Scarsdale artist’s work to be exhibited at the ArtsWestchester ArtsExchange Show
Three pieces by Gabriela Gasparini were selected for display by the prestigious establishment.
A brush with greatness. Gasparini was thrilled to get the nod from ArtsWestchester late last year.
BY DEBORAH SKOLNIK
Gabriela Gasparini isn’t just a proud Scarsdale citizen, she’s a distinguished artist as well. Starting tomorrow, February 8th, three of her works from a series called Tropical Surrealism will be on display at the ArtsWestchester Gallery at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains as part of its ArtsExchange exhibit. “This is a second year in a row [that ArtsWestchester] has selected my works,” Gasparini shared. “Last year they presented three of them, and this year they’re presenting three others from the series.”
All in the family. For Tropical Surrealism, Gasparini created reimagined portraits of her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Successful entry
In order to be considered for the exhibit—”It’s in a really cool gallery that used to be a bank,” Gasparini said—she had to submit online pictures of three paintings, complete with details such as each work’s size, the techniques used in its creation, the title, and the year it was created. In November, Gasparini found out she’d made the cut. “I was so happy—it’s a big deal. We [artists] apply to so many open calls, and there is so much rejection,” she said.
Subject matter that hits close to home
The artist shared that her works’ tropical theme was far from a random pick. “I am from Brazil, and during the pandemic there was a lot of crime among the indigenous people. They were also dying of Covid and being contaminated with people from the outside,” she said. Although Gasparini herself is not indigenous, “I was moved by that,” she said. Another part of her inspiration was that Gasparini found out she is 6% black. “These paintings are a meditation. I got old pictures of my family, and I portrayed what [she would look like] if my mother was black or indigenous, or my grandmother or great grandmother—they are all portraits of my family.”
Gasparini is eager for people to recognize the nuances in the artworks, which are crafted from acrylic paint on canvas. “I hope they see first of all how beautiful nature is and they value it…at the same time, the faces of the people are kind of a series,” she said. “You think you are seeing something happy, but if you start to look you start to see other layers, the life in the forest is lost. People were completely independent. They did not need capitalism and to buy anything. They would just eat from the forest what they would hunt. Now, our life is dominatied by plastic and consumerism and we are so distant from nature.”
A journey from South America to Scarsdale
Gasparini immigrated from Brazil in 1998. “My dream was to do a master’s degree—I’m a graphics designer—but I couldn’t afford it. I just did some continuing ed in the School of Visual Arts. Then I started showing my portfolio around. I worked at HarperCollins doing book covers, I did art direction, and worked for ad agencies,” she said.
Right now, however, her career takes second place behind her passion. “I have my clients, but I am less and less looking for clients and more devoted to my art,” she said. Her studio is in her house. From there, her works have winged their way to places such as the ArtsGotham gallery in East Village and the Brazilian Consulate, which as been displaying some of her pieces since December.
As for her hopes going forward, they’re simple: ”My intention is to keep forward and showing my work,” she said.
Opening reception Feb. 8th, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.; Gallery hours, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Weds.-Sun..; Exhibit remains until Apr. 13th; ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Rd., White Plains; $5 admission.