Jim Harrison Opens Solo Exhibition in Santa Fe Gallery

January 20, 2011

Join the Santa Fe Gallery in welcoming Jim Harrison for a solo exhibition entitled Jim Harrison &#124 Design:Process. The Opening Mixer. The exhibit, Jan. 21-March 24, is free and open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. weekdays.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jim Harrison is a award-winning graphic designer and artist from Gainesville. Specializing in corporate communications and brand identities, he has created logos, posters, identity systems, brochures, websites, annual reports, and other unique items for a wide variety of local, regional, and national clients. His work has earned numerous local silver, gold and best of show Addy awards, as well as a national SAPPI Paper IDEAS THAT MATTER grant. He is also known for the Gainesville Fruit Company, which he created to promote the Gainesville area with posters and prints featuring local landmarks, all inspired by the graphics of vintage collectible fruit crate labels. After 15 years as a designer and art director, Jim recently established MetaVisual, a studio specializing in corporate identity, branding, visual systems and other design projects. Jim is a 1990 graduate of Santa Fe College.

PURPOSE OF EXHIBIT

Jim Harrison writes: "I choose the name MetaVisual for my design studio because I feel it represents what good graphic design should be: an opportunity to transcend the purely visual (decorative) and introduce both concept and communication into graphic art. I have focused my public and private work on this goal for over 15 years. Recently, I have been lucky enough to do a large series of works that revolve around the idea of civic enrichment, whether through my Gainesville Fruit Co. series of 'vintage' fruit crate labels, or poster designs for the 38th Santa Fe Spring Arts Festival and WUFT/WJUF anniversaries. I am interested in focusing attention on our community and sparking a discussion of our varied and unique atmosphere.

"Gallery shows featuring graphic design are uncommon and would present a unique opportunity to educate, enrich, inform and build awareness of a very important segment of the arts community. As an exhibit, I hope that my body of work would present an opportunity to open eyes and challenge the common perception of graphic design and its value as a viable means of self-expression."

• Gallery

CONTACT:

• Jayné Grant, gallery director, 352-395-5464 or jayne.grant@sfcollege.edu
• Julie Garrett, media relations, for assistance facilitating your story, 352-870-2924 (cell) or 352-395-5430 (office) or julie.garrett@sfcolllege.edu