Cal Massey Visual Artist, African American – October Gallery
“I paint because I have to; it’s my way of communicating
with the world around me.”
Calvin Massey uses water colors and acrylics the way an author uses words….to communicate. Mood and realism combine in each of his paintings to create visual as well as emotional responses from the viewer.
1950 – Hussian School, majored in Life Drawing and Illustration. Later joined the faculty for a three-year tenure.
Illustration work: Saturday Evening Post, Scott Foreman Publishing, Random House Publishing, and New York and Philadelphia advertising agencies.
Design and Sculpture:
Crest and class rings for U.S. Naval Air Force Military Academy.
MacArthur Memorial Medal (First Medallion struck for the Franklin Mint National
Commemorative Society).
Franklin Mint aeative staff – design and sculpture, 1976 – 1979.
Creator of over 200 medallic designs.
Bas Relief sculpture commemorating the restoration of Ellis Island for Statue of
Liberty Foundation.
Exhibitions and Awards:
Franklin Mint Artist Show: 1976, 1977, 1978 – First and third prizes.
Walnut Street Theater Gallery Group Show – 1978.
One-Man Show-John Wanamaker’s Fine Arts Gallery 1979
One-Man Show-Makler Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1980.
One-Man Show-Cloucester County College 1981.
One-Man Show-Swarthmore College 1983 – 1984
Two-Man Show–October Gallery 1986
One-Man Show-Hahnemann University Hospital 1987
One-Man Show-Center for the Arts in Southern New Jersey 1988
Paintings sold to private collections:
Mr. Robert Harrison (President of Wanamaker’s store chain)
Dr. Eugene Garfield (Philadelphia Institute for Scientific Information)
Dr. David Kramer. M.D.
Mr. Frank Stephens (Art Director Philadelphia Library)
Congressman Bill Gray (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Congressman Gordon Lilton (Harrisburg, Pa.)
Dolores Gaskins (Manager, Siddha Yoga Meditation Ashram, Philadelphia, Pa.)
When not painting, Cal lends his artistic touch to baking breads and pastries; plays a mean jazz piano; and is a student of Siddha Yoga and Theosophical concepts.
“The beautiful women I paint is in tribute of the proud beauty of
Black women. May they continue to shine in all of their precious glory. ”
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