Now through March 16, the Sisson Art Gallery at HFCC is featuring “Romancing the Figure.” The exhibit is composed of works that explore the human physique and range from ethereal abstractions to vivid portraits. While “Romancing the Figure” offers a variety of pieces, the six artists share the commonality of representing Detroit’s booming art scene.
Originally from Kansas, John Hegarty began teaching at Wayne State University after earning his MFA from the State University of Iowa. He has since received The Michigan Foundation for the Arts Award in Visual Arts, and maintained his studio in Detroit. Hegarty is now retired after teaching at WSU for 42 years.
In his artist’s statement, Craig Paul Nowak described how focusing on self-portraits for four years only broadened his scope of humanity as a whole. “Ironically, this prolific rendezvous into self discovery wound up leading me to a more prevalent interest in mankind, and more specifically into the human condition,” he said. When creating his works, Nowak considers not only the physical elements involved in his process, but also how art fits into society, how it affects individual viewers and how it withstands time. “By considering these elements, I expect to inspire human-interest in others,” he explained.
Nora Venturelli’s work has been featured in a multitude of public and private collections in the U. S., Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Italy and England. She has taught drawing and painting at the University of Michigan School of Art and Design, and also at Eastern Michigan University since 1997. In her biography, Venturelli described herself as a “meticulous painter.” Of her method, she said, “…the measured process of mixing color and the application of paint captivates me. This slow and thoughtful approach has slowly found its way into my new figurative work.”
Sergio De Giusti’s three dimensional works can be found in many areas of Detroit. These pieces include sculptures and reliefs for the Rick Finley U. S. DEA building, Wayne State University, Wayne State University Law School and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Notably, De Giusti has also created bronze panels for the doors of the Church of San Vito in Maniago, Italy. Among several prestigious awards, he has received a Knighthood from the Republic of Italy. De Giusti stated, “…I am interested in the ritual of shrouding the body – drawn from either religious iconography or as allegorical symbolism.” In these wrapped figure pieces, De Giusti communicates “feelings of despair, loneliness, and our hidden self.”
Natalie Estep grew up in Canton, Michigan. She entered Schoolcraft College at 17-years-old to study Biomedical Engineering before choosing to pursue a career of her artistic abilities. In 2010, Estep graduated from College for Creative Studies (CCS), earning her BFA. Today, her extensive resume includes work with Juxtapoz Magazine and CCS in Detroit. In her artist’s statement, Estep said, “Through painting, sculpting and writing, I create a world of interest, of genius, and of color that may bring true happiness to all.” The successful artist has also participated in a record-breaking 25-ton iron pour, inspiring a passion for metals.
In recent years, Stanely Louis Rosenthal’s work has been featured in the Detroit Institute of Art’s “In Your Dreams: 500 Years of Imaginary Prints,” as well as in Wayne State University’s “Rosenthal / Hatfield: A Two Person Exhibition.” In his biographical statement, Rosenthal explained that he does not do much preliminary planning for his paintings and prefers to have no clear idea on how they will develop. For many years, he had worked mostly from observation and has recently returned to primarily imaginative pieces. Rosenthal said, “…much to my delight, I have discovered that having been stored in the ‘wine cellar’ of my mind, my ability to invent and imagine has gotten better with age.... This approach has returned a long missing sense of adventure to the act of making my pictures. And, it is great fun.”.