The Keokuk Art Center is excited to announce that they will be exhibiting Jay Scott’s photography during the month of August. A reception for Jay will be from 5 to 7 P.M. on August 4th at the Keokuk Library/Art Center Round Room Gallery. All are welcome. Born in 1971 to Joe and Jackie Scott, Joe (Jay) Scott grew up like most boys in Keokuk with a love for the outdoors and fishing the river. Hunting and being outdoors with his father, grandfather, and uncles fueled Jay’s love for nature and later in his early teen years lead him to the coveted Rank of Eagle Scout with the Boys Scouts of America. Jay began his journey with photography early on with a Kodak Brownie, photographing everything he could point his camera at. In his early teen years, Jay dove a little deeper into photography through the Photography Merit badge in Boy Scouts. Working with merit badge counselor Dick Stebbings, a local photographer that really took Jay under his wing and started feeding his love for the art with more assignments than just those required for the merit badge. Armed with a full manual Yashica 35mm fixed lens camera Keokuk was prime ground for a young man eager to learn and sharpen his photographic skills. fter serving in the United States Air Force Jay returned to his roots in Keokuk and began taking classes and studying photography and Journalism attending Seattle Film Works and later the New York Institute of Photography. Today, Jay has been published in numerous publications and has won several awards, most recently being named America’s Next Great Photographer in the Landscape Division. Jay’s most favorite is Landscape Photography and Lightning. Jay has traveled the United States taking photos of the beautiful country side as he goes. Jay has hopes of someday traveling abroad with his camera to capture more of the world we live in.