Painter of the Month

Painter of the Month: King Cannon

Note from Diane Halverson: Tim, I can finally reply to your questions below that you wanted me to ask King. I saw him last week. The fish he catches are Mullet and Brine (Brim) whatever that is. And he thinks the billboard at the airport is great. He has never seen it but his sister and others have told him about it - that they see it when they go to the airport. I have an updated photo of it in its new location near boarding security. (I got yelled at by a guard when I took that photo of it!). Lots of people tell me they see it when they go to the airport so King is famous in Jacksonville.

It's another example of how one person, Diane Halverson, can bring real societal change, for the better, to their part of the country. Diane is on the board of the ARC Jacksonville. Diane read about A.R.T., and instead of putting the magazine down and moving on, she picked up the phone. Since that time the ARC Jacksonville has had numerous high-profile exhibitions, including a stellar show at JAMOMA Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. There have been amazing numbers of sales of paintings; paintings hang in the headquarters of major corporations and in the homes of nationally known collectors such as Preston Haskell. ARC Jacksonville has at least one major exhibition a year, and are always getting great media coverage, including CNN and Arbus magazine.

In a world that can stubbornly resist a breakthrough like A.R.T., Diane Halverson keeps the fire lit bright, held high. Her doggedly staying with it is paying off. From her efforts at the ARC Jacksonville she, with A.R.T. has created new studio programs in Palatka, Amelia Island, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Miami, Florida.

Interview with King Cannon

K. My name is King Marvin Cannon and my tracker is Ms. Diane Halverson

TL: King, anything you want to tell about yourself to all those around the world who read Painter of the Month?
K: Yes, I like to do it. Because there is a lot of money in it.

TL: What other reasons?
K: I just love to do it.

TL: Can you tell us about the first time you used A.R.T., what it was like, what it was all about?
K: It was fun. I really did it because it was interesting and it was fun.

TL: You got into it right away, very naturally, do you come from an artistic family?
K: A singing family – 10 people sing in my family.

TL: You showed a piece at the Princeton University art museum, it sold to a Princeton trustee. How's it feel to sell your work?
K: Good. Good.

TL: Do you remember that piece?
K: Yes. It had drips and pours.

TL: Where are the places you've shown your work?
K: Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art is one place I remember.

TL: Did you know it is called Museum of Contemporary Art now – MOCA?
K: It is?

TL: Do you think people take your work seriously?
K: Yes. They might not tell me but they do.

TL: How is it you're so cocky and confident? Where did that come from?
K: I don’t know. I’m just blessed with it I guess.

TL: How do you respond if people treat you differently because you use a wheelchair?
K: I don’t pay them no never mind. I just keep on trying to look good anyway.

TL: What do you think of tourist art? I mean paintings of seagulls, sunsets over the ocean, palm trees, that sort of thing.
K: I like it more when it’s detailed. I like to do my own thing but if I see somebody else’s work, I like that too.

TL: What's the difference between seeing your painting unstretched, pinned to the wall in the studio, and seeing it stretched and framed and up like in the Fogler gallery?
K: There’s a lot of difference. To me it looks better in a frame. I’ve got so many compliments about my paintings…sometimes it makes me want to cry.

TL: When someone asked you what your inspiration was, you cracked me up by instantly saying, "Inspiration…I don't have any inspiration." I'm very interested in this. Because I think people who aren't artists think its all about inspiration, when I think for the most part its something else completely.
K: Its fine with me and I hope we can continue it too.

TL: So, is there any way you can tell them how it feels to paint?
K: It makes me feel real good. On days I don’t paint I want to go back to do it again.

TL: What are you into besides painting? What kinds of other things do you like to do?
K: I’m learning how to cook.

TL: What do you do on your free time on the weekends?
K: Fish – I love to go fishing with my daddy. I like to fish off the pier.

TL: How were you able to make such advanced modern art without having had any art lessons or art school?
K: Its all in the brain.

TL: When you start a painting do you have in mind exactly what you want to do?
K: Yes, its all in my head.

TL: All that art is in your head? You just have to get it on the canvas?
K: Yeah, I love doing it. I wish I could do it 24/7. I want to tell you I love that doing painting keeps me busy. I don’t want to be bored. I want to keep going because I have energy.