Amado Mora Exhibition at Consulate of Ecuador in NJ

Yesterday August 19, 2010 I had the great pleasure of attending the exhibition of paintings, Ink drawings and sculpture by my good friend Amado Mora at the Consulate of Ecuador at 400 Market Street in Newark New Jersey. On display were 32 works of art including paintings, ink drawings and sculptures. His ink drawings are so tight, meticulous and precious with lots of hidden images and symbols. These drawings bring you in and keep you searching and exploring for meanings and symbols throughout all. The Sculptures are powerful, deep and full of meaning. I found them irresistible and I hope that someday soon I will be able to own one of these wonderful sculptures. The exhibition was very well attended and the gallery was full at all times. There was Musical entertainment and wonderful treats to enjoy. Congratulations to Amado Mora for an excellent exhibition of Art. Special thanks to Curator of exhibition Juan Ramiro Torres.

Amado Mora was born in Ecuador and attended the Art School in Guayaquil. Amado, who is known as the "Pachuca" of surrealism, has also studied other forms of art like ceramics, Metal Restoration, Sculpture, philosophy, Psychology, Yoga, Meditation and Dramatic Art. Amado is currently the Art Curator for Union City New Jersey. Amado also works on metal restoration and is an expert in this field.

Cuban American Artist, Jose Acosta

You have to spend Money to make Money.

That is true in all businesses including art. I have been doing very well lately with some nice art sales and lots of exhibition opportunities. My artists friends say I am very lucky and probably feel that success came easily and with very little or no cost to me. But the truth is that I work harder and longer at my art then on anything else in my life. I love every minute of it but it is not as easy as they think it is. There are art supplies to buy, art to create and exhibition opportunities to chase. And yes even the most successful artists have to pay for things like advertising, promotion, and a few hanging fees and brochure fees once in a while. A few of my artists friends feel that by creating the art they have done their part and should never have to pay for anything else. But galleries have rents to pay and electric bill, overhead etc, so in order for them to survive they might ask an artist to chip in on some advertising, or bring food to the openings, perhaps a small hanging fee etc. I do not mind paying these and helping out whenever I can as I know what it is to own a gallery and I am so glad I no longer have to own one or spend numerous hours gallery sitting. These same artists who would not pay a $20 hanging fee would think nothing of going on vacation and spend several thousand dollars to get away for a bit. As for me my number one priority is to create my art and that includes having paints, canvas and other materials in stock. I also know I need to get my art seen so I have to exhibit, promote etc. And after 7 years of me devoting myself to my work it is finally paying off. To all the artists who sacrifice the goodies in life to devote more money to creating and exhibiting their work I say stay the course as you will reap what you sow. And when you become successful and are making lots of money on your art remember to help those that supported you earlier on in your career and stay away from the fake friends that will come along after you are successful. But most important of all remember to splurge on yourself and buy that fancy car or go on that great vacation you had been wishing for, then get back to the studio and keep on creating. This article is dedicated to all artists who sacrifice so much to share their art with the world. Thank you for sharing your creations they are much appreciated and enjoyed.

Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta.

Exhibition of Puerto Rico and Venezuela Artists

Pictured Antonio Perez Melero with Padre Diego Jaramillo.

On June 21, 2010 I had the honor of attending the exhibition of Artists from Puerto Rico and Venezuela at the Venezuela Mission to the United Nations in New York City. The exhibition was beautifully presented and I enjoyed viewing all the sculptures and paintings on display. The Venezuelan Artists represented were Alicia Meza, Arnaldo Moncada, Ernesto Leon, Nejia Vivas, Guillermo Barreto, John Kelly Aguilera and my good friend Antonio Perez Melero. Antonio was born in Spain but has spent most of his life living in Venezuela and has art studios in Spain, Venezuela and New York. The artists representing Puerto Rico were Antonio Martorell, Carmelo Sobrino, Elizam Escobar, Ramon Bulerin, Marcos Dimas, Fernando Salicruz, Jose Morales, Daniel Lind Ramos, Samuel Lind, Pablo Marcano Garcia, and Nitza Tufino.

Ambassador of Venezuela Jorge Valero made a speech about independence and also thanked all the artists who participated and all the special Dignitaries and Ambassadors from around the world who attended the event. I had a great time and enjoyed all. I am looking forward to more cultural art exhibitions in the future. A special thanks to the Venezuela Mission to the United Nations in New York and all the staff for creating such a great event. Congratulations to all the artists who participated and exhibited their work.

Journalist and Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta

Secrets to Success in the Art World.

I am often asked by some of my friends who are artists my secret to success. I do not have any secret formula for success I only follow my heart and listen to my mentors whose years of experience and the lessons they learned would take me more then a lifetime to gain on my own. Below I will list a few and I hope that it will help the Artists that are reading this Blog become more successful.

1) Persistence - Keep on going no matter what. 2) Belief - Believe in yourself and the art you are creating.
3) Dream - Dream big and always follow your heart.
4) Prepare - Be prepared to act on opportunities when they come your way.
5) Network - The people you meet in the art world and other events will be most helpful.
6) Share - Help out other artists and art organizations as it the right thing to do.
7) Exhibit - Show your art as much as you can.
8) Sales - Be willing to be flexible in price and payment terms in order to get sales completed.
9) Attitude - Have a can do attitude and make things happen.
10) Appreciate - Show your appreciation to all those that help you with your art career.
11) Collectors - Treat them with respect they deserve it as they are supporting artists.
12) Galleries - Make sure you give them support and praise for the work they do for you.
13) Art Dealers - Give them your support and appreciate all they do for you.
14) Enjoy - Creating art should bring you great pleasure.
15) Create - You need to create lots of art to be better prepared for exhibition opportunities.
16) Press - Let the press know about your events, exhibitions and success.
17) On-Line - Very important to show your art on-line.
18) Marketing - Try to market your art as much as possible.
19) Advertising - If your finances allow try to advertise your exhibitions, work etc.
20) Contact - Try to make new contacts in the art world whenever possible.
21) Goals - Set Goals and set and follow the path that will help you reach them.
22) Time - Make time for yourself to enjoy your family and friends.
23) Genuine - Do not be a phony as they can be spotted from a mile away.
24) People - Treat everyone you meet the way that you would like to be treated.
25) Humility - Do not let success or fame go to you head, remain humble.
26) Money - When you make sales remember to save some money for those rainy days.

I wish all artists that read this blog much success and lots of health and happiness. Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta.

Renowned Sculptor, Manuel Velastegui exhibits at Union City Art Gallery at City Hall.

On Wednesday, May 12, 2010 I had the great honor of attending the Sculpture exhibition of the world famous sculptor Manuel Velastegui. To the right is a picture of Jaime Andrade Gallery Associate of Knoedler & Company with the Sculptor Manuel Velastegui.

Manuel Velastegui has been creating sculptures for over 40 years he is a master artist and his works are of the highest quality. The beauty of his marble sculptures is breathtaking as the forms give off a sense of movement. Manuel Velastegui metal sculptures are created of found objects and are more whimsical but still have that sense of movement and a few actually do move. This exhibition has over 20 Sculptures on exhibit and they are all just beautiful to look at and admire. I enjoyed appreciating all the work and energy that this master sculptor puts into his work. Manuel Velastegui is very famous in Ecuador and creates many commissioned sculptures some rising to over 14 ft tall. His works are in private and museum collections all around the world. I had a great time at the event and was able to talk to Manuel Velastegui to learn more about him and his work. I was also able to talk with Jaime Andrade at length. Jaime Andrade has worked for Knoedler & Company for over 40 years and has a vast storehouse of knowledge in his head. Jaime Andrade was very down to earth and it was such a joy to talk to someone who has lived the history of art for over 40 years and has known so many artists. I am very happy I attended this event and know that occasions like these are the reason I love being an artist so much. There are very few things in life that are better then enjoying beautiful art, talking with friends and new acquaintances, enjoying great music and fine food. This event had all the above and that is why it was such a great success.

The Union City Art Gallery at City Hall is located at 3715 Palisade Avenue in Union City, NJ. The exhibition will be up for the next few weeks so if you live near the area it is definitely worth the time to go and see this exhibition of the sculptures of Manuel Velastegui.

Cuban American Journalist & Artist Jose Acosta

Thin Line between Good & Evil

Sometimes in life you just get tired of seeing the injustice and abuse that we humans inflict on one another. That is probably the reason I do not like to read Newspapers or see the News as all you learn about are more horrific crimes against humanity and more abuses of our fellow humans. Today as I walked across Bryant Park here in the City I was disturbed by an art piece that used young girls walking about aimlessly on top of a box that was much to high for them to get off until when someone would come to fetch them, presumably at the end of the day. I thought to myself how sad I would feel if one of my teenage children would have to endure that type of abuse just to make a few bucks. They call it art I call it exploitation of others to gain fame and notoriety. What a shame that some artists have had to resort to torturing and even disfiguring peoples bodies to gain a bit of fame and make a few bucks. It would be easy to blame these artists and just say that they are Sicko's and leave it at that. But that is not the case as the Sicko's are the Board and Staff of the Museums, Art Magazines, Galleries, Park Officials, and Art World etc... that allow these programs to go on and even encourage them. The Bigger institution are just as guilty if not more so including the MOMA that has the top floor full of naked young people that hold a pose for a very long time and others that the public can jump between them and rub against their naked bodies while doing so. I saw one lady who jumped between a naked young girl and guy and crashed so hard into the young girl's breast that it made a red mark on the girl's breast. The young girl was unable to say anything (Probably because she needed her job) and just got back into her pose. I left the MOMA that day feeling disgusted with what art had become. How sad that this garbage and abuse is what they call art today. The more our society advances the less we seem to care about one another. I know there are a lot of great people and artists in the world but sadly enough most people and the news are fixated with the horrible, and evil and do not care for good news or great things unless it pertains to them personally. I hold fellow artists to a higher standard as I do feel that we can change the world for the better. Hopefully one day we will.

Best Wishes, Cuban-American Artist Jose Acosta.

Picasso Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Today I had the great joy of visiting the Metropolitan Museum of art to see the exhibition of art by the world's most famous artist Pablo Picasso. I am glad that the exhibition was created as the genius and talent of Pablo Picasso can now be seen and enjoyed by a younger generation. The exhibition was excellent and I was able to walk around and enjoy all the beautiful art that Picasso created throughout his life. Picasso worked in every medium imaginable and experimented with different forms of art. The quality of each work is tremendous and leaves us knowing that all the praise he receives is well deserved. My favorite paintings were "The Dreamer" and "Dora Maar in Arm Chair" I was also glad to see the portrait of Gertrude Stein as it was very powerful and direct. Every room I entered left me in awe because Picasso mastered every medium, style or design that he created. From the lino-cuts, ceramic plaques, bronze sculptures, paintings, pastels, prints, drawings etc the collection is just magnificent.

If you live in or near New York City you should make every effort to visit this great exhibition as you will not be disappointed. The Museum also has a book "PICASSO In The Metropolitan Museum of Art" at $35 for soft cover and $60 for hard cover and I was glad I purchased a soft cover edition as it has great pictures inside of the works in the exhibition and also behind the scene pictures of collectors homes, studio shots etc. I am glad I took the time to visit this exhibition and view these masterpieces created by Pablo Picasso a Hispanic Artist who has given me such motivation and inspiration because of the art that he created. Picasso will always be #1 and this exhibition clearly shows us why.

Special Thanks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation, Bloomberg, and all the collectors that have donated these fine works to the Museum throughout the years. I would also like to thank Photographer Arnold Newman for the beautiful pictures of Pablo Picasso that he took throughout his lifetime such as the one that I use in this Blog.

Cuban American Artist and Journalist Jose Acosta

VIII Exposition of Hispanic American Art celebrated in Union City, NJ.

On April 18, 2010 the Hispanic Mercantile Federation in Union City, NJ sponsored the VIII Exposition of Hispanic American Art. Forty nine artists representing fourteen different countries participated in this event. The event was well attended and the artists were able to meet one another and talk with guests about their work. Below is list of artists and countries they represented.

[Argentina] Lorena Gomez, Liliana Esther Mateo, Paulina Raso, Nicolas Raso.

[Brazil] Iris Alvarez, Arlete Costo, Nadir Telli,

[Columbia] Patricia Botero Echeverri, Luis German Morales, Adolfo Pena, Beatriz Ruiz, Solange Valverde.

[Costa Rica] Jose L. Quesada Morales.

[Cuba] Jose Acosta, Nelson Alvarez, Frank Bernal, Alexandra Y. Bru, Lucio Fernandez, Zahydee Hernandez, Jose Sanchez Lara, Marco Lara, Norma Tres Palacios, Georgia Prieto.

[Ecuador] El Camoso, Franklyn Miraba, Amado Mora, Luis Parejas, Fernando Santos, Bolivar E. Sotomayor, Manuel Velastegui.

[El Salvador] Geraldo Aguedo Hernandez.

[Hondura] Jorge Pineda Singh.

[Mexico] Eduardo Guzman.

[Nicaragua] Frank de Las Mercedes.

[Peru] Janet Diaz, Juan Ramiro.

[Puerto Rico] Nilda E. Albino, Carmen Garcia, Vanesa Guzman, Cleofe Marquez, Alma Peralta.

[U.S.A.] Patricia Banks, Daisy Latimer, Libat Ohayon, Pamela Patruno, Janet Torres, Joanna Torres,

[Venezuela] Mercedes Alvarez, Hugo Juarez.

TRIBUTE TO PUERTO RICAN ARTIST JOSE CARABALLO

Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico in 1930, Jose Caraballo moved to New York with his parents at the age of 14. In 1947 Jose studied graphics and sculpture in a Greenwich Village workshop. That same year he had the good fortune to meet the great Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo at the Rufino Tamayo Studio at the Brooklyn Museum of Art where Rufino Tamayo was teaching art. Jose Caraballo exhibited paintings in 1950 in Chicago. He then exhibited at the Oller-Campeche-Gallery in Puerto Rico, Galleria II, Galleria Tito, Allen Rich Galleries, Duncan Galleries in Paris France, and many other Galleries throughout New York. Jose Caraballo also had exhibits at the Museum of the City of New York, Livingston College, Howard University in Washington, Cornel Medical Center, Mount Sinai Hospital, and El Museo del Barrio in NYC. Jose Caraballo has had extensive television coverage of his paintings and other works of art.

In 1979 while President of the Hispanic Arte League (H.A.L) Jose Caraballo organized the 1st Latin American Art Biennial in NYC. For that exhibition Jose invited his friend Rufino Tamayo to attend as guest of honor. Rufino Tamayo was by then the most famous living artist in Mexico so it was a great honor for Jose Caraballo that Rufino Tamayo accepted the invitation and came to NYC to spend a few weeks with Jose Caraballo and his family. Rufino Tamayo helped inspire the works in stencil that Jose Caraballo would create after that visit. Jose Caraballo was one of the first artists to depict the life and culture of the Taino Indians of Borinquen. Caraballo also explored other aspects of Puerto Rican culture and artistic horizons, through his paintings, drawings, graphics, and tapestries. He was awarded "The Palma Julia de Burgos" Cultural award in 1978.

In 1978 Jose Caraballo was included in the famous book "Painting and Sculpture of the Puerto Ricans" by Peter Bloch. This is part of what Peter Bloch wrote "It is Jose Caraballo who first made a specialty of Taino themes, in drawings, paintings, graphics and relief work. When he had thoroughly explored Borinquen's pre-history in his art, he continued with other aspects of Puerto Rican culture and history but also creates surrealist and semi-abstract work which is always ingenious and fascinating. In his paintings and drawings on Puerto Rican themes he cultivates a stylized realism. His horizons are wide; and he is one of the truly eminent Puerto Rican artists". Peter Bloch also included 4 images of linocuts and pen and ink drawings by Jose Caraballo in this book.

Jose Caraballo passed away in Collegedale, Tennessee in 1992 at the age of 62. His work continues to be exhibited throughout the US. His son, Rene Caraballo, is the Curator and Promoter for the Estate of approximately 800 of Jose Caraballo's works of art. For more information please visit www.josecaraballo.org and or contact Rene Caraballo at e-mail renecaraballo50@hotmail.com.

Cuban American Artist & Journalist Jose Acosta

Congratulations to Euterpe Magazine and Hernando Merchand.

In the picture Elelis Pena ( Politician Dominican Republic ) Hernando Merchand ( Founder of Euterpe Magazine ) and Jose Acosta ( Journalist and Artist )

Hernando Merchand created Euterpe Magazine for the Performing Arts, Inc. 40 years ago in 1970. Euterpe magazine - production promotes Hispanic-American culture in all the arts. The 1st concert was at Carnegie Recital hall on May 3, 1970 with the legendary Puerto Rican pianist Genoveva de Artega. In that year they also started a series of 40 concerts at CAMI HALL. In the next forty years Euterpe Productions would have presentations on classical and folkloric music in such places as Carnegie Recital Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Town Hall, Florence Gould Hall, and in Universities such as Columbia, New York, Montclair State, Hostos and Bronx Community Colleges, Touro College and Boricua College. In addition Euterpe has had events in many churches, parks, libraries, schools and museums including the world famous Intrepid Museum.

Euterpe is dedicated to the promotion of grand concerts such as the ones given by Boricua College Chorus annually for the past 35 years.

During the 40 years of existence, Euterpe has helped publish, present and sell more than one hundred works by Hispanic-American writers.

Do to the great efforts of Euterpe and its founder Hernando Merchand over the past 40 years Hispanic-American artists have gained more recognition and exposure. Thanks to the press and friends of Euterpe Magazine over five thousand articles have been written in the best newspapers and magazines of New York, New Jersey, Miami, Mexico, Colombia, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Spain. These Articles have highlighted the artistic wealth and extraordinary work of Euterpe on behalf of its artists.

Euterpe Magazine and Hernando Merchand also have the honor of belonging to the prestigious Asociacion De Critico De Espectaculos (Association of Theatrical Critics), who during the past 42 years has enriched New York City with their monumental A.C.E. Awards given annually on Broadway to the finest local and international artists.

The dedication and hard work of Hernando Merchand for the past 40 years is a labor of love. He is admired and loved by all who know him. I would like to Wish Hernando Merchand and Euterpe Magazine Congratulations! On this 40th Anniversary and I hope them and all the artists who have contributed and or will contribute in the future many more years of great concerts, beautiful art and fine literature and poetry. Great men are forged by hard work and vision and to this respect Hernando Mechand is one of the best.

Cuban-American Journalist Jose Acosta

Elisa Pritzker World Famous Women Artist.

Elisa Pritzker is an international artist, art curator and consultant. Elisa is also creating excellent contemporary art that quickly finds its way into private and public collections throughout the world. Elisa is one of the best prepared artists that I know and I hope this interview will help other artists benefit from her knowledge. To learn more about Elisa Pritzker please visit her website at www.PritzkerStudio.com

Elisa please tell us about yourself and your art? I was born to be an artist. My art and myself are kind of a one thing. I don't separate them as two entities so they co-exist since my early age in life

How do you feel being a Hispanic artist has helped your career? I feel honored to be called a Hispanic artist even when my last name is not. I was born in Argentina, a country with a long history of cultural development in all of the areas of the arts. At the same time, I value to be called just an "Artist", since the power of creating is universal and belongs to all humanity.

Do you feel that there are more opportunities for women artists today then in the past? Definitely yes. All the women movements have helped tremendously to make our place in society easier and we still have to keep working for it.

How would you describe your art? My art tells things that I can't tell with words. They come from my soul. It expresses different moments of my life and society so whatever is going on in the world and mine, could be a source of inspiration. I usually create series about a particular theme. Through the years, I've worked on different topics that have talked to me, for instance about the Mayas, human and urban matters, money, spirituality, environmental issues. My latest artworks are part of the "Lonely Hearts Club Series".This series expresses my reaction about some effects that the web-social media communication creates to our human society.

When did you begin creating artwork? As I recalled, all my life. At 8 years old and for several years, I attended art courses for children at a local University where I was collaterally exposed to the art created by the grown-ups. This was a big influence that crystallized my interest and passion. At 15 years old, I began my formal art education.

What do you enjoy most about being an artist? Everything. The happiness, excitement, tension, mystery and all the array of sentiments that are involved in the creative process.

Which artists do you admire? From traditional to contemporary, new and old times there are "many" artist that I admire..it's a long list!!! but the artists that I know that never gave up are the ones that genuinely inspire me, like Frida Kahlo, Francisco de Goya, Louise Bourgeois and Vincent Van Gogh.

Do you feel it is better to represent yourself or have a gallery represent you? I think both ways are good and welcomed. It's a learning process what it really means to be in charge of representing yourself or to let other person be in charge. In the two situations, it's good to feel comfortable of any decisions taken.

Why do you create art? I don't have any other choice than create art. It's the way that I live my life so far.

What are your future plans? I always have many plans going on. My next important exhibit is a solo exhibition at the Franklin 54 Gallery in Chelsea, NYC. I'll exhibit "Lonely Hearts Club Series" opening this fall season of the gallery in September.

BLOCH--Peter, 86, died July 31, 2008 in New York City. Beloved friend, noted journalist and historian and fluent in four languages. Born in Frankfort, Germany he left in 1939 as a teenager and joined the underground in Belgium. He later was interned in Switzerland. He came to the U.S. in 1949 and became a citizen in 1955. He was the founder and President of the Association of Puerto Rican-Hispanic Culture. He was the U.S. Representative of the French Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was appointed a Knight of the Order of Isabella Catolica in 1969 by the Head of the Spanish State. Published in the New York Times on 8/3/2008

It was a great Honor to have met such a great man in the Arts. I knew him long before we met through his book Painting and Sculpture of the Puerto Ricans (1978). He was a wonderful and uplifting soul whom one always felt at ease with. I would like to thank Peter Bloch for his dedication to the Societe Academique Fondee En 1915 Paris France Arts-Sciences-Lettres. I thank God for allowing me to have met him if only for too brief a time. I know he had expressed high hopes for me in the Arts and I will continue to work hard to achieve those goals. Peter Bloch inspired me to look for greatness within myself and to more fully appreciate the arts. He will live on in my art and in my heart.

It has been over a year since Peter Bloch passed away and still his presence is as close as ever. He helped so many people in the arts that his legend will live on forever. His friend Arturo Alvarez continues the legacy by helping artists, poets and writers through Poesia Magazine whom Peter Bloch was Cultural Consultant of for many years. Whenever I get together with our friends Peter is always fondly remembered and very much missed. This year I was voted in to a three year term as board member of the Dutchess Arts Council and I hope to be able to give back to the arts as my friend Peter Bloch did. When we are blessed with good fortune we have a responsibility to share and help others succeed as well. Peter Bloch your legend will live on in all the people that you helped.

Journalists and Cuban-American Artist Jose Acosta

Hugo Sandoval Exhibition at the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall

Yesterday February 18, 2010 I attended the exhibition of paintings by my friend Hugo Sandoval at the Union City Art Gallery at City Hall. Hugo Sandoval is an excellent artist who creates colorful paintings that are exciting and fun to look at. Hugo was born in Barranquilla Colombia and graduated from the Center for the Media Arts in NY in 1985. He has been creating, exhibiting and selling his works ever since. I had the honor of exhibiting with Hugo Sandoval last year at the Queens Museum of Art and I find his work beautiful and stimulating to the mind and soul. The Exhibition also had musical performance by Graciela Barreto the Union City Poet Laureate who sang some beautiful songs and recited poetry as well. The food at the event was also fantastic and everyone was able to have a taste of excellent Hispanic treats. The Board of Commissioners Lucio Fernandez, Tilo E. Rivas and Maryury A. Martinetti were in attendance and presented to Hugo Sandoval and Graciela Barreto a citation certificate signed by Mayor Brian P. Stack and the Board of Commissioners. The Exhibition will be up for 3 more weeks. The Union City Art Gallery at City Hall is located at 3715 Palisade Avenue in Union City New Jersey. I would like to give a special thanks to Union City Mayor Brian P. Stack and its Board of Commissioners for their support of the Arts and Artists by creating these wonderful performance and exhibitions for the whole community to enjoy. I would also like to give a special thanks to Union City Art Curator Amado Mora for all his work and dedication in helping create these great events for all to enjoy.

For more info or to see paintings by Hugo Sandoval visit

http://artid.com/members/hugasso

Journalist & Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta

When will our Museums learn to give back to the surrounding communities?

Museums look for support from the communities that surround them but often give little back to the area artists and arts organizations that support them. I do not know if this is typical in all areas of the country or just the few Museums that are close to where I live in New York? Still I do not feel that Museums in general do enough to help enrich the lives of the artists and arts organizations around them. For one example I would take the DIA Museum in Beacon, New York the DIA has a wonderful building with a beautiful art collection in an area of New York that has a flourishing arts community and lots of artists.Still the DIA Museum does nothing to create shows for area artists or other area arts organizations. I feel if they did sponsor and create local art events it would be beneficial to them and to local residents who would visit the Museum to see their friends and neighbors art works displayed or other arts performace. The DIA is not alone in this attitude as you find it in other Museums such as the Museo de Bario, MOMA etc. I would love to hear back from any and all Museum staff if they feel these comments are not fair? Hopefully I am missed informed and can be enlightened by your comments? I think Museums do need to work with the communities so that more people would feel comfortable in visiting these institutions and supporting them through memberships and other donations. I am a member of all of the Museums listed above and I do feel it is important for artists and arts organizations to support Museums and other cultural institutions in the area that they live in, but it would be nice to see the Museums support the community, artists, and arts organizations back as well. I look forward to a future where I will be able to visit these Museums and not only see the best art from around the world, but also see the newest and best art works being created by local artists as well.

Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta

On January 7, 2010 I had the great privilege of attending the opening of the Latino Artists at the University of Connecticut exhibition. I was fortunate to be asked to participate in this exhibition and I am so glad I accepted. The opening party was fantastic with over 200 people attending. The 8 artists that were exhibiting were also in attendance and I am glad I got to talk to them and also take pictures with them. Some are very established in the art world while others are the rising stars of today. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful exhibition and the great foods supplied by our sponsor restaurants DeMaya, Tacos Guadalajara and Quechua Restaurant.

The event also had great Music by Manos del Candombe and a beautiful color catalog with images of all the art and artists in the event. Participating artists were Jose Acosta, Claudio N. Altesor, Ed Bianchi, Rosa E. Col_n, Duvian Montoya, Hern_n Restrepo, Arnaldo Ugarte and Inés Villanueva.

The exhibition was a collaborative effort between University of Connecticut and Vida Social Magazine. The curator of this exhibition was Tatiana Mori a fellow Latina and UCONN alumni. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Ego, Professor of Family Studies at UCONN and Tamara Guevara, Chief Editor of Vida Social magazine. I would also like to thank all guests who attended and showed their support for the arts.

This was the 1st Latino Artists Exhibition that I have participated in this year 2010 and I know that there will be many more to come throughout the year in all parts of the world. So if you are a Latino Artists please find and participate in as many Latino exhibitions as you can. They are an excellent way to network and meet other Latino Artists and the exposure will help you obtain information and future exhibition opportunities.

I think 2010 will be a fantastic year for all Latino artists that are prepared and willing to find creative ways to exhibit and show their art to the public. For Latino Artists I see a lot of future collaborations and fantastic exhibition opportunities as Galleries, Museums and Institutions see how successful Latino Artists Exhibitions are. Best of Luck to all my fellow Latino Artists our future looks bright and colorful.

Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta