MYTHIC SYMBOLISM & ILLUMINATION

Artworks by two artists: Elisa Vegliante and Robert J. Cuneo (Univ. of Bpt. retired)

In the Meeting Room of the
Mitchell Branch New Haven Free Public Library
37 Harrison Street, WESTVILLE, CT 06515
Location: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.3277113,-72.9619846,18z

Curated by Johnes Ruta

Meet the Artists Reception: Saturday October 21, 2023, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
 
Bob Cuneo - Primal Elder Goddess - derwent pigment pencil leads on paper, 15" x 10"
 
 
Elisa Vegliante ESCAPE FROM THE AI WORLD - acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
 
 
Elisa Vegliante -- MondoExpressionism - Artist Statement

I taught elementary school art for thirty two years, painting on the side all the while. I’ve always been fascinated by Children’s art:
the simple symbolism, the playful use of color, the refusal or inability to mimic dull reality. My art is sort of a child’s art
with the superimposition of subtext and/or narration,and I’ve always thought of it as a link between classic expressionism
and primitivism, a balancing act between innocence and profundity, an aesthetic see-saw between serious and fun.
 
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Video Camera: Johnes Ruta
 
Bob Cuneo - Primal Enchanted Goddess - derwent pigment pencil leads on paper, 15" x 10"
 

Robert J. Cuneo - Magic Realist - Artist Statement

The history of the narrative art form evolves in artworks such as Robert Cuneo’s visionary portrayals of Gods and Goddesses,
which convey the sensation of cosmic consciousness and Illumination. In his paintings from his series “Thought-Form Divinities :
Astral Images of the Great Goddess and the Primal God,” Cuneo relates his iconographic symbolism and mythic pictorial imagery
to the Hermetic Traditions of alchemy, pagan magic, ancient wisdom, and Renaissance story-telling. Drawn in a Magic Realist style,
with derwent pigmented pencils, these pairs of six divine archetypes are manifested in radiant pigment colors. Their faces gaze out to
the viewer with the clear eyes of frankness, kindness, and mystery, their costume garb telling the symbolism of their place
and purpose in the universe, and their roles among the other godsand in the lives of earthly men and women.

Mr. Cuneo (b. 1939) is a retired Professor of Fine Arts from the University of Bridgeport where he taught from 1965 to 1989.
After leaving his tenured post at U.B., Cuneo also moved away from the ideas of contemporary art and devoted the essence
of his work to the rituals and symbolismand the landscapes of Classical harbor cities. He became a staff artist
for the nature/spirituality quarterly CIRCLE MAGAZINE, which has featured his ink drawings and color covers since 1985.

 
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Video Camera: Johnes Ruta
 
 
Bob Cuneo - Primal Organic Goddess - derwent pigment pencil leads on paper, 15" x 10"
 
 
 
Bob Cuneo - Primal Dancing God - derwent pigment pencil leads on paper, 15" x 10"
 
 
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Elisa Vegliante DIVINE PHYSICIAN - acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
 
 
 
Elisa Vegliante THE HANDYMAN IS THE CANDYMAN - acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
 
 
Elisa Vegliante THOUGHT MINISTERS - acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20"
 
Exhibition on view: October 3 – 31, 2023

Library hours: Monday 12noon - 8:00pm; Tues-Thurs - 10am-6:00 pm;
Saturday 10am- 5:00pm. Closed Fridays & Sundays.

Curator: Johnes Ruta, AzothGallery.com 203-668-6933 azothgallery@comcast.net

Branch Library Branch Manager: Marian Huggins mhuggins@nhfpl.org
 
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