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| JOSE MANUEL SALAS |
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| TONI HUDSON |
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| GABRIEL TREVINO |
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| ANTONIO ANTINORI |
Gallery 218
218 W. Jackson
Street
Harlingen, TX 78550
Contact:
Anna Marie Valera
PR Director Gabriel Trevino Antonio Antonori Toni Hudson Manual Salas
Mobile: 956-457-9401
For Immediate Release: September 20, 2011
Searching for New Horizons Brownsville Natives
A collaboration
show
Beyond Gallery 218: Launching four
amazing artists from Brownsville, Texas.
Harlingen, TX, November 5, 2011—Benjamin and Anna Marie Varela
curators from Gallery 218, eagerly announce the upcoming art exhibit title, ‘“Searching
for New Horizons” by exploring traditional materials to emphasize the border’, said,
Ben Varela.
On
Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m., Gallery 218 will be celebrating with music, guests,
artists, and hors d’oeuvres. This event
is open to the public and will be hosted by Beyond Gallery 218 with their featured
artists. “We want every guest to come and celebrate this event to witness the
works of these artists. They laid out ideas and emotions based on their exploration
on canvas using mixed media to capture the flavor of living in South Texas.
The four artists from Brownsville have a lot in common;
they live in two worlds, very typical in the valley. In their canvas, the ideas
seem to explode with their feelings and emotions. Upon them either feeling
confused, contentment, or anger in their endeavor to unify two worlds. It is evident in their artist statement and
their work is an indication of that notion to identify the border.
Benjamin states, “Gabriel
Trevino is an artist searching for a whole new adventure by putting definition
in writing that further solidifies his art. Benjamin Varela continues to state
“Gabriel is not here for better theory or concept or technique, he is here
representing ideas in his perspective in relationship to South Texas and
enjoying the journey since he has lived on both sides of the border. The river
is a connection between both sides because he doesn’t see a division.
The leader of the pack, Gabriel
states “As I continue to produce work, I think certain ideas becomes redefined
and clear in meaning. As a painter, looking
at my artworks produced, you will see that many features about my life has inspired
me including life, death, nature, people, and my upbringing – growing up living
on the border in a strong bicultural surrounding reflect my passion to paint. The
evolution of my painting is self evident. I don’t create by philosophy, theory
or follow techniques of the past by looking at pictures and graphing them into
numbers. I create by observation through still life or memories of my life. The
creativity of my thoughts leads me to a more spontaneous approach. There is no
certain style or color pallet that I like to follow; instead, it is mostly
experimental, as I also like to experiment in painting on non-traditional
surfaces. As a young artist, I feel the need to play in order to learn.
Gabriel Treviño was
born in Brownsville, Texas and raised on both side of the border. This includes
Matamoros, Tamaulipas. As a painter in his free time and an engineer during the
day, Gabriel said “I think art has no end, even though I may be
finished with a painting, it doesn’t mean I am through with it. It is hard to
explain something I do. I
just do it as if it was second nature. The “ganas” to paint is there, like the
zest for life in South Texas. Painting for me is sometimes similar to a
conversation, between me and the audience, a way to communicate so
my brush can describes what I am saying
inside.”
The next featured artist
is Anthony Antonio Antinori Jr. Anthony has been drawing since age 6. Since
then, he has experience painting in different mediums and various techniques. Through
the years, he has experimented with different genres in his artwork.
Anthony was born and raised in Pahuatlan,
Puebla until the age of seventeen. He now resides in Brownsville, Texas but
many years ago he completed his high school diploma there. He enlisted in the
Air Force which allowed him to travel while giving him accumulation of cultural
experiences in Korea and Japan. His accumulative experiences expanded his
horizon in art. He said, “I was able to appreciate art in many different
cultures. After leaving the Air Force, I was enrolled at the University of
Texas at Brownsville, where I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art. I
also obtained a Master’s Degree in
Technology with Emphasis is Education from the University of Grand Canyon at
Phoenix, Arizona.” He lived in Houston, Texas for one year, his family decided
to move back to Brownsville, Texas. He is presently living in Brownsville,
Texas where he continues to paint and draw.
He said that he has maintained himself
occupied collecting information about art galleries or art museums to find
venues for his artwork.
Unlike Gabriel Trevino’s
spontaneity and indirect process, Antonio’s art work is direct and
uncomplicated. He said, “I do not spend much time thinking about
interpretations, hidden meanings, or high flow artistic philosophies. Similar
to Gabriel’s perspective on emotions and feeling of complexity, Anthony paint ideas,
emotions, and feelings and he tries to present it in a broad and global context
mind, with an interesting artistic craftsmanship and perhaps unusual ways.
Anthony states, “Before
painting, I draw a sketch very carefully of my artwork; planning the colors,
values, and sequencing of the entire composition. No matter how challenging my
subject is; I will achieve and accomplish my final goal, accidents are rarely
welcome, and mistakes are often irreparable. I like to be in control in my
development of my artwork. My paintings take various lengths of time to
complete. The completion time is a function of the works complexity. Most of my
artwork contains a bit of the dramatic, which heightens the impact of the
composition. As a painter I supply the mood and the viewer is invited to
provide the subtext.
Finally, I believe what
ultimately makes a successful painting is the painter’s ability and sensibility
to import his/her ideas, emotions and feelings into the artwork and to convey
something to the viewer.”
Antonio has received
various awards, created various local murals including KMBH channel 60 backdrop
and he has exhibited throughout Texas and throughout the country.
The third artist is Toni
R. Hudson, Tony is a self taught artist who started drawing at age 10. Toni was
born in Concordia, Coahuila, México and at age 14, she brought her talent to
the United States. Hudson predominantly paints women because she feels she can
relate to the audience the mystery, passion and sensitivity women possess. She
often paints angels because they represent the mystification of human
expressions as well as personify the kindness and the love she feels of
sharing. Hudson is truly a prolific painter, taking no time to rest. Using her
own technique, she is familiar with all media including acrylic, pastel,
watercolor, oil, ink and charcoal.
Benjamin Varela stated
that “Even though she is influenced by Picasso of his approach of abstracting
the form with the use of a simple line, Toni boldly simplifies her subject
matter of femininity that gives her a distinct aspect of her perception of
women’s life as they beautify themselves which is the aspect of the Mexican
Culture.
Like Antonio, Hudson has
traveled the world visiting museums and galleries, where she has had the
opportunity to appreciate the work of the masters who have become an
inspiration to her art. In 2000, she opened her own art studio, Imagenes Art
Studio located in Brownsville, Texas where she continues to exhibit with the
Annual Latin Jazz Festival in October and at the Jacob Brown Auditorium in
Brownsville, Texas.
Her first piece of art
work was a piece of glass creating a replica of Picasso’s “Girl with a Book.”
This was created in 1995. Her first drawing was a portrait of Madonna and
Child. This would be one of her biggest sellers. She sold it out of her garage
in 1995. Toni has collectors in San Antonio, Houston, Corpus Christi and
McAllen, Texas. Other works can be seen as far away as Sydney, Australia, New
York City, Las Vegas, Nevada, Oregon, Hawaii and her native Mexico.
Last but foremost artist, who brought the idea
to the gallery was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México. Jose Manuel
Salas graduated from the national school of visual arts, known as the National
Autonomous University of Mexico—San Carlos Academy with a degree in Visual
Arts. At an early age, he demonstrated an aptitude for visual arts, which is
successfully depicted in various art expositions in his beloved
Matamoros. Jose Manuel Salas arrives in Mexico City in the 70’s, he gains
more experience and enhances his artistic skills by enrolling in San Carlos
Academy and focuses on two areas: visual arts and graphic design. He
has been working as a graphics designer for more than 15 years with the Mexican
Government, various corporations and universities.
Jose Manuel Salas’ art work can be appreciated
in two styles:
- A Mixed Technique which involves various types of tools
to achieve this style such as Conté crayons(pencils), graphite,
watercolors, temperas, gouaches, acrylics, inks. In many of his art work
that he has applied the mixed techniques are based on stain painting
, texture, glazes, scratches, etc. , which allows him to highlight figures
in a pure and informal expressionism. The figures in his paintings
are as if they were taken out of abstract backgrounds or as if they were
paused in time and space.
- Acrylics/ Oils—Even though, these are traditional
techniques, Mr. Salas always manages to give it his personal touch where
he depicts the figurative or abstract aspect of the art. The art piece
that he creates successfully manifests expressions or informal art, where
it intentionally loses the detail and as a result highlights the multiple
formats such as: lighting, shadows, glazes, texture, stain
painting. Such technique allows the art work to appear to pause in
time and space, allowing the explosion of creativity and expression for
his art work.
Jose Manuel Salas is now a successful artist
with 30 years of experience with more than 20 individual expositions and 35
collective art expositions in Mexico and the United States. He has been the
recipient of many awards such as Field of the Arts Award (“Campo de las Artes”
) and Graphic Designer award (Diseño Graphico). He is currently residing in
Brownsville, Texas.
Nonetheless,
the four artists will be exhibiting at Beyond Gallery 218 in Harlingen, Texas
218 West Jackson Street in Harlingen, Texas on Saturday March, 3 2012 at 6 p.m.
to 9 p.m. so come and join us for this spectacular exhibit. With Warm Regards, Benjamin
and Anna Marie Varela
Or Benjamin Varela at 956-457-4093
Gallery 218
Anna Varela
PR Director
218 W. Jackson Street
Harlingen, TX
beyondgallery218@yhoo.com
956-262-1762 or 956-457-9401
Facebook: Anna Varela or beyondgallery218
Website: annamariesalinas.com
Event Info:
Ø Gallery 218
Ø Saturday, March 3, 2012
Ø 6 pm to 9 pm
Ø Semi-Casual Attire
Those that may be interested in
future exhibits, Art Submission Guidelines: Apply to beyondgallery218@yahoo.com
Ø Name
Ø Address
Ø Phone
Ø Artist’s Statement
Ø Resume
Ø No less than 5 attached photos of work.
Deliver artwork: first week of April 2012
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
The gallery is open on Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday and
Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. You can deliver your artwork between that time.
Pickup date: a one month display of work; thereafter,
you may pick up your art.
Time: 1 to 5 p.m.
Searching for New Horizons Brownsville Natives event will take place
When: The month of March
Location: 218
West Jackson Street in Harlingen Texas 78550.
Reception: March
3, 2012 from 6 to 9 p.m. 218 W. Jackson St.
Contact information: Anna Marie Varela at 956 457-9401
or Benjamin Varela at 956-457-4093
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