Carmelo Blandino exhibit at FGCU

The FGCU Art Galleries present “BLOOM KA-POW!” from Jan. 17 – March 2 in the Wasmer Art Gallery in the Arts Complex on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus.
An artist talk with Carmelo Blandino will take place on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. in U. Tobe Recital Hall in the Music Building on the FGCU campus, and will be followed by an opening reception with the artist in the Arts Complex until 12:30 p.m.
For Carmelo Blandino, art exists as a conduit to confront humanity’s uncertainty. Incapsulating the beauty of nature and historical painting in the context of experimental contemporary street styles, the artist, Carmelo Blandino examines universal truths experienced through his personal journey of healing and “rebirth” through decades of his painting practice.
The paintings in this empowering exhibition range from large-scale explorations of abstracted florals and notions of Nature’s heroism, to playfully concealed iconography in an attempt to strengthen and empower the motivation away from the mundane of the everyday, in an effort to thwart the dark fringe of human uncertainty.
Blandino is a creative superpower, his weapon a brush. Through his paintings, a metaphor of the joys of life are accessed, catapulting the viewer beyond the limitations of constructed reality into an exciting and invigorating world where good prevails.
This exhibition is a retrospective of Blandino’s works, curated by Chad Jensen, director of method and concept, and John Loscuito, director of the FGCU Art Galleries. This is the first time these works spanning Blandino’s career will be seen together revealing the evolution of his artistic practice.
Chad Jensen and John Loscuito will be present Jan. 14 for the artist talk to answer questions about the curatorial process.
The gallery is located at 10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers.