The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Gallery’s new show goes ‘Beyond Reality’
BETHLEHEM — 550 Gallery and Studios, 550 Main Street South, Bethlehem, announces the “Beyond Reality” show with an opening reception on Saturday, August 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show runs through Sunday, Sept. 8 when there will be a closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m. The artists will be present at the opening reception.
The exhibit features the artworks of Salvatore Gulino, of Southbury; Stewart Wilson, of New Hartford; Matang Gonzales, of Bethlehem; Joseph Copija, of Torrington and Clinton Deckert, of Southington. The show highlights the unique vision of each artist as they all share a common theme of providing artistic expression and unique context to familiar images brought to a different reality by incorporating elements of color and design to create new visual experiences.
Clinton A. Deckert is an award winning artist whose Dadaesque influences merge abstract thoughts with surreal imagery to create a primordial stew where infinite possibilities evolve into works of fine art. Deckert’s work has been exhibited all over the world and he is represented in the permanent collection of the New Britain Museum of American Art. His work is held in many collections including the Jack and Susan Warner Collection of Alabama, noted to be one of the greatest privately held art collections of American art in the world.
The paintings of Salvatore Gulino have been exhibited in many of the finest galleries in Connecticut and elsewhere, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, The New Britain Museum of American Art, and Mattatuck Museum to name a few. He has received the Williams College Purchase Award (permanent collection) and eight awards from the Silvermine Guild’s Art of the Northeast USA exhibitions, as well as several other awards and has been featured in several art periodicals. His work features abstracted images of master art works superimposed with contemporary iconography.
Matang Gonzales is a fourthgeneration artist who works from his studio in Bethlehem. He graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a B.A. in graphic design after which he pursued a career in illustration and fine art. He found an interest in mixed media and kinetic sculpture and is responsible for many art installations which have been displayed in New York City and Connecticut, garnering a favorable review in the Connecticut section of the New York Times. Before embarking on his current course of freelance art and design he served as Design Director of Marvel Entertainments toy division.
Stewart Wilson has been creating his iconic Personamen for over 40 years and has created over 31,000 Personas, small sculptural people and animals. He has used them as the basis for paintings, drawings, photographs, prints and more. The personas have been exhibited nationally and internationally in Canada, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Italy and Japan and are held in many collections worldwide. In addition to being a prolific artist Wilson cofounded and was Executive Director of Public Image Gallery in New York City from 19811984 and Artwell Gallery, Torrington. from 19952011. Wilson’s most recent project is the creation of an online arts community gallery called Personaland, (www.personaland.com) where artists from all over the world can share their creative visions.
Joseph Copia is a young upandcoming artist with a unique vision and style. Copia grew up in Torrington. He took his major in graphic design and visual communications at Northwestern Connecticut Community College and Hartford Art School. His art is informed by his biracial heritage and he is influenced by African tribal art and masks. He also draws inspiration from artists such as Jean Pierre Basquait, Jackson Pollack, Pablo Picasso and contemporary street art.
Live music will be performed at the exhibit opening by Preston Parish of Django’s Reserve. Preston will be playing acoustic jazz guitar and other acoustic favorites.
“Beyond Reality” will open on Saturday, August 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. and will run through Sunday, Sept. 8 with a closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m