"The Town of Greenwich is honored to partner with C. Parker Gallery on its 10th anniversary," says Fred Camillo, the First Selectman of Greenwich, Connecticut. "The arts play a pivotal role in our community, and this new exhibition features spectacular artists who harness the power of art to raise awareness about our environment."
The exhibition is titled Blue Skies: Now More Than Ever and the month-long series of events kick off on September 7th in honor of the United Nations’ 4th annual International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies.
The Gallery will also support environmental awareness activities throughout the next four weeks, until the show’s closing date of October 8th. Tiffany Benincasa, the owner/curator of the Gallery, selected artworks that showcase the majesty of our heavenly horizons by six major artists: Rick Garcia, Kay Griffith, Lisa Cuscuna, Hamilton Aguiar, Felicity Kostakis, and Stephanie Paige.
“We are thrilled to kick off C. Parker Gallery’s 10th anniversary season with this powerful new exhibition Blue Skies: Now More Than Ever, featuring six of our Gallery’s leading artists who share our passion for nature’s beauty,” says Tiffany Benincasa, the owner of C. Parker Gallery. “We live in this beautiful part of the world, and our summer started with some of the worst air-quality days in history due to the wildfires, bringing this issue to the forefront. We are giving back to the community by joining forces with the United Nations’ International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, and we invite everyone in the Tri-State region to help make a difference alongside these environmental artists. They remind us of the need to safeguard our skies and foster a healthier planet.” A portion of the exhibition sales proceeds will be donated to Greenwich Green and Clean and the Greenwich Youth Conservation Program, in honor of the Gallery’s 10th anniversary.
“I selected these six artists because their work represents the highest ideals of character, compassion and environmental consciousness,” says Tiffany Benincasa. The artist Rick Garcia’s work ignites a sense of purpose and invites viewers to join hands in safeguarding the skies above us. His art captures the essence of optimism, transcending the confines of space and time ‒ exploring the boundless grandeur that the horizon holds. Garcia’s art was commissioned by the United Nations Postal Administration. His stamps brought awareness to the growing extinction of the rainforest and its inhabitants and the vanishing supply of freshwater, earning him the prestigious award of “Most Beautiful Stamp Series of 2003.” As a past official artist to The Grammy Awards, his creations influenced the look of the live broadcast and graced the covers of the official program book, posters, and apparel. His work for The Grammys included portraits of Destiny's Child, Ricky Martin, Coldplay, Santana, Celia Cruz, the Black Eyed Peas, and Imogen Heap. Garcia created a new work for this exhibition in Greenwich at C. Parker Gallery, titled Tree of Anila.
Benincasa chose Kay Griffith for this exhibition because: “Her artworks dance with life, capturing the movement of air and the ever-changing hues of the sky.” Griffith’s work was selected this year for the London Art Biennale. She embraces the color blue with unwavering dedication. A color synonymous with both the heavens and the purity of air, blue becomes the primary vehicle for her expression, as she conveys the awe-inspiring expanse of our atmosphere. Her work has been described as complex, haunting, and exhilarating.
“These artworks celebrate the expanse above us, from cerulean mornings to indigo evenings. Each canvas tells a story of hope, resilience, and the potential for change, reminding us of the optimism that comes with every new day,” says Benincasa.
Lisa Cuscuna's works are an invitation to escape into a realm where the sky knows no bounds. Her surrealism features ethereal clouds suspended in hypnotic skies, invoking a sense of wonder and serenity, portraying the sky with the hues of a thousand dreams. Cuscuna's artworks capture nature's essence, and remind us that the sky's purity is a gift worth protecting.
“This exhibition not only showcases the sheer beauty of our skies, but also serves as a call to action to support the United Nations Clean Air initiative. By leveraging our place of influence, we can encourage each individual to add their voice and collectively we can make a difference,” says Benincasa. The work of Felicity Kostakis (a local Greenwich artist who hails from Australia) captures the essence of sunrises over tranquil scenes, where the sky's reflection kisses the water's surface. The gentle ripples in the water mirror the delicate balance that exists in nature. Her singular hues blend seamlessly into the sky. As the world grapples with the consequences of air pollution and climate change, these works by Kostakis invite us to reflect on the clarity and purity of the air we need. Her resin abstracts urge us to explore the layers and textures as we would examine the layers of our biosphere. Resin, a liquid medium that transforms into a solid, mirrors the transformation our environment is experiencing due to human impact.
Originally from Brazil, the work of Hamilton Aguiar runs the gamut between seascapes, landscapes, florals, and abstracts to evoke the natural elements.
The sights and limitless vistas, smells, and sounds of the coast serve as tangible points of inspiration. The landscapes in Aguiar's painting became uniquely accentuated after the artist settled in Miami. The nature and climate of the Tropical ecosystems appear emphatically in his paintings.
Stephanie Paige’s love for nature has inspired a mesmerizing series, masterfully created with thick, textured acrylic on canvas. Her depictions of the environment reflect her personal journey into connecting to the world through meditation and presence ‒ cultivating gratitude, and existing in the moment, with the peace and harmony of our relationship with nature. Compelling meditation circles and serene sunsets invite the viewer to appreciate our planetary splendor.
“This gallery show reminds us that we share a collective responsibility to protect the skies above and the air we breathe,” says Benincasa. “We are excited to partner with the United Nations to support this initiative. International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies aligns with our gallery's mission to lend our voices and support to important environmental issues that impact everyone around the world.”
