Gerald "Jaco" Deas ...

Welcome to Studio 5K, the portfolio of celebrated fine artist & humble craftsman JA'CO. JA'CO grew up in New York City. And soon, the city and all of its creative vibrations, grew in him. From nineteenth century church restorations to art deco hotel renovations to installing fine art installations at the Guggenheim--JA'CO found himself attracted to the physical and creative challenges of the building trades from an early age. And throughout much of his art(see resume) you see vestiges of his professional skills gleaned from 25 years as a union carpenter. His formal education took him to numerous art institutions including Johnson Atelier and the Penland School of Craft. There, he created a body of abstract work in bronze, iron, found materials, clay and wood. JA'CO's inspiration hails from many spiritual sources. From Nuyorican poet Pedro Petri to the melodic drum rhythms of Jerome Cooper to the shrines adorning inner city neighborhood botanicas and the candle lit alters found in community gardens scattered throughout Spanish Harlem and the Lower East Side of yesteryear. Also captured in his art, traces of Native American and African influences that invoke the artist's mixed African and Cherokee Indian heritage. JA'CO invites all to celebrate the work on his site...and His light.