Dillon native artist selected to exhibit artwork at the N.C. Community College 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition at the Caswell Building in Raleigh with an artistic spectrum. Jerrette McCrimmon of Wadesboro loves realism. For his entry, McCrimmon chose an airbrush painting.
McCrimmon graduated from RCC Web Technologies degree program last May and is double-majoring in Computer Information Technology and Healthcare Business Informatics. Another piece of his artwork, a Dizzy Gillespie painting is currently on display at the Caswell Building. That exhibit changes at the end of the month and these pieces will be exhibited for two years as part of the system’s anniversary celebration.
His artwork is a painted composite of images of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
“The story behind this particular piece of artwork was something I always thought made an impact on most of today’s generations,” said McCrimmon. “Michael Jackson is the greatest pop entertainer and the highest selling artist of all time. I felt he should have a place in my art portfolio. I just had to bring out some type of reflection of a tribute in the form of artwork because of the memories he left and the ones I remember growing up watching his performances, videos, and choreography. He is one-of-a-kind, so my tribute is just a token in the form of a collaboration of popular poses of his over the years.”
McCrimmon smiles when you ask him how long he has dabbled in art.
“One hundred seasons. I started out drawing cartoons as a child. If my mom wouldn’t buy me cartoon books, I’d make my own. I remember getting in trouble in the second or third grade for not doing my school work and for drawing on my good paper instead. I remember as a sophomore at Dillon High having to compete against high school juniors and seniors, some were given art scholarships plus were allowed to submit multiple pieces of artwork for the Dillon May Festival compared to my one drawing entry and I was still successful against them winning ribbons, that’s when I knew it was time to believe in myself and try to turn my passion for art into a career or profession, even though I never got an art scholarship,” he said.
Art is part of McCrimmon’s identity and relaxes him. He floats between pen, pencil, oils, acrylics and airbrush. Tee shirt designs, logos, and portraits all are within his abilities. Jerrette designed the logo and painted the banner for RCC Minority Male Mentoring Program advised by Christopher Gardner, which he is an active member and created the logos for the Ebony Dragons School of Karate in Rockingham, headed by Sensei Ronnie Covington. Jerrette painted the mural in New Holly United Methodist Church in Dillon, where his mother is an active member. He said he is honored and blessed to have more work selected for exhibition in back to back years. He is the son of Myrtle McCrimmon of Dillon, S.C. and the late Willie Lee Jacobs of Minturn, S.C.
This is the 15th year students, graduates, and employees have exhibited in Raleigh.
