Description:

"Figurative art in Italy, often called "grand manner painting", underwent a fundamental change in the 19th century with the I Macchiaioli Movement that introduced spontaneity and impressionism into this genre. I have taken things a step further with more abstraction and gesture painting that has characterized my style for many years. This exhibit will include recent landscapes and portraits as well as narrative figurative work completed in 2008. The theme of this show is "uprising" with abstract images based on the Italian and American revolutions. some paintings are inspired by the Luchino Visconti film 'The Leopard', concerning the Italian revolution in Sicily. The exhibit has a dual meaning: the revolution in painting style which moved away from academic forms based on preparatory drawing and the newer painting consciousness based on 'effect' and direct painting as well as the revolutions seeking greater freedom, democracy, and social justice. Traditional Italian themes from the Renaissance, a cultural revolution in Italy, are also presented, such as the artist's reinterpretation of "L'ultima Cena,"("the Last Supper"), made famous by Leonardo da Vinci and Veronese.