John Edwin May: Judgmental INK

November 1-30, 2024
John Edwin May: Judgmental INK
Opening reception: Friday, November 1, 5:00-9:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed Wednesday-Friday November 27-29

John Edwin May has documented people with “ink”, creating beautiful portraits and photographs of their favorite tattoos. When exhibited, an outer quad of large monochromatic portraits is displayed with four smaller interior color images of tattoos. Viewers are encouraged to guess which tattoo belongs to the correct owner. May hopes that the process of making assumptions that sometimes prove incorrect will help us all to be more accepting of one another. “Years ago, in the development of the project, the world was a calmer place,” he says. “Today, many people are on edge, and it seems we cannot discuss religion, politics, medical beliefs, and more without causing hurt or enticing anger.”

His exhibition includes QR codes that link the viewer to which tattoo correctly matches with each portrait. Some of the portraits’ QR codes will also include short, documented stories about the tattoos. For an example, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkLqJUYnErc.

John Edwin May is a photographer located in Knoxville. He studied photography at Lincoln Memorial University, University of South Carolina, and East Tennessee State University, where he earned his MFA in 2010. He has held teaching posts at Pellissippi State Community College, Lincoln Memorial University, Walters State Community College, East Tennessee State University, and Arrowmont School of Art. An avid workshop participant, he has studied with Marsha Burns, Mark Goodman, Tim Grey, Christopher James, Brian Kaufman, Mary Ellen Mark, John Sexton, Craig Stevens, and Joyce Tenneson. May’s photographic work has been exhibited nationally and internationally. Prior to Judgmental Ink, his interest included photographing small-town wrestling venues with their constructed realities. His RINGSIDE series was named as one of PhotoLucida’s 200 Critical Mass Finalists in 2022. Some of the images in Judgmental Ink premiered in 2023 at Walters State Community College, Morristown.

www.johnemay.net
Instagram @amayzn1