Bert Gallery

Moderated by RISD Assistant Director James Hall, with artists Frank Gasbarro & Nick Paciorek

Date: Thursday August 21st
Time: 6:00pm, Reception to follow at 6:45pm
Location: Bert Gallery, 540 South Water St., Providence

What is it like to be a professional artist in Providence? What challenges would you face? What are the benefits of being surrounded by so many other artists? How do you deal with the unpredictable art market? To find out, join us for a discussion with local, veteran artists Frank Gasbarro and Nick Paciorek on August 21st at Bert Gallery. Through this discussion, we hope to gain an understanding of the life of an artist in this city.

The backdrop for this program is the series of Summer Pocket Shows at Bert Gallery, featuring the paintings of three local contemporary artists. Paula Martiesian, Frank Gasbarro, and Nick Paciorek have uniquely personal styles and approaches to painting, ranging from fairly realistic cityscapes, to painterly landscapes, to entirely abstract images. Each artist faces different obstacles in their careers and have their own unique relationship with the Rhode Island arts community.

James Hall is Assistant Director of the RISD Museum. Previously, he worked for twenty years at RISD as the Director of Campus Design and Exhibition. He has advised numerous private and corporate collectors on the acquisition and installation of contemporary art and has extensive knowledge of living artists in the New England region.

Frank Gasbarro seeks to evoke a response with his paintings. Throughout his career, he has used bold colors and geometric shapes to create striking images, reflecting his view of the world. The current Pocket Show features his newest works form 2008.

Nick Paciorek is best known for his vibrant paintings of busy cities. Most recently, he has finished a series focused around the theaters of Rhode Island. Though he grew up in Chicago and graduated form Maryland Institute’s College of Art, he has settled in Rhode Island, crediting the area with providing a wealth of subject matter for his paintings.