“I create not with the intention to produce a finished piece of art, but to give nourishment to the artist within meâ€� – Phil Reid
(July 1, 1945 – June 9, 2009)
Philemon Timothy Reid was an African American Artist and recipient of a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award from North Portland’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center.
Reid’s love for blues and jazz, particularly musicians John Coltrane, Miles Davis and singers Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, was reflected in his colorful paintings and sculptures. Although Reid’s only formal art training was in high school, he developed his own unique style that was heavily influenced by Cubism and the artist Picasso.
“Philemon is part of an artistic movement that took hold in the 1970s that laid the foundation for Portland’s creative identity today,� according to Adrienne Flagg, creative director of North Portland’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, where Reid’s art is prominently displayed. The IFCC’s dance studio exclusively showcases his early work.
“He was an inspiration and a comfort to me when I began curating the IFCC Gallery in 2005,� Flagg says. “Each piece of his became a guide, a friend and an inspiration for my work here’� Reid’s art has been featured in numerous art shows and exhibits in the region, from Newberg to Portland to Vancouver and around the country. His work is currently on exhibit at Aurora Gallery in Vancouver, Wash.
Reid’s art was also featured in IFCC’s production of “Sherman,� a jazz opera commissioned to jazz trumpeter Thara Memory, with the libretto written by former award-winning Oregonian columnist S. Renee Mitchell. Reid was born on July 1, 1945, in Eatonton, Ga. He became interested in art at a very young age and art was a part of his life ever since. There was a time when art was set aside for nine years while he served in the military. After his enlistment ended, he attended college at night and worked for many years as an engineering technician for the Bonneville Power Administration until he retired in 2001.
Reid was a full-time artist at the time of his passing. His inspiration would flow from the moods and feelings he experienced while listening to jazz music. He often rendered a subject in pen and ink as well as in oil, his two favorite mediums. Every day he continued to study and produce artwork while reaching for newer dimensions.
Phil left us at the age of 63, less than a month shy of his 64th birthday. He recently had begun sculpting.
The works of Philemon Reid are available for viewing and (some) for purchase at http://philreidart.com.