A.J. is Native artist, poet and musician. He loves Worcester, painting, his family and friends, and eating the tree sisters (corn, beans, and squash). He is a former Jazz programmer at WCUW- 91.3 FM Worcester's Community Unity Station and a co-founder of Noh Place Artist cooperative.
Listening to Jazz is one of his favorite ways to pray, and he counts as a blessing and an honor to have witnessed live performances by Jackie Byard, Sun Ra, Stephan Grapelli, Dizzy, Betty Carter, Gill Scott Heron, and Carmen McCray.
Under the influence and accidental tutelage of Michel Duncan Merle, A.J.'s doodles turned to art while a student at Worcester College. His artwork and writing has been featured in various venues and publications including the Worcester Review, Noh Place Artist Coop, The San Francisco Gallery in Northboro Mass, Grove Street Gallery, and Worcester Artists Group. His work will be featured at Assumption College's D'Alzon Arts Series from October 20 to November 20, 2008 along with the works of his friend and neighbor, photographer David Hayes.
As a poet, A.J. has shared the Worcester College stage with such luminaries as Gwendolyn Brooks, Dennis Brutus, and Jonathan Blake. Musical highlights include recordings with the Ghost Shadows, an alternative rock band, and Virtual Equinox, an ambient music ensemble in which he played a mixture of Zuni, Yaqui and Lakota style flute music.
A.J. lives on the shores of lake Metacoment in Belchertown, Massachusetts with his wife and children where he continues his life long works with Native American Church. He works as a Community organizer for the Massachusetts Public Health Association.
