Congratulation's John Brooke with your up and coming group show.

Augustus Firestone

Fraser Hoff Is a new member and you can see his work in Gallery 3.

Augustus Firestone 1/5/2010

I would like to welcome Whare Taramoeroa, for those from over seas in New Zealand we pronounce Wh as a F. I would also like to welcome Louise McRae which you will see both of their work on Gallery 3 and also more of Louise's work and history at www.louisemcrae.com.

We are also working towards an exhibition between the 6th and 24th of August 2010 at the St James Theatre in Wellington New Zealand which I hope I will be able to self publish our first modest book of our group.

Augustus Firestone 21/4/2010

A big welcome to Guido Vedovato from Italy which you can now see his works on Gallery 3 and his bio on the artists page of this website. We hope to hear from you on our forum.

Augustus Firestone 9/7/09

On May 15th, 2009 Touro College Sunset branch in Brooklyn acquired the painting "Art Gallery" by Cuban American Artist Jose Acosta. The painting will be displayed at the Touro College Sunset branch, as this is the branch with the largest population of Hispanic students.
Jose Acosta was also awarded an Honorary Diploma by Touro College on this day.
Jose Acosta is a Cuban-American Artist. Born in San Jose Cuba 1966 currently lives in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with his Family. Jose has made great strides in America.
His works are in many Private and Public Collections. Jose creates booth Paintings & Sculpture. Most recently his works were added to the collection of The World Bank Art Program, United Cerebral Palsy, Healthy Families, Touro College and also The University of Pennsylvania Art Collection. Jose is included in “Antologia de Pintores Hispano-Americanos” 2009 and his painting "Celebration" will be on the cover.
Touro College is a Jewish-sponsored independent institution of higher and professional education. The College was established primarily to enrich the Jewish heritage, and to serve the larger American community. Approximately 17,500 students are currently enrolled in its various schools and divisions. Touro College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education [ 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, Tel. no. (267) 284-5000 ].The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
This accreditation status covers Touro College and its branch campuses, locations and instructional sites in the New York area, as well as branch campuses and programs in Berlin, Jerusalem, Moscow, and Florida.

Media Release: Wellington The Arts Capital of Australasia
On Tuesday 9th of December at 9:30pm at the Statue of Queen Victoria between Kent and Cambridge Terrace.
Augustus Firestone with Aaron Frater, leaders of the “Finalism” painted sculpture international art movement based in Wellington, will be announcing Wellington’s status as Arts Capital of Australasia.
This unique event encompasses a light and art display focussed around the statue of Queen Victoria. The event will apply the philosophy and techniques promoted by the Finalism art movement. Finalism seeks to combine painting and sculpture to add texture to sculpture via colour, and to add depth to painting via relief. In this event, the Queen Victoria statue will be shrouded in colour using light projections. Sculpted and painted replicas will support the main light and art spectacle.
Wellington’s declaration as the arts capital of Australasia is a response to Liverpool’s Biennial exhibition in 2002, in which Tatsuro Bashi’s “Villa Victoria”, a hotel room constructed around a 5m tall marble statue of Queen Victoria in the middle of the city, sought to establish Liverpool as Europe’s cultural capital.
This “one night only” event will commence with a Haka challenge by Te Rakau Theatre followed by a speech by Augustus Firestone. Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast will speak in support of this unique and dazzling event.
Media inquiries: Augustus Firestone, 0212 981 861
Background:
Finalism: www.sculpturepainted.com
Liverpool Biennial: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2002/sep/27/art.artsfeatures

AFirestone 3rd December 2008

Congratulations Richard Graham with your current exhibition at Raw Gallery.

AFirestone 20/11/08

Congratulations Aaron Frater with your current exhibition at Vincents Art Workshop Gallery.

AFirestone 20/11/08

A Big Welcome to Karen Collins Reinert who is now in gallery 3.

Great to have your work here.

Augustus Firestone 9/10/08

I just wanted to let you know that my art work "Staying Alive" has been acquired by the University of Pennsylvania Art Collection and will be displayed on campus.
I am very happy of the Acquisition as it has been several months on negotiation and lots of prayer on my part to make this happen and I am happy that my work will be in this great Art Collection. I hope all is well with you and hope to hear from you soon.

Big Hug from New York Jose Acosta. 4/9/08

I would like to welcome Diamando Koutsellis and John Brooke to the group. Who are now in our Gallery 3

AFirestone 16/6/2008

May 12th Opening speech by Augustus Firestone
Welcome to the 3rd Annual Group Show of Finalism and first on Second Life at Fantasy Image Gallery.
I would like to first thank everyone who has help make this happen. As a group we are hoping that this will be a prelude to a real life world tour of our art works and the art movement.
When we first started we had no idea that it would move as fast as it has done, which currently we have 20 members and growing.
What we are doing is re energising the lost art/craft of painted sculpture which was done by the ancient Assyrian, Egyptian, Greek and Roman empires that was lost during the Dark Ages of European History. During the Renaissance you will note that all sculpture by Michelangelo and Leonardo never had paint on it. This was because by the time the Renaissance most if not all ancient sculpture had lost it’s paint.
To this day most if not all art schools have separate departments of sculpture and painting and they really never mix the two departments.
What we are doing as much as the modernists were influenced by Japanese and African art, we as a group are influenced by this lost art of painted sculpture.
I should point out that modernists have dabbled in painted sculpture but never as a focused group that we are today.
The name ‘Finalism’ is not only a challenge to future generations to creat ‘isms’, with a solid intellectual background like we have done. But also to followed the great masters and seek what they have found. Which we have done.
Also the name ‘Finalism’ come from the latin belief that final causes determine events: in philosophy, the belief or proposition that all events are determined by their final causes and the Lamarckian view of evolution involving the inheritance of acquired characteristics claim that evolution involves a deterministic finalism, or directness. Which relates to where we come from, the lost art/craft of painted sculpture to today in which we recognise it’s history and how we express it today in modern terms.
Currently their has been new research into ancient painted sculpture which Harvard University had a exhibition called ‘Gods in Color’ in January 2008. This opened the eyes of many artists and academics which we all now have to imagine Ancient Greece and Rome as very colourful places and nothing like the ruins that we know today.
We hope you enjoy our show here and the many more to come but I would like you follow us as we explore our art into the distant future and see the many changes that we as artists go through, as we explore painted sculpture.
I can guarantee that our changes will be as significant as that of the many art movement before us.

Augustus Firestone

Jose Acosta Art Extravaganza
 
Opening Reception Saturday, May 17, 2008
From 5-8 p.m. at G.A.S. (Gallery And Studio)
Please join us for our Art Exhibition.
We will also have great Cuban Food, Drinks and
Music by "La Orquesta de Los Taino"
196 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Tel 845-486-4592 www.galleryandstudio.org
Art Extravaganza Art Show till June 15, 2008
Gallery Open Friday - Sunday 12-6 p.m.
 
Jose Acosta is a Cuban-American Artist.
Born in San Jose Cuba 1966 currently
Lives in Poughkeepsie NY. With his Family.
Jose has made great strides in America.
His works are in many Private and Public Collections.
Jose creates booth Paintings & Sculpture.
Most recently his works were added to the collection of
The World Bank Art Program.  Jose will be included in
“Antologia de Pintores Hispano-Americanos” 2008
 
Bright colors, swirling figures, and vibrant energy characterize Acosta’s paintings. “There is a strong influence of my native Cuba in the happiness and bright colors of my paintings,” he says. Acosta was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 3 years old. He considers himself a Cuban-American and is very proud of both his Cuban heritage and his American citizenship. "Generally my paintings depict my personal history and my surroundings. I paint from my heart, expressing a little hope and happiness in all of my creations.”
Acosta’s red and black constructions and sculptures reflect more of his profession as an engineer. These creations are strong and solid and very direct, as I want the viewer to understand what I am trying to say, as well as be interested in the work visually.” His work has received critical as well as popular acclaim.
Acosta disproves the theory that one must suffer to create great art. Says Acosta, “I thank God every day for all the blessings he has bestowed on me, my family and friends. I have fun and love creating my paintings and constructions. I do paint the struggles of my fellow humans to strive for their dreams, the things that some of us take so lightly yet so many in this world do not have. I am a romantic at heart and envision a future world where we will all live in peace and plenty.

The 3rd Annual Group Show of Finalism on Second Life at Fantasy Image Gallery on May the 12th.

AFirestone 7/5/08

Congratulations Harry Watson for your new solo show at Page Blackie gallery www.pageblackiegallery.co.nz

Augustus Firestone 29/4/08

How many artists does it take to create a art movement?
That's a good question and no one has answered it yet.

We have reached 20 members of our group and I would like to welcome even if it is a bit late Stefan Hall, Harry Spitz, Aaron James McDowell, Cutis Nixon, John Thorogood.

Augustus Firestone 1st April 08