Aficionado

The below images from the 2002 exhibition, Aficionado. This exhibit celebrated the works of children, teenagers, and adults from the Hunts Point Community. Much of the work for Aficionado was created in workshops at THE POINT which were conducted over two months in an effort to have all artists create new work for the exhibition. This structure provided a forum for artists of all ages to get together once a week -- to work, to discuss ideas, to depart for a while from the usual solitary path of artist in the studio.

The title Aficionado is the touchstone for the exhibition, celebrating the work of the 'amateur'' not in its current meaning (which tends to denigrate), but from an older time when the amateur was one who brought passion to a study without any thought of financial gain -- when the amateur was a cut above the professional. The outpouring of submissions that resulted from THE POINT's outreach proved that the concept of the 'amateur' is alive and well in Hunts Point. Where it was once only the count or the duke or their ladies who made art in their leisure time, at THE POINT we tapped into the love of art making by the child or the teenager, the security guard or the social worker, who is driven to express him/herself as an artist in their time away from school or work.

Aficionado Artist Statements

Charles Font
When I paint I am in tranquility with myself and the world around me. I allow my spirituality and imagination to guide me to another world where I capture the beauty I see.

Robert A. Cruz
I was born and raised in the Bronx. Inspired by my mother who has been drawing since early childhood. I began to draw and experiment with different mediums since the age of five. I am a self-taught artist who expresses my feelings through art. I believe that art brings everyone of all cultures together.

Noah Kinigstein
I have been drawing and painting my entire life. I paint and draw the things that move me as an artist, such as war, oppression, my home city of New York and the people I love, my family and friends. I do not paint for the market. I only paint what is in my heart. As an artist I am just beginning. I have had the talent since as long as I can remember, and from that time I explored, learned and practiced the visual arts on my own and in every school I I have gone to. Most of my paintings have something in common because of the person I am, the emotions I feel, and the experiences I have had in life. This goes to anyone who makes a painting. Whether you are experienced in art or not, the person you are, and the emotions you feel all play a part in every brush stroke, line, vibrancy, dullness, shade of color you choose. the subject, and how large or small you make it, all have to do with the person you are. Art is a way of showing the world how you feel inside and also a timeline of emotions of ones life, perception, and development . This is how I see art, and if this is true then it can be said everyone has a little bit of an artist in them.

Chenkon Carrasco
The expression of art speaks to us all in as many forms as possible. One only needs to open their mind and hearts to it. My inspirations are guilded by the unknown. From the Neo classical to modern art, I love to put hidden treasure with each piece. Looking closer, these treasure translates ones emotion into each piece, making it their own. Respectfully, Chen

Cinderella Marin
Art for me is a door to a new and different world, where your soul is connecting with a dance that only you can feel.