Thursday, June 25, 2009

"MIHAI VINTILA:TALES OF A TROUBADOUR" at GINA TEL AVIV

Gina Tel Aviv is currently exhibiting 60 original paintings by the leading Naive artist of Romania, Mihai Vintila. The opening of the exhibiton was attended by the artist and his wife as well as the Romanian Ambassador to Israel and his entourage. The artist was flown to Israel as the gallery's guest.

The exhibiton reflects the artists' works over a period of 4 decades and is the first time that his lifetime works have been given a retrospective anywhere in the world.

SUMMER HOURS

Happy Summer from GINA Gallery New York!

GINA Gallery is extending our current exhibition, "Summer Serenade" thru August 2nd.

Please note, GINA Gallery NY will be closed from July 1, 2009 - July 14, 2009. The gallery will resume regular business hours on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

NICARAGUA, HONDURAS and EL SALVADOR

Shalom!

I recently returned from a brief trip to Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador on a mission to aquire new artworks for both GINA Galleries.

In Nicaragua, my first stop, I met with 7 artists from Masaya and Managua, aquiring approximately 10 new paintings. In Honduras, I met with 5 artists from whom I aquired 7 new paintings and during my last stop in El Salvador, I agreed to take 15 works by 7 artists. While in El Salvador, I was fortunte enough to encounter the Las Palmas group of Naives who introduced me to a younger generation of artists. One of these artists, Dalia Rivera, age 26, who is midway through earning a degree in economics from her local university, has decded to follow in the footsteps of her accomplished parents (Oscar Linares and Damary) while maintaining an artistic style uniquely her own...a style which I believe will endear her to GINA visitors.

Several artists mentioned that the economic crisis has significantly impacted on their lives both creatively and personally, however they remain optimistic regarding their future and certainly their artworks reflect this wonderful attitude.

In late February, I hope to visit both France and Belgium to meet with the local Naives of those countries and return with several new examples of their work.

Stay tuned...!

Friday, January 2, 2009

Updates for the New Year

GINA Tel Aviv celebrated its fifth birthday on December 4, 2008 in the presence of 300 supporters and friends. The birthday was marked by the first showing at GINA Gallery of Naive Art from Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden and Finland. While hors d'oeuvres and wine were being served, a group of musicians played a medley of melodies from the 26 countries whose artworks are currently being promoted at the gallery, and I presented a review of the past five years, and advised that:

- in 2003, we had a mailing list of 700; today - 7,000 .
- in 2003, we exhibited the artworks of 75 artists; today - more than 225.
- an average of 40 people visit GINA Gallery Tel Aviv on a daily basis.

In January, I plan to visit several artist in Italy in order to acquire additional artworks in anticipation of an all-Italian Naive Art exhibition that will be held at GINA Gallery Tel Aviv in the Spring of 2009.

In early 2009, we plan to start exhibiting the works of Robert Logrippo, a U.S. Naive artist who concentrates on New England landscapes and New York cityscapes.

Within the next 4-6 weeks, I hope to re-visit Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala in order to acquire new artwork of the leading Naive artists of Central America. These artworks will be displayed both at GINA Gallery New York and GINA Gallery Tel Aviv.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

FRANCE, FINLAND and DENMARK

In November I embarked on a lengthy trip which brought me to to France, Finland and Denmark. In France, I met with Henri Bruel, the leading living French Naive artist and aquired 23 of his paintings for purposes of an individual exhibition that will be displayed in GINA Gallery Tel Aviv in January 2009.

The trip to Finland deepened GINA Gallery's relationship with 2 artists, Katja Mesikammen and Aimo Katajainen, emerging with 7 additional works. Finally, in Denmark, I met with 8 new Danish artists and aquired approximately 25 new artworks. All of the paintings aquired in Finland and Denmark are being sent to GINA Gallery Tel Aviv and will be diplayed, commencing on December 4, 2008 in a new exhibition entitled, "Naivism: Celebrating the Human Narrative. " The opening of the exhibition coincides with GINA Gallery Tel Aviv's 5th anniversary which will be celebrated in a gala fashion in the presence of GINA Gallery's major supporters.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

ITALY

Shalom!

I just returned to GINA Gallery New York, where I will be spending the next 2 weeks, after a fruitful trip to several destinations throughout Italy. During my visits with many talented Naives in Florence, Milan, Modena, Pisa, Porto Fino and Torino I began gathering paintings that will form the basis of our early spring GINA New York exhibit exclusively spotlighting the leading Italian Naives. I returned to New York with 50 paintings and look forward to my follow-up visit to Italy in early January to expand this collection to around 90 original paintings.

Stay tuned for notes on my next trip to Scandanavia in early November when I will be visiting 5 or 6 new Danish Naives on a quest for additional pieces to supplement my September trip to this enchanting country.

Friday, September 26, 2008

GINA Gallery Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 27, 2008 - Westover School International Students Tour
Monday, September 29 - October 1, 2008 - GALLERY CLOSED for HOLIDAY
Thursday, October 9, 2008 - GALLERY CLOSED for HOLIDAY
Saturday, October 11, 2008 - "Marketing Your Art" seminar with Ann Priftis, Gallery Director
Friday, October 17, 2008 - "The Effect of Art Patrons on Local Global Economies" seminar with
Ann Priftis for 34th Annual International Conference on Social
Theory, Politics & the Arts
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - Columbus Pre-School Cocktail Reception
Thursday, October 23, 2008 - "Winsome Days; Wondrous Nights; The Naives of Argentina" Gala Opening Reception
Thursday, October 30, 2008 - "The Creative Lawyer" by Michael Melcher Book Launch
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 - Lynx Ensemble Theater 1st Annual Fund Raiser
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - Film Premiere
Thursday, November 27, 2008 - GALLERY CLOSED for HOLIDAY