JON D'ORAZIO — PAINTINGS, SCULPTURE AND WORKS ON PAPER

PURE APPEARANCE

JUST AS THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION IS AN EXPERIENCE OF OPENING TO NOWNESS AND TO AN APPRECIATION OF ARTFULNESS IN ONE'S LIFE, EACH MOMENT OF PAINTING CAN BE AN OPEN EXPERIENCE, LIKE THE FIRST STROKE ON A BLANK CANVAS.

MY PRESENT BODY OF WORK BEGAN IN 1989. AFTER A LONG PERIOD EXPRESSING THE RICHNESS OF THE NATURAL WORLD IN LANDSCAPES, THE MOMENT CAME FOR A LEAP INTO ABSTRACTION. THE TRANSITION CAME ABOUT AFTER FINDING MANY BEAUTIFUL SHAPES OF GALVANIZED METAL. I BEGAN PLAYING ON THEIR SURFACES (AND LATER ON 12" STAINLESS STEEL DISCS) WITH PAINT AND VARIOUS MIXED MEDIA.
THIS BROUGHT ME TO THE MIRROR PAINTINGS, A BODY OF ABSTRACTION CONCERNED WITH SPACE, LIGHT, AND PURE PERCEPTION. THEY ARE MIRRORS IN THE SENSE THAT THE ABSOLUTE IS A MIRROR OF VASTNESS OUT OF WHICH EVERYTHING ARISES. THE VISION IS EXPANSIVENESS AND WAKEFULNESS. THESE PAINTINGS ARE EXPERIENTIAL. MOST ARE QUIET, SPACIOUS AND SUBTLE, DEMANDING PATIENCE AND INVITING A FRESH OUTLOOK. THE BASIC SHAPES CONSIST OF CIRCLES, DIAMONDS AND SQUARES. THE QUALITY OF LIGHT AND ONE'S MOVEMENT ABOUT THEIR SPACE IS INTEGRAL TO EXPERIENCING THEM. THE MEDIUMS: ACRYLIC POLYMER, OIL, WATER DISPERSED URETHANE OR SILICON MAY INCLUDE INTERFERENCE PIGMENTS, GLASS BEADS, DIAMOND DUST, METALLIC POWDERS, BEESWAX AND OR NATURAL RESIN.

THE MIRROR PAINTINGS HAVE GIVEN BIRTH TO ADDITIONAL SERIES OF WORKS, MANY OF WHICH ARE IN GROUPS OR MULTIPLES. THEY ARE LIKE PLAYS OF ENERGY ARISING FROM SPACE, A FEAST OF FLAVORS AND COLORS THAT NATURALLY OCCUR, INTERACTING EVERYWHERE IN OUR LIVES AND TOUCHING US DEEPLY.

SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SERIES OF SCULPTURAL WORKS ARE BEING DONE, SOME OF WHICH ARE FLOOR PIECES. THEY MANIFEST MOSTLY FROM FOUND MATERIALS, SOME INCORPORATING LARGE GLASS LENSES. MANY ARE THREE-DIMENSIONAL EXPRESSIONS OF THE MIRROR PAINTINGS.

IN MID 2005, I RETURNED TO A SERIES OF KOI PAINTINGS BEGUN IN 1987, COMPLETING TEN PAINTINGS THROUGH MID 2006.

SINCE 2006 I’VE WORKED PRIMARILY ON THE ABSTRACT MIRROR PAINTINGS, INCLUDING JADE AND CRYSTAL MIRRORS.


JON D’ORAZIO

CURRICULUM VITA

BORN: Youngstown, Ohio, USA, Twin son of P. Arthur D'Orazio, Architect and Rose Rosapepe D'Orazio, Accountant


EDUCATION: FORMAL

1956-1960 GILMOUR ACADEMY, Gates Mills, OH, NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

1960-1965 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington DC
Drawing and Painting Studios: Nel Sonomon
Drawing and Painting Studios: Richard Klank
Co-designer of CARDINAL 65 Yearbook
DEGREE: BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

1965-1967 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA, Washington DC
Completed Course Work and Thesis towards Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning
Serigraphy and Woodcut Printing Studio: Richard Klank, Painting Studio: Richard Klank

1968 COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE: DESIGN,
THESIS: Habitat and Human Behavior, New York City, Design Studio: Victor Christjaner, Romaldo Giurgola
Painting Studios: Richard Green & John Heliker
Lithography Studio: Ansei Uchima,
Slide and Sound Presentation of the 1968 Columbia Student Strike: co-created with Gary Jacquemin


EDUCATION: INFORMAL

1950 -1952 EDUCATION: PIANO: Study, Practice and Recitals Informal
1974 NAROPA INSTITUTE: Chogyam Trungpa, Boulder,CO Buddhist Studies, Brush Painting: Eugene Gregan, Japanese Tea Ceremony: Uresenke School
1963 - PRESENT: PHOTOGRAPHY
1971 INTEGRAL HATHA YOGA: (Swami Satshidananda)
1971 DO-IN: Diagnostic & Restorative Self-massage
1973 - PRESENT - ORIENTAL MEDICINE AND MACROBIOTICS Naboru Muramoto & Michio Kushi
1971 - PRESENT - TAI CHI CH'UAN AND QIGONG: Ahn Tai Chi Studio, NYC
1973 - PRESENT: SHAMBHALA MEDITATION CENTER OF NEW YORK, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Druk Sakyong KOS
Shambhala Buddhism: Vajrayana Buddhism & Shambhala Training (Student, Teacher and Meditation Instructor)
Vajrayana Seminary, Kalapa Assemblies & Retreat Practice
1975 DHARMA ART: Chogyam Trungpa New York, NY
I975 KEBANA: Japanese Art of Flower Arranging, SOGETSU IKEBANA: Judy Hata, KALAPA IKEBANA: Chogyam Trungpa
1982 KYUDO: Japanese Art of Archery, Mipham Mukpo


WORK: ARCHITECTURE ~ FASHION ~ MODELING ~ GRAPHIC DESIGN

1958 Summer, P. ARTHUR D'ORAZIO, Youngstown, OH
1963 Summer, ELMOUR & FISCHER Wahington D.C.
1964 CURTIS & DAVIS Summer, Washington D.C.
1965 -1967 BROWN & WRIGHT Washington D.C.
1967 Summer, EDGAR TAFEL New York, NY
1975 DIAMOND SOW New York, NY
1977 MODEL: LIL-MOR MODELS, NYC 1977 BEATRICE MODELS, (L'uomo Vogue), Milan, Italy 1977
1982 GRAPHIC DESIGN, Freelance


SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2020 TIBET HOUSE: Planned for SEPT. / OCT, NYC
2019 REVELATION GALLERY - KOI PAINTINGS, ST. JOHN'S IN THE VILLAGE, NYC
2003 GRUZEN SAMTON ARCHITECTS - Diptychs and Triptychs, NYC 2003 SHAMBHALA CENTER - Mirror Paintings and Multiples, NYC
2001 VERA ENGELHORN GALLERY - Mirror Paintings, NYC 1996
1986 BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART - Mirror Paintings, Youngstown, OH 1996
1985 GLENN GREEN GALLERY - Landscapes, Santa Fe, NM
1987 O.K. HARRIS GALLERY - Landscapes, NYC
1987 O.K. SOUTH GALLERY - Landscapes, Miami, FL
1976 WESTBETH STUDIO - Shambhala Center Benefit, Landscapes, NYC
1979 SHAMBHALA CENTER - Landscapes, NYC
1976 CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE ( MUKPO COURT) - Landscapes, NYC
1973 MACDOWELL COLONY - Winter Landscapes, Peterborough, NH
1973 WESTBETH GALLERY - Environmental Paintings and Landscapes, NYC



GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015 - 2019: WESTBETH GALLERY - HOLIDAY EXHIBITION, Paintings, NYC
2008 - 2015: WESTBETH GALLERY - HOLIDAY and SUMMER EXHIBITIONS, Paintings, NYC
2008 CHERYL PELAVIN FINE ARTS – Art in a Box Benefit - White Light, NY
2008 GRAND CHELSEA - Just Arrived - Curated by Andrea Domesle - Piercing Cosmic Blade
2008 AMERASIAN BANK - Beyond Measure – Circles and Triangles, NYC
2006 BEYOND MEASURE - Taipei Cultural Center, 6 Mirror Paintings NYC
2004 RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART - Grand Opening -Crescent Moon (Prayer Flag) 2004
2004 ETHAN COHEN GALLERY - Art Incubator Auction, Jade Mirror, NYC
1990 - 2008 WESTBETH GALLERY - Holiday Exhibitions, Mirror Paintings, NYC
1999 NIKOLAI FINE ART - Surface Structure, Pure Appearance, NYC
1999 WHITE BOX GALLERY - In the Spirit of Compassion, Benefit for Jacque Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art, Blazing Palace, NYC
1999 CYNTHIA BROAN GALLERY - Heroines & Heroes: An Idiosyncratic Anthology of International Art (1943-1999), Curated by Willoughby Sharp, NYC
1998 SHAMBHALA CENTER - Arts Festival 98, Blue Mirrors & Drala Crests
1995 WESTBETH GALLERY - 25th Anniversary Exhibition, Mirror Painting
1992 TENRI GALLERY - Five Painters, Drala Crests & Piercing Cosmic Blade, NYC 1992
1992 BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART - Midyear Exhibition, Invited Artist, Mirror Painting, Youngstown OH
1992 SHAMBHALA CENTER - Fresh Start: A Spring Celebration, Mirror Painting, NYC
1990 RESEARCH FOUNDATION: CUNY - Invitational, Diamond Mirrors, NYC 1990 BOLOGNA LANDI GALLERY - Landscapes, East Hampton NY
1988 RESEARCH FOUNDATION: CUNY - Invitational, Landscapes, NYC
1987 BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART - Midyear Exhibition, Youngstown OH
1986 BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART - Midyear Exhibition, Youngstown OH
1978 - 1985 WESTBETH GALLERY - Holiday Exhibitions, Landscapes, NYC LOTUS GALLERY - Landscapes, NYC
1972 GIMBELS EAST GALLERY - Landscapes, NYC



CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

THE COCA COLA BOTTLING CO., Cleveland OH
CHEMICAL BANK, International Headquarters, NYC
BROWN & WOOD (Lawyers) NYC
VINSON & ELKINS (Lawyers) Houston TX
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE CO., Washington DC & NYC
ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL, NYC
CARNEGIE CENTER, Princeton NJ
WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER (Lawyers) NYC
RELIANCE NATIONAL INSURANCE CO., NYC
FUKUZO & COMPANY, Yokohama, Japan
AOYAMA SALON, Tokyo, Japan


PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

CLAI & MARILYN PORTER, Anchorage AL
CHARLES & DELORES BRADLEY, NYC
WILLIAM A. WORTH JR., NYC
EUGENE FRACCHIA, NYC
MICHAEL BARRET, NYC
S. K. & SOPHIE AU, San Francisco CA
JOHN YANG, NYC
GARY & MEG JACQUEMIN, Carpenteria, CA
NY FRAN SCHUSTER, NYC
HELEN CHAPMAN, NYC
JOEL D'ORAZIO, Bethesda, MD
THE NELSON ROCKEFELLER COLLECTION, NYC
AGNESS AU & DAN NAISTADT, Boulder, CO
JESSIE R. GOTTLIEB, Great Neck NY
JERRY BERGER, Kansas City MO
MURRAY ROBINSON, Providence RI
TOM POLLOCK & EILEEN TABIOS, St. Helena CA
EMIL FORER, Kings Beach CA
GESINE ROSENBERG, Noroton CT
HENRY SCHRIMMER, Fullerton CA
JOHANNA WAGNER, San Francisco CA
RICHARD BASCETTA, NYC
CAMILLE PINKERTON, Lone Tree, CO
KAZUMITSU MORIMOTO, Yokohama, Japan
ATSUKO NAGANO, Tokyo, Japan
JOSEPH WNUK, Washington DC
MURLAN MURPHY, Cleveland OH
MARY BURKE, NYC
BOB STEVENS, NYC


AWARDS AND GRANTS

1960 SCULPTURE DESIGN: Selected by the Youngstown OH Chamber of 1960 Commerce to be cast as an AWARD presented
for Special Merit in Architecture.
1960 GILMOUR TROPHY: Presented to the Graduating Senior chosen as the 1960 All-around Scholar and Athlete of the Academy
1962 - 1964 CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY TRACK TEAM CAPTAIN
1963 FIRST PLACE, SHOT PUT Mason Dixon Conference Championship and Catholic Univ. Shot Put Record 47’ - 10 1/2“
1965 DESIGN AWARD: Commend Award as Co-designer of CARDINAL 65, The 1965 Yearbook of Catholic University
1965 FIRST PRIZE: GRAPHIC DESIGN COMPETITION sponsored by the District of Columbia Chapter, American Institute of Architecture
1973 FELLOWSHIP: The MacDowell Colony, Peterborough NH. A three 1973 and one-half month Painting Residency
1985 HONORABLE MENTION: The Butler Institute of American Art, Midyear 1985 Exhibition, Youngstown OH
1992. GRANT: American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, Artist's and Writer's Fund; Financial Aid
1993 GRANT: Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation: Emergency Medical Financial Aid
1993 GRANT: Artist's Fellowship Inc.: Emergency Medical Financial Aid
1995 GRANT: The Pollock - Krasner Foundation
2004 GRANT: New York Foundation for the Arts
2007 GRANT: American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, Artist's and Writer's Fund;: Emergency Financial Aid
2008 GRANT: Artists Fellowship - Emergency Grant
2009 GRANT: The Pollock Krasner Foundation