CARLO PITTORE AND THE MAIL ART MOVEMENT @ THE OGUNQUIT MUSEUM of AMERICAN ART
CARLO PITTORE AND THE MAIL ART MOVEMENT
September 6th - October 31st
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
“In the Small Gallery”
543 Shore Rd.
Ogunquit, ME 03907
207-646-4909
Museum Hours: Open Daily from 10am - 5pm
“There are no exceptions: without independence there can be no art.” Carlo Pittore
This exhibition, organized by independent curator Katherine Doyle and Ogunquit museum director Ron Crusan in collaboration with Sarah Bouchard, is drawn from the Carlo Pittore Foundation’s (Brunswick, Maine) extensive collection of Mail Art, representing artists from 35 countries.
Carlo Pittore (1943-2005) was a charismatic, politically active artist and teacher who lived in New York City, southern Italy, and, for thirty years, in Bowdoinham, Maine. He energetically and consistently advocated for, and created, alternatives to museums and galleries as destinations for art and artists. A highly respected figurative painter, in the 1970s Pittore emerged in the forefront of a rapidly expanding International Mail Art movement. All of the work in this exhibition was either created by Pittore or mailed to him from his vast network of collaborators, mostly created and received in the 1990s.
At the heart of this movement is a vision of art exchanged freely as a gift through a broadly accessible, democratic system. Mail services throughout the world act as carriers for the distribution of unwrapped, original art that ranges from elaborately painted envelopes, imagery created from rubber stamps and collages, to three-dimensional objects. Subject matter is diverse and unpredictable, including work that is overtly subversive, erotic, humorous, cryptic, and often non-representational. This artistic network grew organically and independently forming vital links between artists, carriers, viewers and, ultimately, between nations.
CARLOFEST @ the Merrymeeting Arts Center
Moment of Truth. 30″ x 36″. Oil on Linen. 1984.
SUNDAY, August 26th, 12pm - 6pm
As part of its ongoing exhibition “Three Town Artists: Carlo Pittore, Bryce Muir & Carter Smith,” the Merrymeeting Arts Center in Bowdoinham announces a Carlofest from Noon to 6pm on Sunday, August 26th. A series of events will honor Carlo Pittore, a longtime Bowdoinham resident and the maestro of the Carlo Pittore Academy.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (A $10 donation is requested.)
12-2pm YARTING: An informal gathering of boats will put out into Merrymeeting Bay for Yarting, the combination of eating-drawing-boating concocted by Carlo Pittore and Bryce Muir. Kayakers, canoeists and boaters welcome. Passengers welcome wherever there is room!
3pm TALK by Edgar Allen Beem on “Carlo’s Art Activism” at the Merrymeeting Arts Center, 9 Main Street, Bowdoinham (by the river).
4-5pm Opportunity to tour “Three Town Artists” exhibition.
5pm SPAGHETTI SUPPER by local chefs in recognition of Carlo’s love of food and Italy. Please pre-register at 841-5914 by Friday, August 24th. $20 a piece. Limited space.
6:30pm FREE CONCERT Bowdoinham Summer Concert Series at the gazebo adjacent to the arts center by “Cheddar & Smack,” a crossover modern roots and country blues band.
The “Three Town Artists: Carlo Pittore, Bryce Muir & Carter Smith” exhibit is funded by the 250th Anniversary Committee of the town of Bowdoinham, and supported by the Carlo Pittore Foundation for the Figurative Arts. The exhibit runs through September 23rd, and will be on view during the town’s official birthday celebration on September 14-16th, 2012. The Merrymeeting Arts Center is open Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, and Sundays from 1-4pm (on August 26th the hours will be extended until 5pm). It is located at 9 Main Street down by the railroad tracks and boat landing in the village of Bowdoinham. For more information, please visit http://www.merrymeetingartscenter.org, or call 207-841-5914.
THREE TOWN ARTISTS @ The Merrymeeting Arts Center
Bowdoinham. 18″ x 30″. Oil on Linen. 1993. $700.
The Carlo Pittore Foundation is honored to be a part of the celebration of Bowdoinham with a Bowdoinham-focused selection of Pittore’s work included in the upcoming exhibition “Three Town Artists” at the Merrymeeting Arts Center in Bowdoinham, Maine.
Three Town Artists: Carlo Pittore, Bryce Muir & Carter Smith
June 22nd - September 29th
Merrymeeting Arts Center
9 Main St.
Bowdoinham, ME 04008
207.710.0349
Special Events:
Friday, June 22nd 5-8pm: $25 per person - a special Gala Preview to benefit the Merrymeeting Arts Center with a special focus on Bryce Muir
Saturday, June 23rd, 10am - 4pm: free public opening
Saturday, August 25th, and Sunday August 26th: A special focus on Carlo Pittore
Sunday, August 26th, 3pm: A talk on Carlo Pittore and his art activism by Edgar Allen Beem
TBA: Yarting expedition to sail/draw/eat!!!
+ More to come…
Saturday, September 28, and Sunday, September 29th: A special focus on Carter Smith with film screenings at 7pm on both days
Carlo Pittore Foundation Sale @ AUCOCISCO
Man with Scarf. 18″ x 30″. Oil on Linen. Undated.
Saturday, June 2nd, 9am-5pm.
Sunday, June 3rd, 9am-5pm.
With hundreds of hand-picked works on paper, and a small selection of gorgeous works on canvas…
Come join us for a Carlo Pittore Foundation Sale. Aucocisco Gallery, 89 Exchange St., Portland, Maine. FMI: 207-809-9670
“In the Spirit of Carlo Pittore” @ AUCOCISCO
IMAGE CREDIT: Steve Random
Aucocisco Gallery
89 Exchange St.
Portland, ME 04101
207-775-2222
FIRST TWO PITTORE FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENTS
THE CARLO PITTORE FOUNDATION AWARDS TWO $1,000 GRANTS TO WORKING MAINE ARTISTS
The Carlo Pittore Foundation is honored to announce its first two grants to working Maine Artists. In an awards ceremony on Saturday, October 29th, The Figurative Artist award went to Timothy Powers Wilson in recognition of his incredible strides advancing the medium of figurative art. The Maine Artist award was given to Patrick Corrigan, celebrating his mastery and innovation across media.
TIMOTHY POWERS WILSON:
Timothy Powers Wilson. “Eric.” Oil on canvas, mounted on panel. 8” x 10.” 2010.
Timothy Powers Wilson. “An Artist at Work.” Oil on Panel. Scavenged molding frame. 24″ x 30.” 2011.
Timothy Powers Wilson. “Leigh.” Oil on Canvas. 24″ x 16.” 2011.
PATRICK CORRIGAN:
Patrick Corrigan. “Murmura.” Oil on Panel. 4′ x5.’ 2010.
Patrick Corrigan. “Nat King Cove.” Oil on Panel. 5′ x 4′. 2010.
Patrick Corrigan. “Carnival.” Oil Enamel on Wood. 12″ x 19.” 2010.
DAY OF 1,000 DRAWINGS - Saturday, October 29th
CURRENT SCHEDULE
ALL ABSENTEE BIDS MUST BE PLACED BY 8PM, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28th. We will be accepting Visa and Mastercard, as well as personal checks (with a valid ID), and cash.
Noon - 2pm Exhibition Space OPEN - Preview of Works
2:30/2:45pm Close of 1st Round of Silent Auction Featuring FIGURATIVE WORKS
3:00 Grant Awards Ceremony
3:30 Close of 2nd Round of Silent Auction Featuring COMEDIA / PERIOD PIECES
4:00 Screening of Carlo Pittore : Maine Master trailer
4:30 Close of Final Round of Silent Auction Featuring MAIL ART / ICONIC WORKS
5:00 Wrap - Up of Event
For more information, please contact Sarah Bouchard via e-mail, or by phone at 207-809-9670. This event will take place in the large first-floor event space at Fort Andross, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine, 04011, where the Winter Farmer’s Market is usually held.
Carlo Pittore : Studio Life OPENING
Last night, the University of Maine Museum of Art kicked off the exhibition Carlo Pittore : Studio Life with a fantastic opening celebration. The show looks phenomenal.
We at the Carlo Pittore Foundation would like to extend our gratitude to George Kinghorn and the staff of the Museum for a phenomenal effort. We’d also like to thank Rob Shetterly and Dick Kane, of the Maine Masters Series, for attending and filming the opening event. Lastly, thank you to Kent Gordon for his generous support in making the next phase of the Maine Masters film, Carlo Pittore : Maine Master a reality!
Carlo Pittore : Studio Life runs through the end of December at the University of Maine Museum of Art. Don’t miss it! To read a review of the exhibit in the Bangor Daily News, please visit here.
Curatorial Text.
Installation View.
Rob Shetterly with “A Portrait of a Skeptic”
Two guests discuss “Woman with Boxing Gloves”
Carl Little and Guest
Susan Drucker and Aaron Pyle
Guest with “Portrait of Keith Haring”
George Kinghorn, UMMA Director, delivers his opening remarks to a packed house
Herb Hartman is interviewed by Rob Shetterly for Carlo Pittore : Maine Master
Dick Kane interviews a guest encountering Pittore’s work for the first time
George Kinghorn discusses Pittore’s work for Carlo Pittore : Maine Master
A guest enjoying the exhibit
Installation View
Installation View with “Tweaked”
Installation View with “Portrait of Sarah”
Installation View
Installation View with “The Immortal”
Installation View
Installation View
Installation View
Carlo Pittore : Studio Life
Day of 1,000 Drawings
Portrait of Bern Porter. Watercolor on Paper. 1980s.
On Saturday, October 29th, the Carlo Pittore Foundation will host a “Day of 1,000 Drawings,” a fund raising event featuring 1,000 original Carlo Pittore works on paper. The event will include a silent auction highlighting rare examples of Pittore’s mail art, selections from his time at the Brooklyn Museum School, early works dating back to the 1960s, and a strong selection of his most powerful Portraits and Nudes. In addition, the foundation will offer a vast array of affordable works priced for immediate sale.
The foundation will also be awarding its first two grants to working Maine artists with an awards presentation at 3pm.
In addition, there will be a screening of the trailer for Carlo Pittore : Maine Master, along with an update on the film project in production through the Maine Masters series.
The event will run from Noon - 5pm at Fort Andross in Brunswick, Maine. An online preview of select works will be available on the Pittore Current mid-October. The success of this event will enable us to continue to promote Pittore’s work and ideals, and support and stimulate working artists.
To receive a bidding #, please RSVP here.
We look forward to seeing you!
CURRENT SCHEDULE
Noon - 2pm Exhibition Space OPEN - Preview of Works
2:30pm Close of 1st Round of Silent Auction Featuring FIGURATIVE WORKS
3:00 Grant Awards Ceremony
3:30 Close of 2nd Round of Silent Auction Featuring COMEDIA / PERIOD PIECES
4:00 Screening of Carlo Pittore : Maine Master trailer
4:30 Close of Final Round of Silent Auction Featuring MAIL ART / ICONIC WORKS
5:00 Wrap - Up of Event
For more information, please contact Sarah Bouchard via e-mail, or by phone at 207-809-9670. This event will take place in the large first-floor event space at Fort Andross, 14 Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine, 04011.
A CALL TO ARTISTS
CALL TO ARTISTS
The Carlo Pittore Foundation is pleased to award two $1,000 grants to Maine Artists. One award will go to a Maine Artist working in the figurative tradition. The second award will go to a Maine Artist working in any genre.
ELIGIBILITY
The application process is open to all Maine Artists who have resided in the state for at least one year at the time of application.
HOW TO APPLY
All artists are required to submit an application form, a CV, a CD with 10 images of current work, and a numbered image list detailing title, medium, dimensions, and date of work. Images should be saved as JPEG files, with individual images not to exceed 3 MB each. Each image should be numbered to correspond with the image list, and should be labeled with your last name and the title of the piece (e.g. 01_Smith_A Great Work.jpg). Video artists may submit a DVD with clips totaling up to 10 minutes. Artists applying for the Figurative Arts Grant must submit 10 images of figurative work only.
Please label each component of your submission with your name and contact information, and please ensure your CD is readable on both Mac and PC platforms.
Grant awards will be made based solely on the quality of work submitted.
DEADLINE
All submissions must be POSTMARKED by Saturday, October 15th.
APPLICATION FORM
You may download an application form HERE.
You may also obtain an application form via e-mail by contacting sarah@carlopittorefoundation.org. Please put APPLICATION FORM in the subject heading of your e-mail.
Hard copies may be requested by sending a SASE to the address below.
SUBMISSIONS
Submissions should be mailed to:
The Carlo Pittore Foundation
P.O. Box 613
Brunswick, ME 04011
Please write ATTN: FIGURATIVE ARTS AWARD, or ATTN: MAINE ARTIST AWARD on the envelope of your submission, depending upon which grant you are interested in applying to.
Please do not send additional materials. They will not be reviewed.
NOTIFICATION
Notification of awards will be sent by October 25th, with an awards event on Saturday, October 29th.
Thank you for your interest and application.
Carlo Pittore : Studio Life
CARLO PITTORE: STUDIO LIFE
October 14-December 30, 2011
University of Maine Museum of Art
40 Harlow Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
207-561-3350, UMMA, Monday-Saturday 10-5
Artist Carlo Pittore lived in New York City and Italy, but it was Maine that he called home. After his move in 1987, his studio in Bowdoinham became a hub of creative activity for artists who were both friends and students. A passionate individual known for his outspoken nature and fervent activism, Pittore made a significant impact on the visual arts in the state. He died in 2005, leaving a vast quantity of paintings and works on paper that attests to his vigorous work ethic and a life spent in the studio. While the artist played a central role in the mail art movement, which gained popularity in the 70s and 80s, this exhibition focuses on his life-long practice of drawing and painting from the live model.
Studio Life invites the viewer to contemplate the relationship between artist and model. For Pittore, the rapport he had with his models allowed him to capture his subjects at their most intimate and vulnerable states. Pittore’s depictions of nude subjects are unapologetically direct; the poses are candid and his models not idealized. The straightforward nature of these works draw connections to Lucian Freud, Alice Neel and Sylvia Sleigh. A significant quantity of the artist’s creative output focuses on male subjects. These works provides a glimpse into Pittore’s life as a gay man, yet he never wanted to be labeled solely as a gay artist. The exhibition also features an array of portraits sensitively captured in ink and watercolor. Pittore’s skillful use of line and daring application of color is used to render the diverse acquaintances and many friends he encountered throughout his vibrant life.
- George Kinghorn, Director & Curator, University of Maine Museum of Art
Carlo Pittore @ The Constellation Gallery
Carnival. 8 feet X 16 feet. Oil on Canvas.
The Pittore Foundation is pleased to announce a new collaboration with The Constellation Gallery. We will combine forces to present a birthday exhibition and celebration at The Constellation Gallery, 511 Congress Street, Portland, Maine. Food, music and phenomenal artwork. Come view a selection of Pittore’s Comedia works, many of which have never been exhibited in Maine.
In conjunction with this event, we would like to invite YOU to make a birthday card for the Pittore spirit, to be placed on exhibit for the duration of the show. All cards MUST BE RECEIVED by Wednesday, April 28th. Please MAIL YOUR CARDS to: The Carlo Pittore Foundation, c/o Sarah Bouchard, 94 Morning St., #2, Portland, ME 04101. All cards will be exhibited. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like the card returned to you.
In addition, if you have birthday cards that Carlo sent to you during his lifetime, and you are willing to place them “on loan” for the exhibition, please send them to The Carlo Pittore Foundation c/o Sarah Bouchard, 94 Morning St. #2, Portland, ME 04101. All cards MUST BE RECEIVED by Wednesday, April 28th. Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so that the card may be returned to you.
The exhibit will open on Friday, April 30th with a reception from 5:00 - 10:00pm. On Friday, May 7th, the gallery will stay open late for Portland’s First Friday Artwalk, from 5:oo - 10:00pm. Friday, May 14th (CARLO’S BIRTHDAY!!), the foundation and the gallery will host a special birthday celebration from 5:00 - 10:00pm. Bring anything that embodies the Pittore spirit. Sing. Dance. Perform. Eat. Drink. Perform Again. Feel free to BYOB. Light refreshments and drink will be served.
Standard gallery hours are Monday - Thursday from 11am - 3pm, Friday and Saturday from 4pm - 8pm. The gallery is closed on Sundays. The exhibition will run through Wednesday, May 26th.
INFO:
EXHIBIT RUNS: Friday, April 30th - Wednesday, May 26th
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, April 30th, 5pm-10pm
FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALK: Friday, May 7th, 5pm-10pm
PITTORE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Friday, May 14th, 5pm - 10pm
The Constellation Gallery, 511 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101, 207-409-6617
Monday - Thursday: 11am-3pm, Friday and Saturday: 4pm-8pm, Closed Sundays.
BERN PORTER (with selections from CARLO PITTORE)
at the MoMA LIBRARY
If you are in NYC, please stop in to the exhibit on Bern Porter at the MoMA Library. It features a fantastic selection of Porter’s works, including several selections from Carlo Pittore.
Lost and Found: The Work of Bern Porter from the Collection of The Museum of Modern Art Library
April 7–July 5, 2010
Mezzanine, The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building
Bern Porter contributed to some of the most important scientific innovations of the past century, including the cathode ray tube, the Manhattan Project, and NASA’s Saturn V Rocket. He was also an artist, poet, and publisher. He published work by Henry Miller, Kenneth Patchen, and Dick Higgins, among others, and authored numerous books, including compilations of collage he dubbed “Founds.” His personal work is heavily influenced by the guilt he felt regarding his role in the development of the atomic bomb. As the self-proclaimed inventor of mail art, Porter was also very involved in the Correspondence Art Network. This installation presents a selection of MoMA’s unparalleled collection of Porter’s materials, from artists’ books and original collages to mail art and other ephemera.
Organized by Rachel Morrison, Library Assistant.
Click here to view the works and additional information regarding the exhibit.
In addition, don’t miss:
Lost and Found: An Evening with Bern Porter
In conjunction with the exhibition Lost and Found: The Work of Bern Porter from the Museum of Modern Art Library, Mark Melnicove, Dan Domench, Kenneth Goldsmith, and Rachael Morrison will present, perform, read, and interpret the life and work of Bern Porter (1910–2004). Porter was an artist, poet, performer, and physicist who contributed to some of the most important artistic and scientific innovations of the twentieth century. The evening will include a screening of the short film Joy Glows Where Confusion Was: A film about, with, and without Bern Porter (2010) by Mark Melnicove, writer and executor of Porter’s estate; a portion of the performance Bern Porter: The Authorized Fictional Biography of the Artist, Scientist, Poet, Publisher, Performer, Adventurer, and Iconoclast (2010) by author and director Dan Domench; and a selection of Porter’s poetry read by Kenneth Goldsmith, poet and founder of ubuweb. The evening will be introduced by Rachael Morrison, exhibition organizer. This event is sponsored by the MoMA Library and The Esopus Foundation Ltd., and takes place at Esopus Space, 64 West Third Street #201, New York, NY.
Please note: confirmed RSVPs are required for admission to this event. (info@esopusfoundation.org) Free admission.
Carlo Pittore @ The Ogunquit Museum of American Art
The foundation is pleased to announce the recent placement of Untitled, A Portrait of Damien, at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Ogunquit, Maine. The work will be featured in an upcoming Recent Acquisitions Exhibition from August 12th through October 31st, 2010.
Please click here to visit the Museum’s web site.
Portrait of Damien. 30″ X 36″. Oil on Linen. 1984.
CARLO PITTORE : A FIGHTER’S EYE
The Carlo Pittore Foundation is pleased to announce a rare exhibition of Carlo Pittore portraits…
Carlo Pittore: A Fighter’s Eye
March 1st through April 30th
Celebratory Reception: Sunday, March 14th, 5 p.m.–8 p.m.,
Featuring the musical talents of Mark Tipton + guests
Sonny’s, 83 Exchange St., Portland, Maine
Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m., Sat. and Sun. 5:30 p.m.–1 a.m.
For Dining Reservations, please call 207.772.7774
The Carlo Pittore Foundation will present a rare exhibition of Pittore portraits in Portland, Maine, from March 1st through April 30th at Sonny’s, the Old Port’s newest restaurant and lounge. Carlo Pittore : A Fighter’s Eye features 18 oil paintings, including several selections from the acclaimed “Boxer” series.
This exhibition follows the packed public auction that took place last spring, and is the precursor to the first major solo exhibition of Pittore’s paintings opening in New York City this fall. Over the past year, Pittore’s work has been sought by the Smithsonian Archive of American Art, the University of Maine Museum of Art, the Ogunquit Museum of Art, and the Portland Museum of Art. The foundation is in currently in conversation with additional nationally recognized institutions. We are planning for two solo museum exhibitions in 2011.
Pittore’s “Boxer” series has not been on view in Portland for nearly 25 years, since an Old Port restauranteur’s decision to prematurely pull a show of the works caused an uproar over the issue of artistic freedom. Carlo Pittore : A Fighter’s Eye will take place just a block away from the original scandal, highlighting the strides Portland’s arts community has made over the past quarter century, thanks in no small measure to Pittore’s passionate advocacy.
Carlo Pittore: A Fighter’s Eye is the inaugural exhibition at Sonny’s, which opened last month on Exchange Street. Chef/owner Jay Villani. a sculptor, is also the proprietor of Local 188, the Congress Street eatery that pioneered the melding of visual and culinary arts in Portland over a decade ago. Under the guidance of Portland painter and illustrator Patrick Corrigan, Local 188 has exhibited the work of dozens of established and emerging Maine artists, a tradition that now continues at Sonny’s.
The 18 portraits in Carlo Pittore: A Fighter’s Eye are among the most accomplished Pittore paintings made available for private sale since his passing. In addition to selections from the “Boxer Series,” Carlo Pittore: A Fighter’s Eye includes compelling portraits of fellow artists and writers who joined Pittore’s fight on behalf of fine art and free artistic expression.
For additional information about the exhibit, or if you are unable to attend and would like to see a digital representation of the works being offered for sale, please contact Sarah Bouchard at 207.809.9670, or e-mail sarah@carlopittorefoundation.org. All proceeds from this exhibit will go directly toward funding the foundation’s activities.
We hope to see you there!
Carlo Pittore @ The University of Maine Museum of Art
The foundation is pleased to announce the recent placement of four works at the University of Maine Museum of Art. The works will be featured in an upcoming SOLO EXHIBITION of Pittore nudes and portraits, both on canvas and paper, in 2011. Stay tuned for details and information.
To visit the Museum’s web site, please click here.
Complacency. 2001. Oil on Linen. 24″ X 24″
CorrespondAnce
The Foundation would like to invite those of you who are excited by online correspondAnce to post thoughts and reflections to this site. In the upcoming months, we hope to expand this space into an open forum to collect thoughts, memories, and current projects that live on in the spirit of Pittore Euforico!
Please stay tuned for info on happenings, opportunities, and special offerings from the foundation.
