HAMPSHIRE, UK.- ArtSway will present Bob Parks: The Rhythm and Blues Feeling, on view through 1 October 2006. Bob Parks’ eclectic career stretches back almost 40 years and has its roots in experimental performance art of the 1960s and early 1970s. His life and work is filtered through his love of Rhythm and Blues - a term propagated by his friend Johnny Otis - and includes poetry, photo-realistic portrait paintings, music, video and installation works as well as site-specific performances.

Parks’ work aims to bring together a wide range of sources and influences such as blues music, spirituality, sexuality, gospel singing, Tantric sound and the history of performance. His first art performance was in the mid-1960’s as a contributor to a Mark Boyle performance at the ICA, London.

These performances seek to confront and challenge the viewer, and can be compared and contrasted against more deeply personal work that explores his relationship with his Church Starlight COGIC, and its congregation who he regards as his friends, brothers and sisters. It is here that music becomes so important to Parks – particularly R&B and the gospel singing of COGIC – and it is ultimately music that informs every facet of his oeuvre.