Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Goes Green With Paintings That Call for Change, Opens 7/10
On Saturday, July 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum will host a free wine and cheese reception for the opening of "Going Green: Paintings that Call for Change" by Antonio DeSantis.
Influenced by the surrealism of Salvador Dali, the cubism of Picasso and the abstract expressionism of Willem DeKooning, DeSantis uses his whimsical, vibrant, abstract style of painting to express an important message he hopes will open people's eyes. Of his recent works he says, "Society has been pushing me to do these paintings. With everything that's going on in the world-pollution, the financial crisis, our carelessness with the environment-I feel I need to make a point. When I see pollution in the air I make a painting about that. When I see what's going on with the ocean and the fish, I make a painting about that. I am trying to send a message to society that we need to be more concerned about these things." DeSantis is hoping that his art will encourage people to take action in helping our society make lifestyle changes: "We need to save energy and also find alternative sources of energy. We need to curb air pollution and deforestation. We need to drive small and use more public transportation. We need to support local farming initiatives and help needy people. The message of my paintings is ‘Let's go green.'"
DeSantis was raised and educated in Italy, completing his secondary school education in Fine Arts. He graduated from the University of Rome with a Bachelor degree in Architecture. Since he moved to New York in 1971 he had exhibited his work in many art shows and has won several First Place and Best in Show awards.
In 2009 he won the Juried Art Show at the Staten Island Museum. In his review of the show, Michael Fressola of the Staten Island Advance said of his work, "DeSantis is an exuberant colorist and caricaturist. His ‘people' are strange, often comical, escapees from ‘Through the Looking Glass,' with a little Francis Bacon crumbled over all. His work...is full of idiosyncratic touches, riffs of technique and experimentation. Clearly, he loves to paint."
And clearly, he is a man with a mission. So come be entertained and enchanted by the odd colorful characters in DeSantis' world, and let them challenge and inspire you to see how you can make change that will help us "go green."
After the opening, the show can be seen during regular museum hours (Tuesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.) with paid museum of $5 (members are free). This show will close on Sunday, October 3, 2010.
For more information call 718-442-1608 or visit www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned and operated by the Order Sons of Italy in America.
The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes.
Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, but the restroom is on the second floor. At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; the Office of the Staten Island Borough President, Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation, and by grants allocated by New York State Senator Diane Savino and New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo.
Videos
