February 2017 Meeting Program:
Artist Andrea` Cassar
Andreà Cassar was born in Siracusa, Italy in
1983 and is a fourth generation artist who
specializes in painting, sculpting, and graphic
design. His work includes tradition-styled
oil paintings, glass art, ceramics, and the
latest medium of painting celebrity portraits
in lipstick. Cassar has worked for
companies like Macy’s, Banana Republic, The
Children’s Place, and the strategic communications
and public relations firm Blue
Force Communications. "
Cassar’s mother, Concetta Rizza (b. 1961, d.
1999), was also a painter, sculptor, and ceramist.
His maternal grandfather was
Carmelo Rizza (b. 1933, d. 2009), recognized
in the Italian art world for his portrayals
of everyday life in rural “peasant”
Italy in subtle oils on canvas. Carmelo’s sought-after paintings simultaneously
convey the romantic and harsh aspects of the lives of common men and
women, as he adequately captured contemporary life in southern Italy in the
latter half of the 20th century. Cassar has continued his grandfather’s tradition,
painting vivid scenes from his youth and adolescence in Sicily and the nearby
towns of Siracusa, Catania, and Caltagirone. “Today all issues seem to get
politicized, and are often viewed through the lenses of race, religion, gender,
and sexuality. But so many experiences and the emotions that come with
them are universal. I try to remind people of that through my work. My ethnic
and personal background forms an integral part of what I do, but the core
issues, themes, and emotions - they cross the boundaries of comfort and force
viewers to think outside the box.” "
1983 and is a fourth generation artist who
specializes in painting, sculpting, and graphic
design. His work includes tradition-styled
oil paintings, glass art, ceramics, and the
latest medium of painting celebrity portraits
in lipstick. Cassar has worked for
companies like Macy’s, Banana Republic, The
Children’s Place, and the strategic communications
and public relations firm Blue
Force Communications. "
Cassar’s mother, Concetta Rizza (b. 1961, d.
1999), was also a painter, sculptor, and ceramist.
His maternal grandfather was
Carmelo Rizza (b. 1933, d. 2009), recognized
in the Italian art world for his portrayals
of everyday life in rural “peasant”
Italy in subtle oils on canvas. Carmelo’s sought-after paintings simultaneously
convey the romantic and harsh aspects of the lives of common men and
women, as he adequately captured contemporary life in southern Italy in the
latter half of the 20th century. Cassar has continued his grandfather’s tradition,
painting vivid scenes from his youth and adolescence in Sicily and the nearby
towns of Siracusa, Catania, and Caltagirone. “Today all issues seem to get
politicized, and are often viewed through the lenses of race, religion, gender,
and sexuality. But so many experiences and the emotions that come with
them are universal. I try to remind people of that through my work. My ethnic
and personal background forms an integral part of what I do, but the core
issues, themes, and emotions - they cross the boundaries of comfort and force
viewers to think outside the box.” "
