(Long Island, NY) An evening of Art and Wine was the perfect setting for the “Tragedy & Transformation” Exhibit. Just as the exhibit is entitled, artists have drawn on inspiration of their own personal tragedy and transformed it into spectacular pieces of art. For many artists and poets, their art creations is the source and soul of their deep inner emotions, anxieties and conflicts. Creating art can become the catalyst for the healing process. This dual media exhibit educates, entertains, and gives us hope to triumph over our own issues in life and personal conflicts.
Lana Santorelli Gallery has teamed with The North Sea Poetry Scene and Survivors Art Foundation for this exhibit. Each of the thirty poets has been assigned one artwork in the show and has written a poem inspired by the piece itself to be displayed alongside it. Poetry reading will be September 1st.
The artists in “Tragedy & Transformation” have a piece of their own history to unfold. They are survivors of tragedy, both personal and universal. These talented driven artists exhibit examples of perseverance of the human soul.
President & Founder of Totem Rhythms, Inc. Marietta Dantonio-Fryer, Manager Lisa Votino-Tarrant, Cognac Wellerlane and Artist Candyce Brokaw
The poets in “Tragedy & Transformation” draw inspiration from their own personal experience as well as inspiration from the artwork without knowing any background on the artist, their personal struggles, or their intention in the art creatiom. The collaboration of art and poetry create a transformation to healing for the artist, the poet, and the viewer.
Artists included in “Tragedy & Transformation” are: Robyn Bellospirito, Jackie Black, Candyce Brokaw*, Sara Conklin, Kristine Cottom, Marietta Dantonio-Fryer*, Cliff Enright, Joseph Eschenberg, Joan Fabian, Herb Fischer, Azita Ganji, Lisa Harrington, Angela Hays, Karyn Janowski*, Brian Kirhagis, Michael Knigin, Rick Krieger, Jamal Kuhkalashvili, R.R. Lyon, Juliette Pelletier, Dan Rhema*, Don Saco, Lana Santorelli, Cal Thompson & Lois Walker.
Participating poets include: David B. Axelrod, Stanley H. Barkan, Vincent James Carbone, Paula Camacho, Edgar Carlson, Lynn Cohen, Peter V. Dugan, Graham Everett, Charles Adës Fishman, Dan Giancola, Leonard Greco, Billy Hands, Martha Hollander, Sandy McIntosh, Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan*, Eliza Jo Morgan, Annabelle Moseley, Gloria g. Murray, Linda Opyr, Elaine Preston, Allen Planz, Barbara Reiher-Meyers, Hal Sirowitz, Ed Stever, J R Turek, Pramila Venkateswaran, George Wallace, Muriel Harris Weinstein, Ginger Williams, & Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr.
I had a chance to chat with self-taught visionary artist Candyce Brokaw. Glancing at the drawings and paintings of Candyce Brokaw, one is mesmerized by an abundance of graphic complexity. On closer examination and attention to detail her images reveal a unique wonderland display of populated figures flowing and merging entwining in one another. When Candyce Brokaw is at work, time stands still. In her unbridled passion to create, she allows her insides to envelope the page, as an endless flow of visual incantation. Be it on paper or wooden plank, Brokaw’s oeuvre is in any case beguiling, as chimeric elements dance across the surface of her chosen substrate. Resembling strange, primitive motifs, her creatures seem to reflect the wellspring of fragments from the artist’s own personality. I also had the opportunity to speak to Marietta Dantonio-Fryer Professor of art at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania regarding “Totem Rhythms” a recent collaborative project with Survivors Art Foundation (SAF) and Cheyney University, striving to foster self-esteem and cultural awareness in Native Americans. Native American participants explore and share personal stories, genealogy, group identity, heritage and history, while creating painted totem/story poles. Totem Rhythms began as a dream of SAF Outreach Coordinator Marietta Dantonio Fryer. This project blossomed into reality this fall when she began work with Thunder Mountain Lenapé people near Saltsburg, PA. Ms. Dantonio-Fryer offered Cheyney art students the opportunity to participate with Totem Rhythms Professional Core Team Members and Thunder Mountain Lenapé resulting in new understanding between diverse cultures.
Both women revealed their mission is to enable the survivor/artists to display and market their works to give them recognition, hope and direction by implementing this innovative approach to healing.
“Tragedy & Transformation” runs through September 17th. For more information about the exhibit please visit www.lanasantorelligallery.com. and for more information about healing through art please visit http://www.survivorsartfoundation.org.
Another fabulous event in Southampton was “An Evening Under The Stars Benefit Concert. ” Queen of all divas Diana Ross took to the stage delivering a show stopping performance. Ms. Ross proved once again that she is the legendary artist and superstar showcasing her talent in an unforgettable gastronomic experience within a dramatic oceanfront setting. Graciously hosted and underwritten for the second year by Jill Viner and Cliff Viner and conceived, designed and produced by Miami-based event virtuoso Barton G.
“I have been so impressed with the Diabetes Research Institute, but we still need to help the scientists find a cure. For me, its personal; I have a brother who has diabetes, I started thinking about what I could do and then I spoke with Barton. We came up with the idea for this event last year, and I’m happy to be hosting it again this summer. I am thrilled about the tremendous response we’ve received for this event and the outpouring of support for the Diabetes Research Institute. We’ll be able to go bigger and better in the new space, enabling us to raise considerably more funds for the cure-focused work of the DRI,” revealed Jill Viner, a member of the DRI Foundation’s National Board of Directors.
Diana Ross – An Evening Under The Stars Benefit Concert
The Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) is a recognized world leader in cure-focused research. Since its inception in the early 1970s, the DRI has made significant contributions to the field of diabetes research, pioneering many of the techniques used in islet cell transplantation. From innovations in islet isolation and transplant procedures to advances in cell biology and immunology, the Diabetes Research Institute is now harnessing the power of emerging technologies to develop new cell-based therapies to restore insulin production.
The Diabetes Research Institute’s mission is committed to moving research from the lab to the patient in the fastest, safest way possible. DRI provides the best possible hope for a cure for those individuals and their families now living with diabetes.
Proceeds from the event will support the Kids PumpED project at the DRI, a program designed to help children with type 1 diabetes better manage their disease with the newest technological tools, education and management techniques.
For more information darlings please visit http://www.diabetesresearch.org/.
