NEWS

UPDATED OCTOBER 2008

If you haven't noticed, the website has undergone a bit of a change, and continues to undergo a bit of a change.
It had come to our attention that many of the new browsers operating under new systems or whatever would not support the frames feature of the old page, which I guess is now obsolete, so we had to reconstruct it a bit.

What else is new...the KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY has commissioned HAYWOOD to create some paintings for use in the promotion of their performances of Jack Tales as part of the museum theatre. THe paintings may also be available as prints and postcards in the near future. The First Painting in the series is entitled JACK AND THE ROBBERS. Which you can get a look at by going to our 2008 painting page.
The next in the series will be HAYWOOD's first Christmas themed painting called JACK HUNTS CHRISTMAS.

Despite the ECONOMIC turmoil, we keep rolling along. We had a successful show in BRISTOL, we did miss the DOC BOGGS festival because of sickness.
Coming up we got an event at ALICE LLOYD COLLEGE here in KNOTT COUNTY on OCT. 11th called OUR APPALACHIA DAYS. HAYWOOD will be displaying his artwork, as well as performing a saturday morning Gospel set with friend and local KNOTT COUNTY FELLOW, RICHARD BOWERS.

Since moving back to the mountains HAYWOOD has become seriously involved with the APPALSHOP'S TRADITIONAL MUSIC PROGRAM, he has been teaching banjo lessons at LETCHER ELEMENTARY school every Wednesday from 3:15-5:15pm. As well as working with the COWAN COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP in organizing and promoting East Kentucky music in the region.

If you are living in or around KNOTT and LETCHER COUNTY, you too can learn how to play GUITAR, FIDDLE, or BANJO from a faculty of fine OLD TIME MUSICIANS including ROY TACKETT, BRETT RATLIFF, and HAYWOOD.
These musicians have learned the music of East Kentucky first hand from some the last remaining OLD TIMERS of the Region.

So, if you're interested just come to the Letcher School Wednesday at 3pm and sign up.

Other upcoming events include a performance in Louisville at the 930 GALLERY and LISTENING ROOM Saturday OCT 18th at noon.

We will also be traveling to LOUISIANA for the BLACKPOT FESTIVAL where we will have booth once again. If you got a hankering for cajun music head on down.

HALLOWEEN WEEKEND takes us on over to MEMPHIS for their annual RIVERARTS FESTIVAL.

HAYWOOD is also working on new old material for his new EAST KY OLD TIME DUO, the TRAVELIN SNAKES. Who are looking to get rolling playing some shows this fall as well as doing some recording.

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

BIG REMINDER that you got until the 20th to vote for "One Gallon for a Two Dollar Bill"or"Old Kentucky Whiskey" (it's one painting with two names) by logging into www.themarkofgreatart.com then search for JOHN HAYWOOD and give it your number one vote.

I would also like to remind you that this coming weekend is the Bristol Rythm and Roots Reunion at the birthplace of Country music.
And speaking of music, there are several new music related paintings under the 2008 link to the left.
Also Remember to tune into Knoxville's WDVX on wednesday Sept 24th for an appearance on the Blue Plate Special, performing with my good friend Pokey LaFarge and Peter Piek.

Keep checking back here for more updates!!

EAST KENTUCKY ARTIST CHOSEN BY MAKERS MARK

In March 2008, the famous Maker’s Mark Distillery sent out a call for artist to create a piece especially for an exhibit called The Mark of Great Art. Knott County resident and artist, John Haywood was chosen from over 120 artists to be among the 54 from across the state commissioned. Haywood will reveal his oil painting entitled “Old Kentucky Whiskey” at the show opening on September 5, 2008 in the gallery of the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

The show will be comprised of 115 pieces of artwork that will be broken up into 8 mini-collections after the initial opening. The pieces will, then, travel to bars and restaurants in Louisville, Lexington, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, New York, London, England, and Madrid, Spain where they will remain indefinitely. All who visit the Maker’s Mark Gallery between September 6-21 either in person or online (www.themarkofgreatart.com) can vote for their favorite piece. The three artists that receive the most votes will win monetary prizes from Maker’s Mark.

Haywood invites all to view “Old Kentucky Whiskey”. Other paintings and prints by Haywood can be seen by visiting his home studio on Little Doubles Creek, or online at www.haywoodart.com.

IN STORES NOW

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I was borned and raised in the east Kentucky hills in a holler called Risner. The only thing I've ever been good at is drawing and playing music. My papaw was a coal miner and old regular baptist singer who told me he didn't want me to work in the mines. He told me to get a good education, so that's what I did, and that's pretty much how I ended up in Louisville. But now we're back in good ol' East KY. I make my living painting, teaching, and playin' some banjo. So I really can't complain.

Updated August 2008

BIG NEWS! BIG NEWS!!!!

If you're reading this prior to the 22nd and 23rd you're invited to the MARS festival fundraising Party on PINE MOUNTAIN, which is more of a pilot for the first annual kickoff in 09.
See below for a poster with a complete list of performers.

The MAKER'S MARK commission will finally be unveiled to the public FRIDAY SEPT 5th at the distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.
The painting will be on display with others that were chosen for THE MARK OF GREAT ART exhibition. After the reception, the Art will be shipped to various establishments worldwide that are proud servers of this Old Kentucky Whiskey.

The GALLERY ON MAIN in Richmond Kentucky will host an exhibition of paintings that will open with a reception on Tuesday SEPT 9th.
I will also be performing, possibly with a few folks from PONTY's CAMPER

Please check our SCHEDULE for more show dates including BRISTOL's RYTHM and ROOTS REUNION and a special performance On KNOXVILLE's BLUE PLATE SPECIAL

There are also new 2008 PAINTINGS available for your viewing pleasure, they're all right there under the 2008 link. At www.haywoodart.com of course.

SUMMIT CITY CAFE, the nearly year old Food, Bar, Art Gallery, and Performance Venue in Whitesburg Kentucky will be bringing out some new T-shirts that feature a custom drawing that I did Just for them.

"Probably one of the most interesting things that someone said to me this year was 'Hey you're the trash artist.' I didn't understand what this person was talking about because I am a painter. This person later explained that I was the white trash artist. Now this stuck with me because a word like 'white trash' can carry tons of negativity. This statement brought to my attention the way others see themselves and the world. If my paintings are honest narratives, meaning they are based in reality, then maybe me and the people I paint are white trash. For me, my paintings celebrate Appalachian culture. This culture represents a freedom that can't be found in a society that values its citizens based upon educational or financial accomplishments. That's why the Appalachian people have been stuck with so many negative stereotypes."