Original artwork description:

Done by invitation for the city of New Rochelle's (New York) Council on the Arts, this large acrylic and collage medley intentionally seeks to celebrate and honor the inimitable style of master African American artist, Romare Bearden (1911-1988), while simultaneously bringing notice and recognition to various locations, structures and citizens of the city of New Rochelle itself (many of the images used in the collage are from photographs I took around neighborhoods in the city).

An interesting side note is that the person I used for reference for the main figure in the piece (the saxophone player) is iconic twentieth century artist, Larry Rivers. Coincidentally at the time I was shooting reference in anticipation of making the piece he was having a solo retrospective at the nearby Katonah Museum of Art. As is widely known, Larry also played saxophone, and on the day I visited the exhibit he was in full swing leading his band in the museum lobby. He graciously agreed to allow me to photograph him in action. My hope has always been that I served both artists with the respect and grace that they deserved.

The piece resided in the office of mayor Noam Bramson, proudly displayed behind his desk for all entering the office to be greeted with, for a year following its initial display in the exhibition sponsored by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts.

Influences, among others, include Max Beckmann, Edvard Munch, Bob Thompson, George McNeil, Richard Diebenkorn, David Park, Francesco Clemente, R.B. Kitaj, Willem de Kooning and of course Romare Bearden.

For more information or questions, you can always contact me via Artfinder.

Materials used:

Acrylic Paint, Photographs

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