As Brockton prepares to honor homegrown boxing legend Rocky Marciano, a boyhood friend and his art are also getting some overdue attentions.
John Jantomaso, 91, whose “best pal” was Marciano trainer Allie Colombo, started painting when he was selected in middle school as one of two students to receive free lessons from the art teacher at Brockton High School.
“I did an oil with him,” said Jantomaso. “We had it three-quarters done; we went to continue it, and somebody stole it.”
His teacher felt so bad about it he made Jantomaso the subject of a portrait that continues to hang in the living room at his Westwood Avenue home.
After marrying at the age of 26, Jantomaso began to lose interest in his artistic endeavors and did not paint or draw for more than 40 years.
That changed three years ago after health problems forced him to give up golf, one of his favorite pastimes.
“My health stopped me from playing golf the way I used to,” said Jantomaso.
“I had to consume my time in another manner, and I said, ‘I’m going to start drawing’”
Jantomaso’s work is heavily inspired by photographs he sees in magazines. In a three-year period, he has sketched famous figures such as Halle Berry; Tom Brady; Ronald Reagan; golf writer and Brockton native Herbert Warren Wind, who coined the term the “Amen Corner” and, of course, “The Rock from Brockton.”
Phil Sheppard, the executive director of external relations at Massasoit Community College, had a chance meeting with Jantomaso at Thorny Lea Golf Club and was amazed when he saw his work.
“It absolutely took my breath away,” said Sheppard. “He does marvelous work.”
Sheppard recently brought a group of art experts from the college to Jantomaso’s basement studio so they could see the quality of his work.
“Representing the college, representing myself, I want to do something to honor John to honor his work, particularly this year with the Rocky Marciano statue coming to Brockton,” said Sheppard, “He’s a Brockton institution.”
Brockton is planning a serious of events to commemorate Marciano, culminating in the statue dedication ceremony at Brockton High School on Sept. 1.
2012年1月18日星期三
2011年9月27日星期二
Rave scene alive in “Kids With Candy”
Art show Kids With Candy opened Friday with house and electro music booming with surrounding vivid portraits of today’s rave scene.
Jennifer Takeda, 23, a drawing and painting major, opened her eclectic show to music that inspired her days in the rave scene growing up.
DJs Jake Liu and Mike Good were on hand spinning tunes that kept attendees entertained. Liu exclaimed that he “loved Jen’s art show.” With bright colors and animated subjects in her work, it was clear that many observers enjoyed her gallery as well.
Takeda explained that these paintings were “portraits of people in the rave scene and the candy bracelets signify the culture.” Raves that Takeda attended and drew creativity from were the Electric Daisy Carnival, Beyond Wonderland and Perish Parties at Vanguard.
“Her artwork was very expressive and intriguing,” said Good. Showcasing attention to detail and dazzling hues, Takeda displayed to the crowd how exciting the raves were.
“This is my story, a nocturnal adventure filled with dancing, lights and effervescent sounds,” Takeda cited in her artist statement. The congregated art crowd couldn’t help but admire her lust for the rave scene. She also talked about how raves have assembled bits and pieces of who she is today.
“In this place, I have made some of my best friends, worst enemies and everything in between. This collection illustrates my journey through this world and the people who have shaped it into what it is,” Takeda said.
The powerful and realistic paintings of people having fun amid the glowing lights and deep house beats is what enticed spectators to examine the vibrant images at Kids with Candy.
Some of Takeda’s favorite artists are Takashi Murakami, Banksy and Caravaggio. These three artists stimulate her originality to paint representations of people she encounters. Her art is reminiscent of an urbanized style, along with techniques of incorporating flat color as well as blending. The media used were oil paints and acrylics.
Stephanie Santos, another childhood friend of Takeda’s since junior high, said, “Her artwork is really detailed.” Takeda’s reproduction of lifelike portraits of rave participants were striking and impressive. As an accomplished artist, she portrayed the rave scene with exceptional precision.
Many spectators were taken on a journey to some of the biggest raves with an inside look by Takeda’s passion of lights and music. In her statement, Takeda summed up her gallery by stating that raves are a “place where peace, love, unity and respect reign supreme and for one night, we all can come together, be best friends and care for nothing but the fantastic moment we are immersed in.”
Jennifer Takeda, 23, a drawing and painting major, opened her eclectic show to music that inspired her days in the rave scene growing up.
DJs Jake Liu and Mike Good were on hand spinning tunes that kept attendees entertained. Liu exclaimed that he “loved Jen’s art show.” With bright colors and animated subjects in her work, it was clear that many observers enjoyed her gallery as well.
Takeda explained that these paintings were “portraits of people in the rave scene and the candy bracelets signify the culture.” Raves that Takeda attended and drew creativity from were the Electric Daisy Carnival, Beyond Wonderland and Perish Parties at Vanguard.
“Her artwork was very expressive and intriguing,” said Good. Showcasing attention to detail and dazzling hues, Takeda displayed to the crowd how exciting the raves were.
“This is my story, a nocturnal adventure filled with dancing, lights and effervescent sounds,” Takeda cited in her artist statement. The congregated art crowd couldn’t help but admire her lust for the rave scene. She also talked about how raves have assembled bits and pieces of who she is today.
“In this place, I have made some of my best friends, worst enemies and everything in between. This collection illustrates my journey through this world and the people who have shaped it into what it is,” Takeda said.
The powerful and realistic paintings of people having fun amid the glowing lights and deep house beats is what enticed spectators to examine the vibrant images at Kids with Candy.
Some of Takeda’s favorite artists are Takashi Murakami, Banksy and Caravaggio. These three artists stimulate her originality to paint representations of people she encounters. Her art is reminiscent of an urbanized style, along with techniques of incorporating flat color as well as blending. The media used were oil paints and acrylics.
Stephanie Santos, another childhood friend of Takeda’s since junior high, said, “Her artwork is really detailed.” Takeda’s reproduction of lifelike portraits of rave participants were striking and impressive. As an accomplished artist, she portrayed the rave scene with exceptional precision.
Many spectators were taken on a journey to some of the biggest raves with an inside look by Takeda’s passion of lights and music. In her statement, Takeda summed up her gallery by stating that raves are a “place where peace, love, unity and respect reign supreme and for one night, we all can come together, be best friends and care for nothing but the fantastic moment we are immersed in.”
2011年4月18日星期一
Money for SunShot
The dollar-a-watt solar program is off and running. The Department of Energy is looking for innovative researchers to come forward with ways to start its SunShot program to dramatically lower the cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, the department has committed nearly $170 million in available funding over three years to support a range of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology research. The SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the total cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent – to roughly $1 per watt – before the end of the decade.
The research and development funding will support four areas of investment, including improving the efficiency and performance of solar cells; developing new installation – or balance of systems – technologies; advancing solar energy grid integration; and researching new materials and processes for solar PV technologies.
“These investments will drive innovation in the solar energy field – laying the groundwork to meet our SunShot goal of dramatically reducing the cost of solar energy nationwide and helping America to win the race to produce the most cost-effective, high-quality photovoltaics in the world,” said Secretary Chu. “A robust American solar industry will boost our technological leadership and competitiveness, improve the nation's energy security, create skilled manufacturing jobs, and help reach the President’s goal of doubling our clean energy in the next 25 years.”
The four funding opportunities are intended to improve the performance of current and next generation PV cells, develop advanced power electronics that optimize the performance of PV installations, and reduce the costs of PV balance-of-system hardware. These include:
EnergyBiz Leadership Series Webcast
• Foundational Program to Advance Cell Efficiency (F-PACE): In a collaborative funding effort with the National Science Foundation, $39 million is available for research and development in solar device physics and PV technology to improve PV cell performance and reduce the costs of modules for grid-scale commercial applications.
• PV Balance of Systems: $60 million in funding is available for research, development, and demonstration of balance of system components. Projects may include new building-integrated photovoltaic products, new mounting and wiring technologies, and new building code language that can foster the use of innovative, low-cost hardware designs while maintaining safety and reliability.
• Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS)—Advanced Concepts: $40 million in funding is available to develop technologies that will help increase the integration of solar energy onto the electrical grid and facilitate interactions between solar energy systems and Smart Grid technologies. This could include projects focused on improved energy storage technologies and better system functionality. SEGIS-Advanced Concepts will also support projects like high voltage systems that reduce the overall installed costs associated with balance of systems components costs for installations, and projects focused on technologies like micro-inverters that are capable of harvesting more energy from the sun.
• PV Next Generation: $30 million in funding is available for early-stage applied research to demonstrate and prove new concepts in materials, processes, and device designs for solar PV component development at the laboratory scale.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory head Dan Arvizu told me the Sunshot initiative is more than research and development. “It's how do you deploy, how do you reduce the cost in installation, power conditioning and all of the things that relate to deployment?" he said.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, the department has committed nearly $170 million in available funding over three years to support a range of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology research. The SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the total cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent – to roughly $1 per watt – before the end of the decade.
The research and development funding will support four areas of investment, including improving the efficiency and performance of solar cells; developing new installation – or balance of systems – technologies; advancing solar energy grid integration; and researching new materials and processes for solar PV technologies.
“These investments will drive innovation in the solar energy field – laying the groundwork to meet our SunShot goal of dramatically reducing the cost of solar energy nationwide and helping America to win the race to produce the most cost-effective, high-quality photovoltaics in the world,” said Secretary Chu. “A robust American solar industry will boost our technological leadership and competitiveness, improve the nation's energy security, create skilled manufacturing jobs, and help reach the President’s goal of doubling our clean energy in the next 25 years.”
The four funding opportunities are intended to improve the performance of current and next generation PV cells, develop advanced power electronics that optimize the performance of PV installations, and reduce the costs of PV balance-of-system hardware. These include:
EnergyBiz Leadership Series Webcast
• Foundational Program to Advance Cell Efficiency (F-PACE): In a collaborative funding effort with the National Science Foundation, $39 million is available for research and development in solar device physics and PV technology to improve PV cell performance and reduce the costs of modules for grid-scale commercial applications.
• PV Balance of Systems: $60 million in funding is available for research, development, and demonstration of balance of system components. Projects may include new building-integrated photovoltaic products, new mounting and wiring technologies, and new building code language that can foster the use of innovative, low-cost hardware designs while maintaining safety and reliability.
• Solar Energy Grid Integration Systems (SEGIS)—Advanced Concepts: $40 million in funding is available to develop technologies that will help increase the integration of solar energy onto the electrical grid and facilitate interactions between solar energy systems and Smart Grid technologies. This could include projects focused on improved energy storage technologies and better system functionality. SEGIS-Advanced Concepts will also support projects like high voltage systems that reduce the overall installed costs associated with balance of systems components costs for installations, and projects focused on technologies like micro-inverters that are capable of harvesting more energy from the sun.
• PV Next Generation: $30 million in funding is available for early-stage applied research to demonstrate and prove new concepts in materials, processes, and device designs for solar PV component development at the laboratory scale.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory head Dan Arvizu told me the Sunshot initiative is more than research and development. “It's how do you deploy, how do you reduce the cost in installation, power conditioning and all of the things that relate to deployment?" he said.
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