August 5th - August 26th, 2016

The Strand Center for the Arts was thrilled to host “The Dark Show” in the Community Gallery in August, 2016. This previous exhibit, a First Weekends Art Walk Event, took place in The Strand Center Community Gallery on Friday, August 5th, 2016.

“The Dark Show” is a partnership of three artists: Dan de Moura, Jim "Windsop" Newman, and Louise Patinelli, each of whom possesses a unique style and vision, yet are joined under the common theme, "Dark,” a selection which encompasses anything from the philosophical to the esoteric and the familiar. As a group, the three challenged the depth and breadth of possibilities this theme is designed to stimulate.

 Dan de Moura, a contemporary painter/illustrator with a strong focus on fantasy and folklore, began his artistic process as a child, drawing fantastic creations from adventure films. After graduating from Pace University with a B.S. in Chemistry, de Moura continued refining his artistic skills, remaining tenacious and resolute in the pursuit of his art. For this show, he will be working in oil, acrylic, charcoal, and graphite. Being familiar with "dark" themes, his work allows influences from artists such as Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta, H.R. Giger, and literary greats, Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Although a common element in his artwork, "dark" has never been addressed as a binding theme for the whole of his work and it was both challenging and invigorating for him to create original pieces specifically imagined for this exhibit.

 Jim “Windsop” Newman, grandson of the American artist and illustrator Clyde James Newman, demonstrated an interest in art at an early age. After his college years and a stint in the Army, Windsop became associated with an informal and artistically influential group of avant-garde artists outside of Chicago, known as The Artists of the West Bank.  For this exhibit, Windsop stated he, “has sought simple and direct sources of inspiration, some of which is seen in the paint itself; some pigments naturally possess a dark value, and the more they are used in a work of art, the darker the painting becomes. But more than dark in value, or the use of chiaroscuro, the most obvious connotation for ‘dark,’ implies the absence of light or a limited light source; it can imply other things too, such as subject matter or mood. Some topics under those headings include ‘dark’ thoughts: abusive power, political corruption, war, slavery and animal cruelty for example.” Windsop's original paintings have been on view at various locations in Lake Placid, Westport, and Plattsburgh, with regular participation in the members' shows at the Strand Center for the Arts.

 For Louise Pattinelli, her pursuit of independent study has inspired her to dwell on the scope and range of artistic styles—from classical to contemporary. She stated that, “this approach has significantly influenced the development of my own personal and eclectic style. I am indebted to the guidance and support of gifted artists, my ongoing study of art history, attending workshops in life drawing, and classes devoted to the handling of various mediums, such as oil, pastel, watercolor and acrylic.” Inspired by these experiences, she’s assimilated those elements and techniques she most identified with on her way toward developing her authentic method and style. In “The Dark Show,” Pattinelli will present a series of paintings completed in oil on canvas. This theme has inspired a personal challenge, which initiated an in-depth study of N. C. Wyeth and Frederic Remington; specifically, their monumental and brilliant success in capturing the magic and intrigue of night scenes. This is a genre Patinelli has, thus far, intentionally avoided due to its unique set of problems, noting that, “Several months aren't nearly sufficient to master this genre, but with a brave heart, I will share with the observer my present proficiency.”