The Autobiography of
John “Jahni” Moore
The IMAGINATI
“A Creative Spirit Manifest in The Flesh”

 Jahni as he is called and signs his art work is more than just an artist.  As an educator and writer he has won awards for both creative and humanitarian endeavors.  He believes that creativity in all its forms should be an integral part of any true education and healing process.

 John Moore was born in the Madison County Alabama.  He was too quick in his arrival and had to be delivered at home by a local midwife. He grew up in the inner city of Huntsville, AL.  His love for art and nature became apparent at an early age. Spending time in the wooded area behind his parents’ home, reading, and drawing were his favorite pastimes.  His earliest heroes included Jack London, Jim Kjelgaard, Walt Disney, and George Washington Carver.

  In elementary school his vivid imagination, nonstop reading, and daydreaming often got him in the hot seat. Jahni soon became known as the boy who could draw. His first art victory was won as an eighth grader at Davis Hills Middle School In high school he excelled in every subject, math being his greatest challenge.  During this time his creative arena expanded to writing and drama Upon graduation from high school, Jahni attended Alabama A&M University in Normal, AL. As a focused wide-eyed dreamer of a college student he was an active member of the Thespian Society and President’s Scholar’s Society. Restless with creative energy, he won the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Contest then wrote several stage plays including a screenplay called The Darken.  The response to the work showed the artist how art as a sensual medium in any form could serve as a means for inspiration and education.    Dedication and love of the arts inspired him to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. degree in Commercial and Advertising Art and a minor in English.   Soon after graduation he realized that one of his college instructors was right in terms of his being a fine artist rather than a commercial artist. After working as a freelance commercial artist for some time, his own fine art work began to take precedent.  From that time he has worked as a fine artist and art educator, oftentimes utilizing art as therapy with organizations such as Children’s Advocacy centers, Hospice Caring House, and Youth-In-Action.  While living in Chester, PA he spent time with artists Andrew Turner, Bill Dandridge, Cal Massey and others.

  Since that time he has won numerous awards in the area of art, earned a living as a full time artist, had work featured in a major motion picture, earned an M. ED. in Art Education, Studied with muralists Joshua Sarantitis, and worked on one of the largest projects in Arizona’s history of public art and moved back to his native Huntsville, AL. For most of his career, the artist has been about the mission of bringing art to everyday people, believing that we should hold this truth to be self evident, that all are created sacred, endowed with an inalienable right to greatness.

MURALS AND PUBLIC WORKS 

Tanqueray Beavers Memorial, Athens AL   2007
“Angels Among Us” Lee High School Memorial, Huntsville, AL  2007
“Circles” J. E. Williams School, Huntsville, AL   2007
“US” J. E. Williams School, Huntsville, AL   2007
“A Touch of Class” VIP Cafeteria, Alabama A&M University, 2006
“Blue City” WJAB Radio, Normal, AL 2005
“A Peace of My Own” Girls Inc., Huntsville AL 2005
“Birthright” Education Dept.  Alabama A&M University 2005
“Birth of A Nation” Education Dept.  Alabama A&M University 2004
“Barrio Anita Project” (Assisting Artist) Tucson, AZ   2004
“The Human Project” Junior’s House CAC, Fayetteville, TN   2003
“The Messenger” C.D. Stamps Building, Tullahoma, TN   2003
“Children’s Mural” Summerville Elementary School, Decatur, AL 2003
“The Promise” Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Nashville, TN  2003
“Life” Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN  2002
“Dream” Huntsville Boys & Girls Club, Huntsville, AL 2002
“History of Lincoln County” Fayetteville, TN 2001
“This Road We’ve Traveled” Early works children’s Museum, Huntsville, AL 1999



Exhibitions