Famed Miami Artist George Rodez to Open Art Gallery in Miami's CocoWalk with Sales Benefiting the American Red Cross

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) April 22, 2010 -- On Saturday, May 1, 2010, George Rodez will inaugurate his art gallery in CocoWalk, RODEZart.com Gallery, with an exhibit entitled "Caribe." The opening will coincide with Coconut Grove's Gallery Night, which is on the first Saturday of each month. CocoWalk is located at 3015 Grand Ave. and the gallery is on the second floor at Suite 237. The opening will be from 7 to 10 p.m. A portion of all sales during the evening will go to benefit the American Red Cross. The exhibit will be on view through May 31.

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Famed Miami Artist George Rodez to Open Art Gallery in Miami's CocoWalk with Sales Benefiting the American Red Cross

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http://rodezart.com/

The opening night will feature the handing over of a check to the American Red Cross representing all the sales proceeds collected thus far from the sale of "The Gift of Love." Following the earthquake in Haiti, Rodez began a campaign to help the island nation and its citizens by selling a piece called The Gift of Love and have all proceeds benefit the American Red Cross' International Response Fund for Haiti. Soon after, several of South Florida's The Capital Grille restaurants joined in the efforts and had individual receptions promoting the sale of the piece. Within days, Rodez was joined by other restaurants wanting to help, including the Original Big Tomato, Secreto, Caffe di Notte, Caffe Portofino, and Decor Art'z Cafe.

The opening of the gallery in CocoWalk symbolizes the revitalization of Coconut Grove. With the opening of Paragon Theatres in June, the number of other businesses opening up in the central business district, and the monthly Gallery Night, which now includes 9 galleries, the Grove is on its way back. Rodez states, "The Grove is one of South Florida's jewels, an area which I grew up in and remember fondly for its very colorful ambiance. It is an artist's mecca. Participating in the Coconut Grove Arts Festival the last 5 or 6 years brought back many of those memories. I think the time is right and I know my collectors will be pleasantly surprised."

Caribe, is a retrospective exhibition of George Rodez's Caribbean works; a search of his culture and roots. Cuba's past comes alive in Caribe. Rodez's images come to life with bold, vivid colors like that of the stained glass windows of old Cuban architecture. He uses subjects and images that would normally be used in folkloric Cuban paintings and gives them a modern pop-ish twist. Rodez claims that what he accomplishes in creating this body of work is a sense of voyaging back to Cuba, transforming it, and making it fresh and new, as if never touched by 51 years of stagnation. The works act as a defibrillator bringing back to life the Cuba, Before Castro, and foretelling of the possibilities of a new beginning for the lost island of ruins.

Although born in Manhattan, New York, he has found a connection with his heritage and culture as a way of fusing a lifestyle that he never knew with the modern day existence of the Cuban-American experience in Miami. He describes this work as a mixture of the old with the new, the Cuban and the American, the Caribbean and the African, all rolled up into one delicious palette of colors.


ABOUT THE GALLERY:

RODEZart.com Gallery not only represents the works of George Rodez, it also serves as his working art studio. In addition, the gallery presents contemporary works of art by local, national and international, emerging and mid-careers artists alike, through solo as well as group exhibitions. Selections include original paintings, photography, sculptures, glass, and limited editions offering art enthusiasts of all levels a variety of choices. Recognized for his philanthropic involvement in the community via his art contributions, the gallery will also function as Rodez's conduit to local and national not-for-profit organizations and their events. The gallery is located in the heart of downtown Coconut Grove, on the second floor of CocoWalk.

GALLERY HOURS:
RODEZart.com Gallery is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, please call 786.543.7237.

More information can be found online at http://rodezart.com/

cocowalk     george rodez