Hampton, VA based African American visual artist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Jackie Merritt’s solo exhibition opens in Norfolk Arts’ Offsite Gallery at MacArthur Center with a reception on Saturday, August 3, 5-7pm. The event and gallery are free and open to the public.
In the Hampton Roads area, Merritt taught painting and drawing at Norfolk State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Thomas Nelson Community College. Merritt was also an instructor at the University of Wisconsin in both graduate and undergraduate studies.
In 2010, Merritt received the Alli Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Cultural Life of Greater Hampton Roads. In 2015, one of her original songs was featured on the internationally acclaimed CD, Blues Harp Women, produced by Ruf Records in Germany, that celebrated only female harmonica players. Jackie was accepted into the Library of Congress “AMERICANA WOMEN”- Roots Musicians – Women’s Tales and Tunes, as part of the MusicBox Project collection.
For 20 years, Merritt was a Visual Information Specialist for the US Navy. Jackie Merritt received a BFA in Art Education from Norfolk State University, and an MA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
