At a concert at the Eudora Welty Commons, Ron Blaylock maneuvers through the audience with couple of cameras draped around his neck. In between shots, he stops to scoop up his three small children and dance with his wife, Lindsay.
A native of North Carolina, Blaylock, 34, moved to Jackson as a teenager and has since been a supporter of the Jackson arts scene. He moved back to the area from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and opened Blaylock Fine Art Photography studio in 2006 in Ridgeland.
Recently, Blaylock decided to move his studio to 3017 N. State St. to be a part of the Fondren arts scene where he will share space with photographer James Patterson.
"I had an idea of what I want, and it's hard to find," Blaylock says. "(Fondren) is a good fit with good visibility and lots of foot traffic. A lot of communities are working to build this and here it's already happening. … I'm excited to be apart of a vibrant movement that is growing bigger."
At his former Jackson Street location, Blaylock played a central role in organizing the annual Jackson Street Fall Festival in November and the Hamstock Barbeque and Music Festival (formerly known as the Dog Days of Summer Festival) in June. He says he will still continue to organize the festivals, which have brought Mississippi musicians like T Model Ford and George McConnell.
In addition to shooting portraits, weddings and commercial work, Blaylock also teaches photography classes at Millsaps College. He said he also plans to teach private and small classes as his studio in the next few months.
Blaylock has a bachelor's degree in journalism and advertising from the University of Mississippi. He also attended the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Montezuma, Mont.
Blaylock Fine Arts Studio will host a grand opening during Fondren's Arts Eats & Beats tonight from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The studio will provide food and live music. For more information visit the studio's Web site or call 601-506-6624.
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