"Judgmental Ink" Exhibit Now in Catron Gallery
July 10, 2023
"Judgmental Ink" Exhibit Now in Catron Gallery
Walters State will host John May’s “Judgmental Ink” photography exhibit in the Catron
Gallery July 10-Oct. 27.
This exhibit features photos of tattoos and portraits of people. Exhibit viewers are
tasked with matching each person with the correct tattoo.
“I am documenting people with ‘ink,’ making their portrait and taking a photo of their
favorite tattoo,” said May, an adjunct faculty member at Walters State. “A large
monochromatic portrait will be hung with small color images of tattoos. The viewer
must guess which one belongs to the owner. My goal is for viewers to relinquish their
judgmental opinion quickly.”
May holds a master of fine arts in photography from East Tennessee State University.
He earned a bachelor of arts in photography from Lincoln Memorial University and completed
the Army Advanced Photojournalism Course at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
He has never completely ended his education, as professional development activities
include workshops in Maine, Hawaii and Pennsylvania.
May has been featured in many exhibits, including the ongoing “Looking at Appalachia”
at West Virginia University. Other exhibits include “Knoxville Photo 2021” at the
Emporium Center; “Our Appalachia: Community & Innovations” at East Tennessee State
University; and “Arts in the Airport” at McGee Tyson Airport. He has taught photography
and art at Walters State for over 15 years. He has also taught at Pellissippi State
Community College and at the Arrowmont School for the Arts and Crafts.
Admission to the Catron Gallery is free. The gallery is located inside the R. Jack
Fishman Library on the college’s Morristown Campus. The gallery is open 8 a.m.-5:30
p.m. Monday through Thursday.
In the phot: This image is part of the exhibit, “Judgmental Ink.” The exhibit features work by John May and will be at the Catron Art Gallery on Walters State’s Morristown Campus July 10-Oct. 27.