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DeNota Artist Collection - Galleries and Dealers Notes on The Street Painters Recent Paintings and Art Works Biographical Data |
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In Memmorian Bronx
-born Ronnie DeNota grew up in the Catskill mountains, Town of Swan
Lake. He has for years forged a neo-impressionist style based on a
working directly from nature. He was painting the City as part of
organic nature. DeNota has devoted his energy to the expression of
his feelings. By using nature as a vehicle for art he is able to hone
his expressions in an experimentally spontaneous way. The overall
effect is one of joyous celebration.
Ronald DeNota, painter of the New York scene, and a member of the Street Painters Group since 1978 will be very much missed. He passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2007 at 8:50pm. He passed peacefully in his studio home, in Greenwich Village, with Lucy and friends, and amongst his many beautiful paintings. He was verry much loved by all who knew him. Born July 17, 1928 in the Bronx, he lived to 78 and he was the most exceptional of painters.
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In Memmoriam RONALD DeNOTA BIOGRAPHIC STATEMENT The paintings of Ronald DeNota attempt to illuminate a sense of man¹s struggle for his own individuality in a society preoccupied with materialistic solutions to human problems. Choosing not to follow his academically trained colleagues in the pursuit of success through painting stimulated by illusory fads, DeNota has steadfastly devoted his energies to the artistic expression of his feelings. Both his fierce uncompromising Montauk landscapes and New England or Nova Scotia landscapes or his symbolic social murals reveal a uniquely emotional neo-impressionistic approach to his subjects. Although born in the Bronx, New York, DeNota grew up in the small Catskills town of Swan Lake which had a small but ethnically diverse population. True to his rural origins, he has often visited the country to rekindle the organic spirit which is the core of his art. Before New York - Soho became a haven for aspiring young artists, people like DeNota, Andy Pizzo and Leo Reeves painted in an atmosphere full of commercialism for the sole purpose of developing unique modes of expression. DeNota himself founded his ³Subject Gallery² on Prince Street, which became well known as a cultural workshop open to all. Later Denota along with Pizzo and Reeves exhibited together and were known as the ³Subjectivists ³because of their attempts at painting raw feelings. In 1977 DeNota together with Myron Heise formed the backbone of the ³Street Painters² in order to reaffirm their lifelong commitment to their Art in its most serious and pure form. Their allegiance is ³To Life And To An Art Of Feeling - Painted From Life.² Mr. DeNota has often expressed his philosophy of life and art in the media and to his critics. He hopes to achieve through his art a more common language of perception and understanding among artists and the public. His work is vital, hopeful, expressive and worth one¹s while. Mr. DeNota while traveling in Europe painted in France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and England and acknowledges the influence of Van Gogh. Mr. DeNota has said: ³I look at the city as organic - built of organic substances. To me, the city is nature.² Ronald DeNota, the street artist, has exhibited internationally over the last several years, in both galleries and museums as well as public forums. He has been the recipient of numerous awards as well while exhibiting his paintings. To mention a few of his exhibitions, he has shown his work in: the Parrish Museum - Southampton, LI, NY; Subject Gallery - NYC; United States Navy (Eng. Corp. 3rd District); Postmaster General's Office; Trinity Church - NY; Bond Street Gallery; Stage Hotel - Dover, England. DeNota wishes to acknowledge the moral support of Marvin Meisels, Matin Pajeck, and John Hultberg. He has also had exhibitions at: Kunstler Hotel Gallery - Munich, Germany; Brooklyn Law School, NY; Pond Lane Gallery - Southampton, NY; Arbitrage Gallery - NY; Cork Gallery - Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, NY; Lever House - NY; Bowery Gallery, NY; Terry Chassman and Associates, NY; Educational Alliance, NY; Blue Mountain Gallery, NY. RONALD DeNOTA NARRATIVE STATEMENT I learned with pain and struggle. The family separated and my father left. I had to go to school upstate because mother did not have enough money. But I kept on painting then. I paint because I feel I am on the edge. I worked for the Post Office to make enough money (after Army). I became one of the founders of the Subject Gallery, in the SoHo district on Prince Street, where our group of artists formed the Subjective. Then I showed with the Street Painters since it¹s inception. At this time I am struggling to make ends meet. My painting is still progressing and I am in need (financially) to realize my artistic goals. QUOTES FROM FELLOW ARTISTS ABOUT RONALD DE NOTA¹S PAINTINGS George Rada ³Brightness and light and pure color - its applied with a spontaneous brush² Robert Smith ³ Very sensitive at the same time very bright and clear in its intent. They convey a great sense of his love of the world². Anna Feld ³evorvescent view of colorful corners of the city - with an exuberance that matches the beauty of the paintings² Elizabeth Bisbing ³There is a playful exuberance in Ronnie¹s work that conveys his joy of life² McConney ³Very colorful & spontaneous² Connie Backus ³Passionate strokes of paint that allude the intellect but excite the memory of sight² Joelli ³A great colorist with intuitive wisdom and strong spirit² Simon Gone ³Charming² Elgin Tarlow ³DeNota¹s View from Little West 12th Street, of a sunset through an arched steel structure, is one of the most magnificent paintings in the show. Here we have a gem of a picture. The use of color is masterful. The composition is good. The application of the paint is quite thick but not everywhere. It is thick only in necessary places. It does not detract from the intensity of spirit or the intensity of expression which is one of joyous celebration. This is the trademark of DeNota's paintings. Here we see a fresh almost child like delicacy paired with great experiential spontaneity.² Ronald De
Nota 1965 - United
States Navy (Eng. Corp. 3rd Dist. ) Ronald DeNota 2000 - Gotham
Five in Gallery 72, Omaha NE |
Ronnie De Nota at the Bus Stop Cafe in Greenwich Village (circa 2006)
Click Here to View More of Ronnie DeNota's Work in the Skylight Gallery
