Photo Flash: Don Florence's Portraits At Phantom Gallery

An opening reception for Don Florence's ACTORS, AUTHORS, OTHERS will be held on Thursday, September 24 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, with additional exhibit hours held on Friday, Septmber 25 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, Saturday, September 26 from 11:00am to 5:00pm, and Sunday, September 27 from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

ACTORS, AUTHORS, OTHERS will include celebrity portraits of such noted authors, actors, and others as: Madonna, Joel Grey, Anne Hathaway, Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Woody Allen, Tennessee Williams, Ethel Merman, Liz Taylor, Terrence McNally, Stephen Sondheim, Nathan Lane, The Marx Brothers, Dorothy Parker, Sir Ian McKellen, Edward Albee, Paul Newman, David Sedaris, Marilyn Monroe, Neil Simon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Gloria Vanderbilt, Barbara Hutton, Babe Paley, Rock Hudson, James Dean, David Sedaris, Meryl Streep, Marlon Brando, etc. All portraits will be available for viewing and purchase.

When asked why he chose portraits as his artistic outlet, artist Don Florence said, "For me, the human face is the most interesting and challenging subject. The initial task is capturing specific and unique physical features and transferring those 3 dimensional markers to a flat surface. That, in itself, is a skill, but a camera can do that. A photographic portrait captures a person in a specific moment in time. It becomes an historic artifact. A portrait that's drawn or painted allows the subject to invade our world in real time. A painted portrait reveals things about the subject and the artist. It's also an attempt for both to become immortal." And when asked why focus on celebrities, he stated "Most of the people I draw are accomplished. All are famous. Famous people are fascinating. If they weren't interesting they wouldn't be famous. Some celebrities are only interesting in a creepy Octomom or Housewives of New Jersey way. They're not in this exhibit. Social critics say that people today are way too interested in fame, but I think this obsession is nothing new. The human race has always needed idols...something (or someone) to believe in. We just have more efficient tools for communication now. We've progressed from cave paintings to stone tablets, to books, to broadcast, to Twitter."

A turning point for artist Don Florence was winning a scholarship from Walt Disney himself to attend California Institute of the Arts. He ultimately substituted advertising for fine art. His clients have included; Barney's, Bloomingdale's and Revlon. He returned to the art world in 2004. He's had 3 solo shows at the Boltax Gallery on Shelter Island, including the slightly notorious "100 Homos Show," and has also exhibited at Art-Scope-Hamptons and several other venues in the New York area. Mr. Florence lives in Cross River, New York with Terry Hall, his partner of 37 years.

The Playwrights Realm is an off-Broadway Theater Company which most recently presented Anna Ziegler's critically acclaimed production of DOV AND ALI, and the 2009 Writer's Jam Sesson. The Realm is committed to developing and producing theater with artists - and for audiences - who share its belief that the playwright's vision is central to great theater. Founded in 2007, The Playwrights Realm is: Co-Artistic Directors John Dias and Katherine Kovner, Producing Director Stephanie Ybarra, and Associate Producer Judy Mauer. For more information on The Playwrights Realm, please visit www.playwrightsrealm.org.

Photo credit Don Florence