FRANK ARCURI
	FOREWORD Small oranges virtually glow as if lit from within. The curve of a silver spoon reflects the rosy hues in a pyramid of lady apples. Nestled in a wicker basket laden with grapes and plums, a nuthatch chirps to its companion. These subjects, composed in elegantly simple arrangements, are at the heart of Frank Arcuri's latest body of work. They are his tributes to the unadorned beauty, which can be found in the blush of sugar on a ripe piece of fruit or the shimmer of light dancing off a fine piece of porcelain. That is not to say there aren't present the lush and lavish paintings Mr. Arcuri's virtuoso talents have created in the past. "Victorian Floral" embraces all the ornate details for which the period is so well known. In their fullest bloom, the roses almost seem to compete with each other for our attention. A garland of guileless bounty, adorned with a satin bow, tempts the viewer in "An Abundant Blessing", while white blossoms cascade among a profusion of flowers in "Floral Symphony", the texture of each petal fully appreciated and realized. Among these resplendent works, there is to be found a recurring aesthetic in the paintings that vibrate with a more quiet harmony. A serene beauty emanates from the painting entitled "Flower Girl", as the statue seems to tilt her cheek downward to receive the caress of the tulip reaching up to her. A number of these works were created by the artist on a smaller scale like "gems", concentrated and refined. The breakfast in "Petit Dejuener" is peasant-like and without fuss. The arrangement is equally straightforward with the objects barely touching or overlapping. Rather than as part of a more complex setting, the bust in the "Roman Youth" echoing the coolness of its surface, sits alone and austere. With a sense of humor, in "Original Sin" the artist tempts us with a single branch bearing the infamous apple. It is as if in these paintings Mr. Arcuri is reminding us not to let life overwhelm our senses. Perhaps, he feels we are in danger of losing the ability, through everyday overexposure, to see the uniqueness and beauty in the most ordinary creations of nature and man. Frank Arcuri brings to bear his masterful talents in each of these exquisite paintings. The surface of his work is pristine, reminiscent of the Dutch masters. Yet, his brushwork is expressive, adding a very human dynamic to his compositions. Undeniably, however, it is his extraordinary use of light, revealing both the subtlety in his dappled backgrounds and the remarkable singularity of each object that makes him one of the most gifted still life painters in America today.
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