Gilbert Young, a former Cincinnatian, created a painting on stage before an audience of arts patrons during the Concert in the Gardens performed by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra June 25 at Union Central Insurance, Forest Park. 
Young is best known for his painting "He Ain't Heavy." The work, which he created 25 years ago, shows a man reaching back over a wall for another man's hand.
"He will be giving his interpretation in painting of Erich Kunzel's historic Cincinnati Pops Orchestra," said Joseph Mallory, director of Project ArtReach, an urban art program.
The original painting was auctioned to benefit Project ArtReach.
For 27 years, Young served as conservator/director of the University of Cincinnati Fine Art Collection, and later was named artist in residence at UC.
In 1993, Young received the Corbett Award for Best Visual Artist from the Corbett Foundation and the Cincinnati Post.
He has received international recognition for art work spanning more than 50 years.
Project ArtReach is an urban program that works to bring appreciation of cultural treasures through the visual and musical arts,
Shows, Honors, Commissions, Awards
n Commissioned to create an award honoring Hattie Dorsey, president of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, September 2006
n Performed live on stage, creating a painting during the Forest Park Jazz Festival, Cincinnati OH, August 2005
n Received the Pallet Award for Lifetime Achievement, Heritage Arts Festival, Atlanta GA, July 2004
n Featured Artist, Commissioned for commemorative poster, Heritage Arts Festival, Atlanta GA, July 2004
n First African American Artist to create a painting live on stage with an American Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati OH, June 2004
n Created a painting of jazz musician Ken Navarro, live on stage during the Forest Park Jazz Festival, August 2004
n Created a painting live on stage during Forest Park Jazz Festival featuring musician Marion Meadows, August 2003
n Named to the Board of Directors for Project ArtReach/Cincinnati, as Curator of Visual Arts, July 2003
n Featured artist, NAACP Freedom Weekend, Detroit Michigan, 2003
n One man show, The Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg Pennsylvania, February 2003
n One man show, International Visions—The Gallery, Washington D.C., October 2002
n One man show, the historic Herndon Home, Atlanta Georgia, 2002
n First contemporary African American artist invited to speak at Harvard Law School, Cambridge Massachusetts, April 2001
n Grand Marshal for the Morehouse/Spelman Homecoming Parade, November 2001
n Presented with the prestigious Heritage Award for Outstanding Visual Arts, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York, February 2001
n Named Barnes & Noble Artist of the Month, February 2001, Atlanta Georgia
n Honored with a proclamation from the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts, April 2001
n One man show at The Apex Museum, Atlanta Georgia, August 2000
n Named Artist-In-Residence to Mary McLeod Bethune Family Legacy, Atlanta, 2000
n Featured artist, the NAACP 47th Annual Freedom Fund program, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. April, 2001
n Advertising Age Magazine—the international voice of marketing—named “The Drum” “Advertising Image of the Week.” Commissioned by Dayn-Mark Advertising/Atlanta for BellSouth's 1999 Black History Month ad campaign, the image has been featured in regional magazines, newspapers, and select national magazines in numerous campaigns during Black History Month and Black Music Month
n Received the distinguished commission of Kentucky Colonel from the Governor of Kentucky, 1999
n Featured Artist at the Lexington Kentucky Roots and Heritage Festival, 1999
n <![endif]> Received the distinguished commission of Kentucky Colonel from the Governor of Kentucky, 1995
n Received Proclamations and keys to the cities of
Cambridge, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Columbus, Louisville, Greensboro NC, and Detroit for outstanding achievement in the arts.
n Received the prestigious Scripps Howard Post Corbett Award in recognition of outstanding artistic achievement in the arts and cultural communities of Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana, 1993
n Named Best Visual Artist with an Applause Magazine Image Maker Award, 1995
n Commissioned by Procter & Gamble to design a sculpture award for presentation during the annual “Salute To Greatness” program hosted by Coretta Scott King, and the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, 1995
n Commissioned to produce a portrait of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, 1994
n Commissioned by the Cincinnati Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women to create a commemorative work “Family”, in honor of the annual Black Family Reunion Celebration, 1992
n Commissioned to produce a portrait of Theodore Berry, Cincinnati Ohio's first African-American Mayor, 1994
Corporate Collections
Corporate Collections
n <![endif]> The Cincinnati Pops Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company, Cincinnati Bell, University of Cincinnati, University of Cincinnati African American Heritage Center, National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center at Wilberforce, Morris Brown College, The Academy of Art in St. Petersburg Russia, BellSouth Corporate Offices/Atlanta
Television/Movies/Books/Album Covers
“Don King”, HBO, 1997; Pizza Hut Commercial 1997; “Friday's”, 1996; “Made In America” 1997, Arsenio Hall Show, 1993; “A Different World”, 1992; “The Father Flanagan Story”, 1988, The Black Male Crisis, 1990 J. Carroll George, White Man's Country, Joseph Wilkins, 2001, “Volume One-It's Six O'clock”, the Greg Street project, 2002, African American Communication, Exploring Identity and Culture, Ronald L. Jackson II Sidney Ribeau, Michael Hecht, 2003
Publications
Feature article, Only Local Music, Cincinnati June 2005
Featured in article, The Cincinnati Enquirer, July 2005
Feature article, The Hilltop Press, June 2005
Cover story, Atlanta Goodlife Magazine, October 2004
Feature article, The Cincinnati Enquirer, June 2004
American Greetings calendar, The Art Of Gilbert Young, 2003
Featured in article, The Cincinnati Herald, August 2003
Featured in article, The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 2003American Greetings calendar, The Art Of Gilbert Young, 2002Feature article, The Philadelphia Patriot-News, June 2002Feature article, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, June 1999Feature article, Upscale Magazine, February 1999
Featured in “Talented & Impressive Black Artists”, Ebony Man, July 1995
Feature article, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, December 1995
The Cincinnati Division of He Ain't Heavy, LLC is run by Vanessa Nelson-Paunescu. Mrs. Nelson-Paunescu can be contacted by phone at 513.541.4753 or by email at sweets2chubby@yahoo.com.
Having a private party showing, in College hill April 25th at the Norther hills branch Library.
all are welcome to come and peruse the art between the hours of 3pm & 6pm.
