Artist Frank Stella, Master of Reinvention, Dies at 87. Works on Display at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.

 

Stella's work in display at NSU Art Museum in 'Glory of the World: Color Field Painting (1950s to 1983)' on view November 21, 2023 through August 25, 2024.

Frank Stella emerged as part of a generation of American artists excited by, driven and challenged by Abstract Expressionism. From his groundbreaking debut in the 1960's to his status as a living legend, Stella's artistic journey is a testament to innovation, experimentation, and boundless creativity, proving himself a master of reinvention.

Stella's impact extends far beyond the canvas. As a trailblazer in the art world, he inspired generations of artists to rethink the possibilities of abstraction and embrace visual storytelling's power. His bold experimentation with scale, shape, and dimension continues to shape the contemporary art landscape, leaving an indelible mark on art history. 

Bonnie Clearwater, Director and Chief Curator of NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale has been presenting Frank Stella's works since the late 90s and currently has his works on view at the Museum in Glory of the World: Color Field Painting (1950s to 1983). On view November 21, 2023 through August 25, 2024.

The exhibition’s title Glory of the World, takes its cue from Frank Stella’s writings on Hans Hofmann’s abstract painting Gloriamundi (1963): “Hofmann proved that the straightforward manipulation of pigment can create exalted art…Glory of the world this painting surely is, and glory of the world his painting surely was and is.” Like Hofmann, the monumental Color Field paintings in this exhibition arouse a sense of wonder and discovery.

The Frank Art Gallery in Pembroke Pines presents "Soñadora" & "Imaginary Tapestries"

 

Two new exhibitions are opening this summer at the Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery from June 20, 2024, through August 24, 2024. Yuyi Morales in “Soñadora” and Aurora Molina & Stella Gaia Vandermey’s “Imaginary Tapestries”. All ages are welcome to attend an Opening Reception on June 20th from 6 – 9pm, which will feature free entry, live music, complimentary refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres at The Frank Gallery, located at 601 City Center Way. This Event is Free & Open to the Public.

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery in the City of Pembroke Pines invites art lovers and art-goers to discover the enchanting world of Yuyi Morales in Soñadora, organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. This showcase celebrates Morales’ journey and her vibrant storytelling. Soñadora comprises more than sixty mixed-media artworks from fourteen of Yuyi Morales’ books that will enliven and inspire viewers of any age.

Guests will also enjoy Aurora Molina and Stella Gaia Vandermey’s exhibition, Imaginary Tapestries. The exhibition aims to explore the intricate tapestry of familial connections, childhood memories, and the transformative power of artistic expression. The exhibition will be a multi-layered narrative, weaving together the stories of Aurora Molina, her daughter Stella Gaia Vandermey, and the diverse voices of Aurora’s Atelier Students. Through fiber art, mixed media installations, and curated works, the exhibition will offer a journey through the past, present, and future, highlighting themes of resilience, identity, and belonging.

The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery is a two story art gallery named after Pembroke Pines Mayor Frank C. Ortis for his decades-long commitment to the cultural arts. Lovingly known as ‘The Frank,’ this contemporary art gallery showcases multidisciplinary inclusive exhibitions that foster connections, facilitate collaborations and initiate cultural change. The gallery’s exhibition and learning space serves as a site of convergence for artists, performers, thought leaders and community members.

The community can learn more about the City of Pembroke Pines’ latest Events by subscribing to Pembroke Pines Media on YouTube, to NewsFlash, a twice a month digital newsletter at www.ppines.com/Newsflash, by reading the city’s digital newspaper City Connect and website via www.ppines.com, checking the city’s digital signage, or by visiting the City’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cityofpembrokepines, and @cityofppines for Twitter and Instagram. Residents with Comcast can view Pembroke Pines Media programming on Channel 78.

Artist Vito Bonanno Taps Into The Daily Emotional Social Challenges Of Living & Working With Autism

 

'King Kong', by internationally collected artist Vito Bonanno, from his Obsessions & Meditations series - made with aerosol, acrylic, craypas, paint marker, archival glitter on canvas, 53.5 “ x 63.5” framed. This art piece was acquired by Amazon. They made a purchase of 6 of Bonanno's original pieces for one of their corporate buildings in Seattle.

The New England-based artists’ work is image and concept driven and imbedded in his personal philosophy. Bonanno's art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts and dreams, coupled around objects or topics that "get stuck in his head".

Internationally recognized artist Vito Bonanno taps into the daily emotional and social challenges of living with autism, placing his innermost feelings onto canvas. The New England-based artists’ work is image and concept driven and embedded in his personal philosophy. His art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts, and dreams, coupled around objects or topics that “get stuck in his head”, including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans, graffiti and pop culture.

Vito Bonanno has exhibited in solo exhibitions during Art Basel Week in Miami, Florida, Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC, and Akus Gallery, at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) in Willimantic, CT. His numerous group exhibitions include a sold-out exhibition at Metro Curates, NYC in 2014, Uarts & CT Places in Hartford, CT; New England ADA in Boston, Mass; The Outsider Art Fair in New York and Intuit Outsider Art Fair in Chicago.

In 2009, Bonanno won an Award of Excellence in a juried competition for young people with disabilities, produced by VSA Arts and sponsored by Volkswagen in 2009. He was named one of 15 emerging young artists with disabilities and was honored during the artist reception in Washington, D.C. His winning pieces, ‘Ghost Town on Davenport Avenue’ was exhibited at the S. Dillon Ripley Center of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and then was part of a traveling exhibition that went on a two-year nationwide tour of the university and independent galleries. Additionally, a second winning piece titled ‘Southhaven People’ was on exhibit at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. before also partaking in the nationwide traveling exhibition that ran through September 2011.

'Journal', in the corporate collection of Google, in one of their offices in Leesburg, VA.

Due to a lack of accessible art education programs for college-age adults with autism and other similar neuro-diversities, Bonanno began private art classes at Creative Arts Workspace in New Haven in 2006 and has continued his formal training via private instruction from a variety of formally trained artists.

In January 2012, Bonanno unveiled his first Solo Exhibition, Unfiltered V: Vito Bonanno Riding with the Train Girls, at Akus Gallery at Eastern CT State University which included works on paper, canvas, video pieces, a student-artist interactive mural project, and installations. Akus Gallery Director, Elizabeth Peterson stated, “The characters, objects, and ideas that inhabit Vito Bonanno’s work act and interact in striking ways. Caught within the grids and map-like structures he imagines, they are often in a struggle between multiple worlds. He has found a way to tap in the intensity of focus and insight afforded him through autism to unleash a formidable creative power and vision.”

Bonanno launched a Solo Exhibition, 'Truck’n With Vito!', at Umbrella Arts Gallery, NYC in May 2014. Bonanno and his team transformed a typical van into a popup art gallery that traveled through CT earlier in 2014. From May through July the roaming art gallery came to New York and made stops at various locations in the city, including Bushwick Open Studios, sharing Bonanno’s art and spreading the word for the need for increased accessible higher education in the arts for adults with autism.

'Vito's Mind', (2016) part of the Controversial series.

Current and ongoing, Vito continues to work with various artist facilitators in his studio in Old Saybrook, CT expanding his knowledge of materials and techniques and further developing his creative vision. His unique view of the world provides a seemingly endless well of inspiration that fills his head with images and concepts until they spill over onto the canvas bursting on the scene in vibrant colors and hard to ignore imagery that can harbor obvious, but often secret messages.

Vito was chosen to participate in the prestigious global art competition Art Olympia in Tokyo, Japan 2015. His painting 'Skatepark Krusty' from Obsessions & Meditations was a First Round Winner. Bonanno was also chosen to feature his work in Art for Autism at Pan American Art Projects Gallery in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida in July 2015. He has been featured and spotlighted on Saatchi Art homepage twice in a row since July 2015, hand-picked by Saatchi Chief Curator Rebecca Wilson. In 2015 Bonanno was one of 16 artists in the United States selected for a prestigious exhibition of previous awardees from the VSA Emerging Artists Program in the Kennedy Center’s Hall of Nations with sponsorship from Volkswagen Group of America. This exhibition was showcased as part of the celebrations for the 25th Anniversary of the ADA and 40th Anniversary of VSA, and included the work of select artists who represented the past 13 years of the VSA Emerging Young Artist Program; Curated by Stephanie Moore, ‘Daffy Goes to Waterbury with a Ninja Turtle’ and ‘SECR Toilet’ were chosen to be part of the exhibition.

‘Daffy Goes to Waterbury with a Ninja Turtle’, sold to a private collector, from Bonanno's Obsession & Meditation Series (2014) and was exhibited at Spectrum Art Fair during Art Basel Miami Beach, solo exhibition 2014. Made with aerosol, acrylic, paint pen, craypas, and archival glitter on canvas; 41.5″H x 41.5″W framed.

In 2016 and 2017 Bonanno shifted gears and began creating a prolific collection of works that propelled him into a variety of gallery shows, US exhibitions and projects including Art Expo New York; Love Art Gallery, CT; Lotta Studio in New Haven, CT; Art Access Studio in Ohio; Lesley University group exhibition in March 2016 titled '3+ Artists: Celebrating Autism', curated and organized by Elizabeth Stringer Keefe, Assistant Professor of Graduate Special Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bonanno was invited to participate in a group mural project in New Haven, Connecticut at Yale University in June 2018 as part of a public art initiative. Vito is also an artist with ArtLifting since early 2018, which is a non-for-profit art organization that empowers artists living with disabilities through the celebration and sale of their artwork. ArtLifting is about creating opportunity, empowerment, and validation.

Bonanno was diagnosed with PDD/Autism just before his 4th birthday. Because he was language delayed, his parents and teachers developed strategies that tapped into his high visual acuity, utilizing storyboard styles to relay academic and social information. He was also encouraged to draw in storyboard format to express his feelings. The storyboard grid remains prominent in his work and studio preparation today and is a poignant reminder of a boy who was trapped in his own mind.

The New England-based artists work is image and concept driven and imbedded in his personal philosophy. His art contains the essence of his life, feelings, thoughts, and dreams, coupled around objects or topics that “get stuck in his head”, including traffic lights, grids, ceiling fans, graffiti and pop culture. For more information about this artist, for inquiries or to commission a piece contact vito@vitobonanno.com / visit www.vitobonanno.com