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Cheryl Strichik: [email protected]
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MARK KOSTABI EXHIBIT BRINGS A TOUCH OF ITALY TO THE MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (Jan. 4, 2024) – Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) welcomes renowned artist Mark Kostabi to the City By the Lake with a new exhibition that celebrates the City of Water. The exhibit, titled City of Enchantment: Mark Kostabi in Venice, will run Jan. 14 to Feb. 11, 2024 and feature 41 of the celebrated artist’s paintings. A true Renaissance man, Kostabi will also perform a selection of his original piano compositions during a Venetian Masquerade at the MACC on Jan. 20.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Kostabi back to Monthaven,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “Mark’s colorful paintings are instantly recognizable and wildly popular. His 2022 exhibition attracted thousands of visitors to Monthaven, and I have no doubt that his new Venetian exhibit will be equally successful.”
Born in Los Angeles in 1960, Kostabi studied drawing and painting at California State University before moving to New York in 1982. By 1984, he was a prominent figure in the East Village art scene. Taking his cues from Andy Warhol, Kostabi developed a practice of employing a team of creative thinkers and skilled technicians to assist him in the production of his art. Interested in getting feedback from potential audiences about “what to paint,” Kostabi conducted market research by showing his sketches around, inviting comments and suggestions about his imagery and ideas. This led to building his own style or “brand,” which consists of faceless figures who engage in allegorical or metaphorical narratives.
In this new exhibition, Kostabi’s anonymous figures find themselves in Venice, Italy, where they are placed in situations that invite viewers to reflect on a wide range of topics, including art history, music, love, romance, dreams, spirituality, and the endangered environment. Executed in his trademark bright psychedelic colors, Kostabi’s paintings possess an aesthetic sensibility that reflects the high-tech domination of the 21st century.
An accomplished pianist and composer, Kostabi will perform some of his original piano compositions during a Venetian Masquerade at the MACC starting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 20. Space for the event is extremely limited, so tickets are required. Kostabi will also appear in a master class at 2 p.m. on Jan. 21. Call (615) 822-0789 for more information.
Kostabi’s exhibit is on loan from the Park West Museum, which has long championed this artist’s work. The Park West Museum is a non-profit museum located in Park West Gallery’s Southfield, Michigan headquarters. The museum reopened following an extensive remodeling that added two new galleries to the facility. Admission to the museum is free to the public, ensuring that anyone who desires to learn more about art can enjoy the collection.
Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) is a jewel-box art museum and education facility housed in one of Tennessee’s most spectacular antebellum mansions. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MACC has staged exhibitions featuring everything from the ceramic art of Pablo Picasso to the evening gowns of Princess Diana. The artwork of local artists and military veterans are also on frequent display. As an art school, the MACC offers classes to more than 600 children and adults each year. The MACC also provides free arts outreach and healing arts to underserved children, families and military veterans. For more information, visit www.monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call (615) 822-0789.