For Jeter, becoming art an 'awesome' experience

MIAMI -- Derek Jeter would be the first to tell you he doesn’t know much about art. It was obvious from an early age that something else would be his life’s calling. On Tuesday morning, however, Jeter found himself observing artwork in his likeness at the leading international contemporary and modern art fair.

Baseball and art fans can visit Art Miami (booth AM115) and Taglialatella Galleries at CONTEXT Art Miami (booth B9) through Sunday to view JETER, which is a collection of 12 large-scale paintings -- six each of “The Jump” and “The Swing” -- in pop artist Russell Young’s signature style of screen printing finished with “Diamond Dust.”

“First reaction was like, ‘Huh?’” Jeter recalled of being told the concept. “The memorabilia industry has grown so much over the years, so to be able to collaborate with MLB and to come up with some unique experiences, I think, is pretty cool. Once I had a chance to meet Russell and talk with him and see some of his work, I was like, ‘Of course. Sounds like a pretty cool idea.’ It's not something I ever expected.”

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Over the summer, Jeter and Young linked up in New York to look through a group of photos and decide on two that would be the subjects of the collection. They wanted action shots -- one at the plate and one in the field -- that were standout moments from his Hall of Fame career.

It took less than an hour for them to settle on Jeter’s trademark jump throw and his first-pitch leadoff homer against the Mets in Game 4 of the 2000 World Series. It just so happens Young, who was born in Northern England and previously spent years directing music videos and photographing the likes of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, was in attendance for the Game 5 clincher at Shea Stadium.

“He showed me a little footage of how he does his process,” Jeter said. “I guess that's why he's such a great artist. It's not something that's easy to do. I couldn't just take a picture at home and end up with the same result. So he's been awesome. Like I said, he's got an incredible story and how he's ended up in this place, and it's just been fun. So hopefully, we'll collaborate at some point in the future.”

This initial partnership also will go to a good cause. A portion of the proceeds generated from the artworks will be donated to Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation, Inc. and to the Perry J. Cohen Foundation.

Since its launch in 1996, the Turn 2 Foundation has awarded more than $40 million to create and support signature programs that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol in West Michigan, New York and Florida. It recently held a fundraiser in Miami, where Jeter now resides with his family.

According to Sharlee Jeter, the foundation’s president and Jeter’s younger sister, Jeter’s Leaders program exposes high school students to the arts and takes them to museums. She and Derek have learned more about art through the process.

“I think the whole thing is amazing,” Sharlee said. “I also love to see sports and art collide. I think that's such an amazing thing for Derek to be a part of, and also, that a portion of it is giving back to his foundation and the Perry J. Cohen Foundation. It's just an exciting experience, and the artwork is outstanding.”

The Perry J. Cohen Foundation is a nonprofit meant to carry on the legacy of Perry Cohen, a 14-year-old boy who went missing at sea on July 24, 2015, leaving the Jupiter, Fla., inlet on a friend's boat. After an eight-day, 55,000-square nautical mile search, the United States Coast Guard suspended their efforts. Established by his mother, Pamela Cohen, the foundation supports what he was most passionate about: the advancement of the arts, environmental, marine and wildlife education and preservation, teenage entrepreneurship and boating safety education.

A 10-year-old Perry once met Derek in 2011. In subsequent years, Pamela has seen Derek at fundraisers and sports charity events.

“It's super meaningful for us,” said Pamela, who remembers watching on TV the Jeter homer featured in the collection. “My son was an All-Star baseball player his whole life. He always wore No. 2, was obsessed with Derek Jeter, as most young baseball players are. His middle name was ‘Jacob,’ so he always used to sign it as ‘Jeter.’

“It's really just something that, while it's been such a tragedy and so life-altering for us, it's something that has come full circle in a magical way, if that makes sense, to be able to collaborate with Turn 2 and with Derek, who's really been wonderful to us. It just makes Perry’s legacy just a little bit more bright for us.”