Juried Art Show returns at the Staten Island Museum

I am happy to report that one of my one of my pieces (shown below) was selected for this year's Staten Island Museum's Juried Art Show. The opening was last night and I have to say that I was very pleased to see such a huge turn out.

The Product of Me

18" x 36"

2012

Here is a little background about the piece:

The search of self has always been one of my main sources of inspiration for my artwork.  I conceived the idea for The Product of Me when I started questioning myself about what made me who I am. So I started to write down the things I liked to do, to eat, to see, places I like to go; and as I wrote them down, I started to see names of things that represented or had a direct connection with what I like to do. 

The idea of a self-portrait created using logos of the things I like most became clear. The logos represent my preferences, my consumption, and in many ways my identity.  The piece is also a glimpse of my personality, my life style read through my choices of products. The logos also represent the duality and ambivalence of my nationality, being born in USA but raised in Dominican Republic; I have used logos from both countries.

I looked to connect to the viewer and let them into my world, using recognizable icons of mass consumption, reachable by many, but indisputably mine by the unique selection. Yet the audience can identify with them and even question their preferences.  The piece is an open invitation for the viewer to find,communality, or not.

I also think the piece is a reflection of the consumerist society we live in today; opening a whole other aspect of the conversation; this one less personal and more social. 

Technically speaking, I wanted to be as faithful as possible to the original logo designs,
I tried to achieve a smooth morphology of my first name and/or last name out of them. The transfer technique offered the advantage to do that as clean as possible. At the same time, I wanted to include my mark, my touch and that’s why the painted flowers were included. Besides, they helped to integrate the piece as a whole and to bring the care-free, handmade quality the logos did not provide.  

In doing so, I used and integrated different creative processes. The logos were digitally manipulated then transferred onto the canvas. Then I painted the flowers with acrylic paint. 

I invite you to come and see it in person and maybe visualize what your own logos would be.

Just for the heck of it, can you tell what are the names of the products for the 9 logos I used?

Now for more serious information, here are the winners and below the official press release for the Show:

1^st Place - $500

Loveseats

Michael Zelehoski

assemblage with found wood and deconstructed chairs, 2010

24” x 37”

2^nd Place - $200

Broken Dish & Light Pole

Mahtab Aslani

oil on panel, 2011

8” x 8”

3^rd Place - $100

Ground Plume

Daniel Rosenbaum

paper, pencil, ink, paper mache and

styrofoam on stretched canvas, 2011

41.5” x 37” x 11”

For immediate release

Juried Art Show returns at the Staten Island Museum
On view from June 28, 2012 – September 23, 2012

Opening Reception Event Date:  Thursday, June 28, 2012
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Staten Island Museum, 75 Stuyvesant Place, SI, NY 10301
Admission: $5/Free for Museum Members

(Staten Island, New York – June 2012) In late April, the Staten Island Museum called upon artists to submit their best works created in the last three years and they answered the call in droves. This year, the formerly “Staten Island only” competition was opened to practicing professional artists in the entire tri-state area. From over 125 entries, judges Bartholomew Bland, Director of Curatorial Affairs, Hudson River Museum and Rachael Lawe, Director, International Collage Center chose 38 artists to be honored at this year’s exhibition.

The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 28^th from 6pm-8pm at the Staten Island Museum in St. George, 75 Stuyvesant Place. Join us in celebrating these talented tri-state artists. All 41 pieces chosen will be on display, three top prizes will be announced and awarded cash prizes at the reception! There will also be the opportunity to purchase these original works at the artist’s discretion. Tickets to the opening will be available at the door for $5, free for Museum members.

The honored artists are: Heidi Alamanda, Mahtab Aslani, Irma Bohorquez-Geisler, Nancy Bonior, Arlette Cepeda, Sue Collier, Everet, Laura Fantini, Beth Galton, Leo Garcia, Tony Geiger, Aimee Hertog, Holland Houdek, Vladimir Kezerashvili, Jamie M. Lee, Jeongeun Lee, Jean Marcellino, Sean Martin, Diane Miller, Pamela Montalbano, Rudolph Montanez, Randall W.L. Mooers, Denise Mumm, Bill Murphy, Rebecca Mushtare, Maureen O’Leary, Janice Patrignani, Andrea Phillips, Florence Poulain, Daniel Rosenbaum, Howard Springer, Audrey Stone, Nina Talbot, Shira Toren, Regina Walker, Sarah Yuster, Chizuco Sophia Yw, and Michael Zelehoski. 

“Our last Juried show was in 2009, and it was opened only to Staten Island-based artists. With our immanent expansion to Snug Harbor Cultural Center we wanted to broaden our audience to the region, which embraces the entire City and surrounding areas. We aspire to be a visual arts center in the truest sense, representing the best that our region has to offer, in conjunction with collections that are worthy of a great city like New York. We continue to have a commitment to local artists, and about half of the artists that were selected for this year’s show are from Staten Island. The selection of work is eclectic, reflecting the diversity of talents and interests of the artists represented,” said Staten Island Museum Curator of Art, Robert Bunkin.

Image: Cart in the Park, Aimee Hertog
                digital photograph, 2012

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About the Staten Island Museum
Founded in 1881 and celebrating its 130th year, the Staten Island Museum, New York City’s only general interest museum, engages visitors with interdisciplinary exhibitions and educational programs that explore the dynamic connections between natural science, art and history based on its diverse collections. The Museum welcomes about 80,000 adults and school children to a comprehensive array of programs every year. Located two blocks from the Ferry Terminal, visitors can embark on a voyage through time in the Staten Island Ferry exhibit; see rocks glow in the dark in the Hall of Natural Sciences; and experience the lives of Staten Island's first inhabitants. In Building H on the Snug Harbor Campus, visitors can explore the latest exhibitions in the History Center Gallery, or make a research appointment for the History Archives & Library. Staten Island Museum is owned by the City of New York and benefits from public funds provided through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. For current exhibitions, visit Statenislandmuseum.org

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