The Crescent City Voyage

T. Ellis Fine Arts brings art with a purpose to the Tom Joyner

 

Fantastic Voyage Cruise

Famed NOLA artist creates original works to fund scholarships offered by the

 

Tom Joyner Foundation

Houston, TX - March 24, 2017 –Fine Artist Ted Ellis has a special gift for those sailing with

the Tom Joyner Foundation’s Fantastic Voyage this year. The New Orleans born, Houston

based artist, has created two original works to be auctioned to support the Foundation’s goal of

providing scholarships for HBCU bound students.

 

Ellis created two original works to celebrate both the spirit of his hometown of New Orleans, and

the unique experience that is the Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage. The 30 x 40 Crescent City

Voyage features a traditional New Orleans ‘second line’ partying as a cruise ship sets sail. The

second piece, a 24 x 36, is a closer view of the second line with the ship in dock, and revelers

celebrating along with them. This piece has yet to be named, and Ellis is asking the cruisers to

suggest a name for the piece. Both originals will be on display throughout the cruise and

available for purchase, and two canvas replicas of the pieces will be available for bid, with a with

a portion of the sale proceeds benefiting the Tom Joyner Foundation.

For over 25 years Ellis has been painting and pictorially documenting African-American history,

and using art as an instrument for preserving culture. Participating in this year’s Tom Joyner

Foundation Fantastic Voyage offers an opportunity for Ellis to expose his art to an expanded

audience, while also contributing to the amazing work of the Foundation.

“My goal has always been to challenge folks to see the inherent value of art as a representation

of our culture and heritage,” says Ellis. “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate that than to

offer up these works to support our young people academically.

The Tom Joyner Foundation’s Fantastic Voyage sets sail from New Orleans April 2 for a seven-

day cruise to Mexico, Belize and Mahogany Bay. You can follow the cruise using the hashtag

#FantasticVoyage17!

About Ted Ellis

Ted Ellis is a New Orleans born, Houston resident who created a new genre of art by fusing Folk

Art and Impressionism. A self-taught artist, Ted tells the story of African American history

through his images from rural southern slave and farming scenes to urban sophistication and

black affluence, he captures moments in time powerfully. T. Ellis Art has been commissioned by

major companies and organizations including Walt Disney Studios, Coca Cola, Philip Morris.

Some of his most noted collectors include Spike Lee, Brad Pitt and Roland Martin, as well as,

countless businesses and discerning individual collectors. His works have been exhibited at the

French Embassy in Washington DC for the Inauguration of President Obama in 2009 and in the

halls of the U.S. Senate. He has won numerous awards and best of show through the years and

has worked tirelessly to advocate for arts education in economically depressed communities

across the Gulf Coast.   You can follow T. Ellis on instagram @tellisfineart