I can do this”. I think Highpoint does an awesome job at providing that experience.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE PART OF THE HP COMMUNITY?
I think being an active part of the HP community means you believe in the connection and relationship between art and community more broadly. You believe that arts organizations shouldn’t exist in a vacuum, where they create and exhibit work that fails to acknowledge the world beyond its walls. It is not a static state that we reach and stop, of course, but an ongoing shift in how we engage. So, for me, being part of the HP community means that you care about that engagement.
I am really excited about the future of HP. We will continue to keep the endeavor of promoting printmaking as our north star. But there should be excitement and curiosity around exploring new ways to continue this journey. Whether it is leveraging technology to expand access to our collections or creating work and curating exhibits that expand our audience. While we build upon a strong foundation, we should challenge ourselves to reach out into new directions.