Two great opening receptions on consecutive evenings made for some busy days for me. After a fantastic time at Gallery 25 in Pittsfield, we traveled down to the Hudson Opera House for the opening of the 16th Annual Columbia County Council on the Arts Juried Art Show.
Continuing in the vein and direction of the previous piece I painted for Gallery 25‘s “10x10x25″ show as part of the first annual “10×10 On North” winter contemporary arts festival, this piece is another larger than life still life begun with a heavily textured application and a spray paint under-painting. The theme of the piece is a familiar one for too many folks. A heated argument develops between lovers and flowers are exchanged in an attempt to balm the issue. The title of the work is “I Love You. I Was An Asshole.”
“I Love You. I Was An Asshole.”, super heavy body gesso, spray paint, and oil on canvas, 36″x60″. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
Looks like we’ll be going to the Hudson Opera House and hanging out on Warren Street in Hudson soon. For the 5th time out of 7 submissions, a piece of mine has been juried into the 16th Annual Columbia County Council on the Arts Juried Show. This year’s juror was Carrie Haddad. The piece that was selected:
“Censorship Hypocrisy”, oil on canvas, 36″x48″. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
When the call went out to participate in downtown Pittsfield‘s “10×10 On North” contemporary winter arts festival, it almost couldn’t have happened during a busier time for me. After having sold a property in Pittsfield and purchasing a property in New Ashford within the space of a few months, I was planning on settling into the new space at a cozy and comfortable wintertime pace. However, not one to be too settled and comfortable, I contacted 9 other fellow Gallery 25 artists and pitched the idea of participation in the event to proprietor Mary McGinnis. She loved the idea and off we all went to create. This is my piece.
Based on and referenced from an iPhone photo that I took of Annie Laurie‘s punch during the Art On No Holiday Show, the piece is a loose, oversized still life rendering that begins with a coat of super heavy body gesso applied to the canvas surface with a sea sponge paint roller. I then worked a quick sketch to lay down the forms and headed to Home Depot for spray paint, which I used to vaguely indicate dark and mid-tone areas. The lightest of areas were left white gesso. From this point, I proceeded in painterly fashion with number 10 and 11 rounds to the finished project. Hope you enjoy and I hope to see you at Gallery 25 during your travels throughout the festival!
“Secret Punch”, super heavy body gesso, spray paint, and oil on canvas, 36″x24″. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
The final Storefront Artist Project “12×12″ event was a bittersweet ending to an illustrious run as one of Pittsfield‘s torch-bearing arts organizations. A full house that included many local dignitaries and arts luminaries enthusiastically examined the offerings, so generously donated by talented local artists, with high hopes of bringing home a favorite for the cost of a $25 dollar raffle ticket. While most weren’t able to secure that special first choice, that didn’t matter. The thrill of the chase, hearty camaraderie, and especially the knowledge that one’s contribution to arts programs in the Pittsfield public schools would become a worthy endorsement for the future of the arts in Pittsfield and beyond was more than satisfaction enough.
Planning on incorporating this one into my holiday card…
“Enigmacating”, super heavy body gesso, spray paint, glitter, and oil on canvas, 9″x12″. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Carte Blanche?”, super heavy body gesso, spray paint, glitter, and oil on canvas, 12″x12″. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Hot Buttered Clock”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
As an integral part of the “Holiday Pittsfield: A Downtown Celebration!”, the “Walk On Walls” exhibit opened December 3, 3-5PM at the Lichtenstein Center For The Arts. A sizable number of participating and non-participating members of the artistic community met in the convivial atmosphere to take in this juried show of images celebrating Pittsfield’s 250th birthday.
Photograph by Nicholas De Candia.
Photograph by Nicholas De Candia.
Exploring the possibilities again…
“Salty”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“In From Her Western Mourning”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“At Last”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Canvased Fans”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Hot Buttered Clock”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Happy Returns”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
Haven’t had a great deal of time to devote to painting recently while helping put some shows together for folks at Gallery 25. This has been a nice diversion and I finally do have a small one underway…
Liking the new device and photo apps…
“Renne”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“On Eagle”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Fiddle Drainboard”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Selections”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Jarred”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Stands In The Corner”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
“Go Yard”. (c)Leo Mazzeo.
