Artist Statement

Don Bergland’ work is an alchemical adventure into the mysteries of his own philosophy, beliefs, and values. For him, studio practice is an intellectual activity, both on his part as the creator, and on the part of the viewer as translator of the experience. As a result, he tries to place mental inquiry at the heart of each image he creates. He consciously inserts symbolic interactions and connections within the objects populating his theatrical sets, and encourages viewers to build their own narrative interpretations of these connections. He attempts to arrange the elements in his images in a way that connects a pivotal object or theme with association, symbolism, and metaphor. For Don, the enclosed space of the visual image is a cerebral theatre populated by realistic sets, objects, and figures which when combined with intention, offer challenging enigmas. He intends that the viewer will engage with the work, note surfaces, relationships, symbols, and metaphors, and will then construct personal meaning from the engagement. Like all studio-based languages of imaginative possibility, he has merely begun the journey of building and refining his own visual syntax and grammar of cerebral imagination. Each of his works is a record of that journey.

Biography

Don Bergland is currently an Associate Professor of Art Education at the University of Victoria as well as an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA). He has been an active exhibiting artist for over 50 years, during which time, he has mastered a variety of professional media, from oil on canvas to his current studio use of digital tools and techniques. Throughout his career, he has enjoyed professional relationships with major galleries in Canada and the United States. He maintains an active international exhibiting career and has featured his artwork in over 200 major exhibitions throughout the world, winning over 70 creative & professional awards in the process. He has published a variety of books dealing with art and creative activity as well as many articles in scholarly and academic journals. His studio practice is focused on using 3D modeling environments to create surrealistic imagery for international exhibitions. He currently lives and teaches in Victoria, BC, Canada.

Artist Statement

The still life photographs of mid century kitchen appliances were inspired by the poignancy of items once useful but now in the realm of vintage nostalgia. I tried to capture their elegance and sculptural quality as art objects. The paper still life is a response to a call for artists to explore torn or folded objects.

Early in my long career as a fine art photographer, I used a twin lens Rolleifex to make melancholy but evocative black and white landscapes of Martha’s Vineyard. Encouragement from painters and photographers I respected led me to develop a style that obscures boundaries between painting and photography, emphasizing shape and atmosphere over content or locale. I strive for a level of mystery and poignancy in my work.

Selected Exhibitions

– 2017 Exhibits

Griffin Museum of Photography – Winchester MA, Faded Elegants, Solo Exhibit by Invitation

Habitiat – Massachusetts Audubon, Belmont MA, Water, Solo Exhibit, (Twenty ThreeImages)

Chandler Gallery – Maud Morgan Arts, Cambridge, MA, Small Works Salon 2017, Juried by Howard Yezerski, Miller Yezerski Gallery, Boston, “Key West Trees”

Cambridge Art Association – Members’ Prize Show, 2017, Juried by Randi Hopkins, Director of  Visual Arts at the Boston Center of the Arts, “Rock Drawing”

The Art Connection – Boston, Photograph “Plum Island” Chosen by John Guthrie, Artist

Rocky Neck Art Colony – Gloucester MA, Fresh, Juried by Artist Dawn Southworth, “Lightbox Lettuce”, “Portrait” and “Elegant Cabbage”

Fountain Street Fine Art Gallery – Framingham MA, Divergent Thinking, Juried by Jane Young of Chase Young Gallery

– 2016 Exhibits

Cambridge Art Association – Red Biennial, Juried by Joseph Ketner II, Chair in Contemporary Art Theory and Practice, Emerson College, “Hallowell Bridge”

Cambridge Art Association – Flux, Picturing Change, On-line Exhibit Juried by Liz Devlin, Curator FLUX Boston, “Pot Bottom”

Concord Art – 17th Annual Frances N. Roddy Competition, Juried by Katherine French, Director Emeritus of the Danforth Art Museum, “Poor Richard’s Landing”

Gallery 263 – Cambridge MA, Future Visions, National Show Juried by Nancy Adams, Communications Director, MIT D-Lab, “ Flooded Out”

Gallery 529 – Littleton MA, By The Sea, a Juried Exhibit, “Beach Dog”

Galatea Gallery – Sowa, Boston, New England Collective VII, Juried by Julie Burros, Chief of Arts & Culture for the Coty of Boston, “Uneasy House”

Cultural Center at Rocky Neck – Gloucester MA, A Visual Feast, Juried by Ellen Wineberg, “Grand Manan”

Boston Biennial 2016, On line Exhibit – “Montreal Graf”, “Montreal Butts”, “El Forno”

Concord Art Association – Members’ Juried Two, Juried by Susan Nalband, Gallery 555, Boston,”Inference of Three”

Cape Cod Art Association – Beaches, Shores & Coastlines, On line Exhibit. Juried by Steven Heaslip, “Man With Kite”

Cambridge Art Association – Kathryn Schultz Gallery, Unconventional Means, Juried by Robert Siegelman, Museum School of Fine Arts, Boston, “Tissue Rising”

Gallery Seven – Maynard MA, Feast, Juried by Kaveh Mojtabai, Publisher, Artscope Magazine, “Egg In Vase” & “Still Life”

Rocky Neck Art Colony – Gloucester MA, For the Birds, Juried by Amy T. Montague, Director, Museum of American Bird Art at Audubon, “Three Gentlemen” & “Black Swan”

Artist Statement

Nature has been a constant source of inspiration for me. Each painting has a personality, all of them beautiful in their own way. The process of creating a still life has always been a huge surprise. Despite their name, these quiet creations are only fleeting moments. As artists, we see this bit of controlled chaos — but we are equally finite creations ourselves. We can only try, after a struggle, to capture these gems on canvas. That makes them, like people, very unpredictable and exciting!

In the finished work, I always try to recall that energy and keep the element of surprise intact. ‘White Vase’ was actually conceived at an outdoor café during my lunch hour.

I also enjoy participating in outdoor events such as the Tamarac ArtsFest, in April of 2017. Currently I’m getting ready for a solo exhibit in Plantation, Florida. My most recent event was held in the Broward County Northwest Regional Library. It had twenty pieces on display.

Artist Biography

Catherine Shapiro works in a wide variety of media, including pastel. She is married and paints in her home based studio called CMS Creations Gallery. The artist, a native Californian, adopted the great state of Florida in 2004. Other exhibits include:

 Armory Art Center’s “ADL ArtWorks: Equality & Justice in Art” in West Palm Beach Florida.

 Featured Artist May 2017 – “By Any Other Name”. National Parkinson’s Foundation’s Creativity Calendar

 Featured Artist – “Flight” ACTion Art Exhibit, Grand Rapids MI Art Museum, March 2017

Catherine is a regular participant in local art shows and community events. Currently, she is getting ready for a solo exhibit in the Westfield Gallery in Plantation, Florida. Please feel free to contact her with any questions you might have.

Artist Statement

Ralph Garafola has made a living as a commercial illustrator and fine artist for more than 65 years and brings his style of contemporary realism to his oil and watercolor paintings of portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still life and animals/pets. He travels throughout the Southern United States, Italy, England and France in search of new subjects and locations for future paintings while studying the works of the Old Masters.
“All my paintings are portraits. Whether my subject is a person, landscape, seascape, still life or pet, my approach is to portray my subject in its natural environment. It puts the viewer inside the painting. My paintings realistically depict what nature has created.”

Ralph Garafola

Biography

Ralph Garafola critically acclaimed artist, educator and author was raised in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He and his family moved to New Jersey in 1964 and since 2001 spend the winters in Florida. Garafola started his career as a draftsman in New York City for Armor Engineering.

Later Garafola worked for Design Service in Newark, NJ as an illustrator producing government-training manuals for the Armed Forces. Afterwards he was promoted to Art Director. He worked there until he was drafted in 1953. Subsequently he studied drawing at The Alliance Art School (Educational Alliance) in lower Manhattan at night.

Garafola, a Korean War veteran was in the army for two years as Army Combat Photographer MOS. He studied at Fort Monmouth New Jersey Army photo school; graduated and transferred to the Pictorial Center, Long Island City as a photographer making training films for the army. While stationed in Korea Garafola was a draftsman. He was discharged in 1955.

Back in New York, Garafola studied at the Art Students League of New York over seven years with Frank J. Reilly. He served as class monitor to Reilly, who was an instructor at the League and Commissioner of Art for New York City.

Garafola worked at Janal Studio in Newark as a commercial illustrator. At that juncture he then went out on his own and for more than 65 years he made a successful living as a self-employed commercial illustrator, photo retoucher and fine artist. Garafola retired as a commercial illustrator and continued painting. He brings his style of contemporary realism to his oil and watercolor paintings of portraits, landscapes, seascapes, still life and pets. Garafola travels throughout southeastern United States plein air painting and Italy, France in search of new subjects and locations for future paintings while studying the works of the Old Masters.

At 70 years of age started teaching at the duCret School of Art, Plainfield, NJ and in Florida at the Sarasota Art Center, Longboat Key – Ringling College of Art and Design, the Art Center Manatee and Art Expressions by the Bay in Sarasota. Garafola also has students he tutors privately.

Current Work/Projects

Garafola’s portraits and still life capture the personality and character of his subjects while his landscapes and seascapes capture the mood of the scenes. Garafola says, “All my paintings are portraits. Whether my subject is a person, landscape, seascape or still life, my approach is to portray my subject in its natural environment. It puts the viewer inside the painting. My paintings realistically depict what nature has created.”

Garafola’s first published book “Frank J. Reilly – The Elements of Painting” reveals Reilly’s theory of what one needs to know about painting, as taught to Garafola. Frank J. Reilly was an American painter, illustrator, muralist and teacher. Reilly served as the Commissioner of Art for New York City. Ralph Garafola studied at the Art Students League of New York over seven years, where he served as Reilly’s class monitor.

“To succeed in the realm of graphic arts, like dancing and playing music, one must acquire knowledge. By practicing and applying that knowledge, one becomes skillful. It was Reilly’s logical application that was the basis for developing my craft. After 65 successful years I have never found a reason to change methodology he taught me. I owe him my sincere gratitude. Now, through this book, I share it with you” says Garafola.

Now Garafola is working on a second book, “Frank J. Reilly – Outdoor Painting” publication is scheduled for the end of 2017.

“The Price of Liberty & Freedom” A Commemorative Painting for Honoring Your Personal Hero was painted by Garafola as a dedication to the ultimate sacrifice made by our heroes so we can continue living with the freedoms we have in our nation. Ralph Garafola a veteran of the Korean War, long believed our heroes can be honored with more than a photo on a mantle or bureau. He created this unique painting in which a photograph of your personal hero is inserted into the composition – creating a beautiful, commemorative work of art that truly honors them and their sacrifice.

Garafola designed and directed the building of the 911 Memorial that stands in front of the Warren Township Municipal building in New Jersey.

Artist Statement

My Still Life Series represents the diversity of every day scenes with and abstract concept and the use of mixed media. For me the colors, textures and mixed media define the canvas flow with 2 dimensional views that allows you to see more that what is painted.

This series provides a view to a world in which molds have been totally replaced, so distant from our reality. Figures seem to have lost their original shapes, a space blending into each other by the use of colors and shades.

Artist Biography

Vivian Antonini is best known for her abstract painting designs. Her works has been described as 2D expressionist figurative paintings with a diversity of incorporated materials into her creations. She was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1964.  She started her passion for painting with oils early in life and her big influence is from her teacher and mother, Cecilia Benitez Level, a very recognized oil painting artist who has participated in many exhibitions around the globe.
Her love for the oils has led her to create many paintings with different techniques and themes. Her focus is on forms, textures and colors. She paints with her soul, putting in her works her mind, spirit, dreams, and even her nightmares.  Surreal Trend. Her projects consist of multiple types of works or series with a range of different media, grouped around specific themes and meanings.
She is passionate about painting, and has tried many subjects and techniques using many materials. She works mostly with oil on canvas and mixed media, and recently has begun using acrylics on her paintings.
She believes that music affects not only how we feel and behave, but also it projects a unique energy when applied to painting. Music and painting do their share, and synchronize to create a beautiful piece. She is constantly pulled into new directions, that music and color give her. Rather than staying with one type of configuration, it reflects the desire for freedom and growth, always important in her works.