FRANK ARCURI
	FOREWORD It did not seem plausible that Frank Arcuri could strike a greater note of harmony than already achieved in his magnificent still life paintings--and yet he has. His newest body of work clearly resonates with a voice that is blessed with perfect pitch. The artist has delved deeper into the exploration of the more subtle aspects of creating reality. The objects or notes in each composition, whether a grand floral arrangement or a whimsical pyramid of plums, are unified through the very atmosphere in which they all exist. Creating the singularity of the moment are the common denominators of air and light, in their attributes of both quality and color. Mr. Arcuri has become a master at conveying not only the solidity of each object with its textures and eccentricities but also the ethereal nature of the intangible surroundings in which they reside. Each painting, superbly balanced, is as satisfying as are the last resolving chords of a symphony. He underscores this harmony with the rhythm of a timeline unfolding and a sense of history. In "The Maestro's Lunch" our eyes travel from the weathered sheet music, to the aged patina of the violin, to the just cut lemons and freshly opened mussels soon to be relished. Mr. Arcuri's use of fine antiques in his work is not simply for the beauty of their lines but to juxtapose these past treasures with the immediacy of flowers in full bloom and fruit beckoning with ripe juiciness. This balance is superbly achieved in "Dutch Floral" with its homage to the great Flemish paintings of the 17th century echoed in the porcelain vase set against the arrangement of a newly harvested bounty. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts and a native New Yorker, Frank Arcuri first pursued his love of the arts as Creative Director for several Manhattan advertising agencies. It was not until the early 1980's, after touring the great museums of Italy, that he began his fine art career in earnest. Drawn to the dramatic chiaroscuro effect seen in the masterpieces of the European still lifes, Arcuri received the impetus to turn his love of painting into his sole pursuit. He has since participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions from the United States to Hong Kong and recently completed his second one-man exhibition in London. Mr. Arcuri's works have been featured in various publications including ARTnews and American Artist. He views painting as a continual process of seeing, the very essence of which is capturing the light and air as it falls upon an object. Ultimately, through all the complexity of theory, technique and theme, this most-talented artist achieves in his paintings the simple truths…from the translucent fragility of an eggshell or the cool hardness of marble to the velvet softness of a rose petal.
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