Artist Statement from the
guilty as charged and root, rhythm, & ritual
exhibit BIO Daniel Belardinelli was born in NYC in 1961. Raised in Manhattan, his work has been classified in such categories as “neo-expressionist”, “outsider”, and “self-taught”, to “new generation art brut”. Whatever classification it may be, Belardinelli’s work is passionate and intensely powerful. Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and a learning disability in hi mid 30’s, Belardinelli struggled in both his academic and social life immensely. Throughout all of his life’s struggles and obstacles, painting and drawing have always remained the only sanctuary. Belardinelli began painting and drawing at a very young age. Inspired by his grandfather, Muzio Belardinelli, an accomplished jazz guitarist and artist, he was given the green light to draw and paint as much and as often as possible. His grandfather was his first audience. Always a source of inspiration and praise, he maintained a gallery of Belardinelli’s work in his home until his death in 1985. Creating art has always had a calming affect upon him. Undoubtedly, it was the only activity that Belardinelli could do as a young boy that did not involve rules and restrictions. “Drawing makes me feel free.” It has always been the one thing he could totally immerse himself in and not have to be concerned about rules and restrictions. As a child, Belardinelli had difficulty expressing himself verbally to others. As a result, he would draw and paint in order to express his voice. As a new generation emerging American artist, Belardinelli’s work is collected worldwide. His work has regularly been shown at the Outsider Art Fair in New York City, Folk Fest in Atlanta, Georgia, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas and is hung in galleries throughout the United States and Europe. In October 2002, Belardinelli’s painting, “Serpent, Preacher and Persuasion” was included in the “Revelations and Reflections of American Self Taught Artists Show” at the Mennello Museum in Orlando, Florida, which will tour the United Stated through 2007. Additionally, his work was included in the “High on Life-Transcending Addictions Show” at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland in November 2002. Belardinelli maintains two studios. One in Soho, New York City and the other in the attic of a pre-Civil War building in Boonton, New Jersey. He is represented by the Andrew Edlin Gallery in New York City, Galerie Bourbon Lally in Montreal/Haiti, and Gallerie Chiz in Pittsburgh.Statement i am a performance and visual artist currently based in pittsburgh. i am invested in creating everyday sacred spaces. making sacred spaces out of necessity and intention. these tar baby altars, black mary altars are an adventure into creating these spaces. i imagine these pieces in people's homes, filled with objects, trinkets, photographs, and prayers, to the end that they bring a desired out come; joy, peace, healing, serenity etc. i believe that we are at this time when it is the soul of our intention that will bring about the most change, politically, spiritually, in our homes, neighborhoods, and in the world. i am interested in creating spaces where these prayers and hopes can leap forth in physical form. leaping forth from one of the most demeaned, dehumanized, and torn down images of all time, the black body, the black woman, and the black child. to make stars out of dust, to bring about a great healing and forgiveness from a single seed and prayer. these jars are empty to be filled with the root you wish. "root" for magic. "root" for mystery. "root" for key. you can create the root yourself.BIO Vanessa German is a performance and visual artist currently based in Pittsburgh, PA. Her mixed media sculptural works gather inspiration from the Kongo "Nkisi" power figures, Mexican iconography, and the many potent, tragic, and stark realities of present day life. Seeking to create work that evokes not only the visceral emotional response of spirit and memory, Vanessa's work also seeks to create a visual contemporary ritual iconography relevant to the realities of the modern world; to employ objects with the power to invoke. Recent exhibitions include "Celebration of Visual Traditions", touring PA through 2008; "Migrations" at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts; "In Our House" at 937 Liberty Avenue; “Objectification” at GALLERIE CHIZ. German has shown and performed throughout the country. A featured performer at the International Arts Festival in Grahmstown, South Africa, Vanessa's performance poetry could be seen and heard in Germany, Sweden, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Olympia, and New Mexico. Vanessa was a 2005 and 2006 nominee for Emerging Artist of the Year at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. She is the National Slam Bush Champion, Ink Tank Slam Champion, and was voted Best Spoken-word Poet by the Pittsburgh City Paper. Other performance credits include August Wilson's “The Piano Lesson”, “Seven Guitars”, and Jo Turner’s Come and Gone”; "Fire", her performance project with the Three Rivers Arts Festival, and Kuntu Repertory Theater’s production of "Relativity". |
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| For More Information Contact: Ellen Chisdes Neuberg, Owner/Director GalleriE CHIZ 5831 Ellsworth Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Tel: 412-441-6005 FAX: 412-661-5662 Internet: galchiz@hotmail.com |
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