It’s your chance to make a difference and help the victims of Hurricane Maria.
This November, Tripoli Gallery in Southampton is presenting a fundraiser exhibition for Puerto Rico. The exhibition, Love Isabela, will be on view from Friday, November 10 through Sunday, November 19, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, November 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. This exhibition acknowledges artist Félix Bonilla Gerena in particular and his hometown, Isabela, Puerto Rico.
A 33 percent discount will be offered by the Gallery on all works by Bonilla Gerena, who is a dear friend of the Gallery and has exhibited there since its inception. The Gallery is presenting the benefit as a way to show they stand by him and his family during this recovery period. 100 percent of the proceeds raised through the private auction of the kindly donated artwork will go directly to the victims of Hurricane Maria in Isabela, Puerto Rico, where Bonilla live and works. Gallery owner Tripoli Patterson will travel with Bonilla to ensure that supplies get to the hands of those that need them the most.
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Félix Bonilla Gerena. “Never Give Up, 2017,” found sign, oil, pencil, spray paint, charcoal on wood, 24-1/2 x 18 inches. (Photo: Courtesy of the Artist and Tripoli Gallery Southampton, © Félix Bonilla Gerena) |
“My hope is that viewers will be encouraged to speed the recovery of Isabela by adding to your collection a work of art by Félix or by one of more than 30 artists who have kindly donated artworks to this exhibition,” said Gallery Owner and Director, Tripoli Patterson.
Bonilla’s paintings will be featured at this exhibition, as well as other works of art donated by Linda K. Alpern, Alice Aycock, Matt Clark, Oliver Clegg, Bob Colacello, Quentin Curry, Pipi Deer, David Demers, Sabra Moon Elliot, Félix Bonilla Gerena, Judith Hudson, Yung Jake, Benjamin Keating, Curtis Kulig, Brendan Lynch, Maya Mason, John Messinger, Lola Montes Schnabel, Amy Musto, Michael Netter, Akwetey Orraca-Tetteh, Miles Partington, Enoc Perez, Mark Perry, Renee Phillips, Dalton Portella, Enis Sefersah, Dennis Snyder, Robert R. Waltzer, and Nick Weber among others.
The work of Bonilla Gerena serves as a vivid reminder of the importance of human connection with place, especially the place we call home. His paintings express a personal relationship to the island he calls home, depicting images of female figures, topical plants and creatures, and seaside landscapes of rich blues and vibrant yellows. His paintings respond to the beauty of the island using vibrant brushy colors and boldly drawn lines, all while perceiving the complexities of its culture.
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Félix Bonilla Gerena, “Diptico de Bicicleta, 2008,” mixed media on canvas, 30 x 60 inches. (Photo: Courtesy of the Artist and Tripoli Gallery Southampton, © Félix Bonilla Gerena) |
Tripoli hopes his incentive will encourage viewers to not only bring relief to an incredibly devastated town in Puerto Rico, but also take advantage of this opportunity to add a strong work of art to your personal collection. A private auction website will be available for bidders to participate in a blind auction of the donated artworks, where bidders can direct their bids to four categories of basic needs required by hurricane victims, such as water, food, power, and supplies. Direct donations can also be made through the website, providing aid towards food, clean water and water filters, solar power generators, power inverters, and rechargeable batteries.
Tripoli Gallery is located at 30a Jobs Lane, Southampton. For more information, call 631-377-3715 or visit www.tripoligallery.com.
