About the Artist

Born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Sheila Overstreet has been involved in graphic design for over 11 years. As a young child, she has always gravitated towards drawing and painting to which lead her to where she is now.
While a student at the University of South Alabama she was hired as lead artist for the USA Archaeology Museum’s murals and graphics for several exhibitions. Then for nearly 2 years, Sheila worked as assistant muralist to former Professor and chair of the USA Department of Visual Arts, Jason Guynes, painting the Moulton Bell Tower Mural.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a primary concentration in Graphic Design and secondary in Painting. Sheila has been working as the in-house graphic designer for a global production printer manufacturer for the past 7 years. She still enjoys completing both private and public painting and graphic design commissions for clients all over the world.

22nd Annual GCEH Jazz Festival

July 30-August 1, 2020

The festival begins with

“An Evening of Poetry”

July 29, 2020 @ 6:30 PM

Hosted by

Huggy Bear Da Poet

Dedicated to the Great

Lady Tess

Appearing on July 30 @ 5 pm

THE EXCELSIOR BAND

Karmilla Ali & Jim Armstrong

THE CEDRIC BROOKS PROJECT

cedric brooks

AUGUST 1 @ 5 pm

keep it live

Keep It Live

ric — GHOST MAN RIC OF THE RIC MCNAUGHTON BAND

For more information call Creola Ruffin at (251) 478-4027

About Us

The Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival (GCEHJF) is founded in the belief that “ethnic” means everybody and “heritage” is not some fixed point in the past. GECHJF seeks to present Jazz through a declaration of it’s evolution at every turn.

We are a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to further the preservation and growth of Jazz music for future generations. Our goal is to encourage young musicians to play Jazz by educating them in it’s history and music.

GCEHJF provides a vibrant mix of entertainment and education. The Festival is known for the Marcus Johnson Summer Jazz Camp, it’s venue for the “telling” arts, An Evening of Poetry and Jazz, and at the heart of it all an incredible main stage jazz concert!

GCEHJF has presented nationally and internationally acclaimed Jazz musicians, with some having their roots in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Many are alumni of those school systems. These artists have contributed to the success of this Jazz Festival.

Artists performing at the Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival have provided audiences with truly unique entertainment experiences, from such diverse performers as Lil Greenwood (formerly of the Duke Ellington Orchestra) and Fred Wesley (formerly of the James Brown Review), to new jazz visionaries, such as Esperanza Spalding, Christian Scott, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, and Art Sherrod, Jr. among many others.

For more information contact:

Creola Ruffin (Founder)

251-478-4027