The difference between painting from the heart, and painting
"from the elbow" is that when one reaches the pinnacle of perfection,
only those who paint from internal life will have the sufficient staying power
to become immortal. Antonio Fortuna is a self-taught artist born in Colombia. From his early years
Antonio's intrepid boyhood energy, combined with talent and skills
propelled him toward music, writing, design, craft and paint. All of which he
absorbed and explored into success. His art graces the private homes of elite
fine art collectors and has been exhibited internationally, and his element
gallery of woodwork designs shows the extent of his influence in the aesthetics
of modern, work of art furnishings.
The unique form and utter mastery with which Antonio boldly
expresses human emotion in his paintings, draw from his own soul’s intellectual
experiences. The majority of these works are in huge, impressively brave
canvasses that will have your attention. Count on it.
Philosophers claim simplicity is a prerequisite of beauty.
Antonio’s vibrant works have a natural order and form that are astonishingly
beautiful. It is the significance the observer attaches to these images that
provoke layers of multi-dimensional interpretations with complexity beyond the
realm of the art Antonio creates. It is why the observer returns to it again,
and again. Antonio is not interested in capturing life; he is interested in
capturing you and when he does, the image is in your hard drive as if you had
just seen the Grand Canyon. “I am not in the world of art to compete with
anyone, just to be a philosopher with my brush.” (Antonio Fortuna) www.antoniofortuna.com
An exhibition of his work is synonymous with crowds. Whether
at the Bird Road or Brickell art walks, or at private gallery exhibits, Antonio
Guerrero’s work attracts people. He makes personal appearances and visits all
the galleries – much to the delight of his admirers. At these exhibitions
Antonio’s hospitality, his friendly disposition and his humor are infectious
and inviting. It isn’t far-fetched to imagine after a few minutes of conversation
with the artist to be engrossed in topics as ethereal as his work is claimed to
be.
There’s a curious connection between a person’s name and
their personality. It can be more or less described as a match or mismatch of
the name of a person, with their profession, talent, or some other obvious connotation.
“Warrior” is the English translation of his last name, obviously of close
Spanish descent. Some who study the significance of names consider this trait
to carry a bit of a special half unit sort to speak; a power or energy that
just like the rest of us, also seeks universal outlet. In the case of Antonio
Guerrero, his identity becomes as much an intricate part of the revelation
contained in his work, as the symbolism itself. It is the kind of work to be
stared at, and guess what? That’s exactly what this warrior wants you to do. Come
on in.
His art has been hailed as having ‘Dali-esque’ undertones. Other names like Hieronymus Bosch,
and Picasso have also been tossed about with absurd disregard to style and
expression. Yeah, he’s heard it all by now but the truth is Antonio never even knew
of these names until he came to the United States, and by that time he had
already been painting for many years in Cuba. He doesn’t consider his work
anything like that of these men and rightfully so because it isn’t. It is, like
the work of true artists, a personal form of expression filled with symbolism
and themes that resonate with an inner conscience. It is perhaps in this
mission that he is an equal to the surrealist masters. The vibrant color red,
the subtlety of glimmering gold backgrounds, or the black birds that sometimes
speckle his creations are some of the personal glimpses into the subliminal
conversations with a deeper state of being. The perspectives may be mystical to
some, others may recall humor, but the result will be riveting.
Antonio grew up in Santa Clara, a province of Cuba,
according to the artist, Santa Clara is known among many other things, for black
birds that flap their wings noisily to warn of the approach of people or other
animals. Antonio confesses a
deep connection with, and reverence for nature, the kind that is developed by long periods of constant
admiration. Due to the isolation from the trends of the outside world, his
formative years where for the most part spent outdoors, in open fields, and in communion with
nature. There is a particular type of oneness that unites those who assimilate
the platform of what is called reality.
Its visualization takes many forms and Antonio Guerrero’s perspective
offers limitless variations of concepts drawn from revelations arrived after an
inexhaustible search for the human quest of self-identity. A look at some of
Antonio’s pieces, from the modern iconic image of ‘Jose Marti, El Gran Poeta’ –
Cuba’s greatest hero – to ‘I Universe’ from I
Live in a Red Planet, will prove there is no escaping the inexplicable pull
inspired by his work.
Red is the artist’s favorite color and he shows it from the
trademark assortment of kerchiefs he often wears around his neck or coat
pocket, to the background of many of his paintings, even his website http://guerreroart.blogspot.com/
boasts the emblematic relation of war and red. An often over-heard comment at
his showings is that he’s a passionate visionary. Imagine that!
All lovers of fine art should be exposed to Antonio
Guerrero’s work. There is plenty to satisfy the minds that demand the thrill in
discovering interlocking dreams, and for those that enjoy journeys of art
expression, or those who simply find beauty in color and balance. Be certain of
one thing, this artist is an ever-evolving revelation. His pictorial tales may
haunt, pacify, upset, or simply pass one by, but the flowing source of
creativity lurking in the deep recesses of the imagination of a good artist
moves on. Stay with it. Discover the world of Antonio Guerrero – the possibilities
are endless.
How do we know what we do is right? Outwardly we may
stand firm with an expression of total conviction but only we know what goes on
internally. How do we know the right thing to do? What are the laws that govern
the actions of man accounting for what we call poetic justice? Are our actions
motivated essentially by selfless principles, or are they vain and egocentric?
Or worse yet, cowardly? In the case of John Dickinson, one of the three
representatives from Pennsylvania who attended the Second Continental Congress
during which the Declaration of Independence was adopted, he clearly did the
wrong thing. The account that follows is a summary of the events surrounding the tensest moment during the foundation of the United
States. John Dickinson was 41 and either out of misguided loyalty, fear, or
some other negative motive – missed the opportunity of one thousand lifetimes.
I was puzzled why Dickinson, a tobacco plantation bred native of Talbot County,
Maryland sided with the British, at the cost of his posterity? Here are the
rudimentary facts from which we could theorize an answer or two.
Dickinson was born to an exceptionally wealthy family
with deeply anchored British roots. At the age of 18 he met George Read, also a
signer of the Declaration despite his initial splitter votes on behalf of Delaware. Read was from Newcastle, Delaware, and along with Thomas McKean, and
hard-core patriot, Caesar Rodney the three comprised Delaware’s delegates to
the Congress. Rodney’s exemplary skills, wit, and humility secured him a
crucial place in the history of the United States. In comparison to the outward
Dickinson, Rodney was the complete opposite. He was not quite 40 years old at
the time of signing and although a lawyer like Dickinson, the latter boasted
quite an inner-circle.
Young Dickinson studied law at Middle Temple, in the
city of London, or as it is formally known, The Honorable Society of the Middle
Temple. This name is supposed to refer to one of four ‘Inns of Court’
exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers.
The other three are the ‘Inner Temple, Gray’s Inn and Lincoln’s Inn’. Anybody
who has had a passing brush with stories of the controversial Jacques de Molay
may find further evidence of elite-Britain’s penchant for conceivably weird,
ritualistic tradition in that in the 13th century, these ‘Inns’ were originated by the Knights Templars as hostels and schools for young, student lawyers. Isn’t that… special? I find my curious imagination wondering what life
for so many young men was like while ‘studying’ in these ‘inns’? Perhaps I’ve
become cynical since the Jerry Sandusky outing. In summary, John Dickinson
received the most prestigious British education a young man could hope for in
his day, and ours.
Due to shifting circumstances after the war began,
Dickinson found himself residing both in Philadelphia and in Delaware. His
home, and where he had prospered his political career was Philadelphia. During
the war his Philadelphia home was seized and used as a hospital. King Charles
II originally gave the lands of Delaware and Pennsylvania to William Penn in
settlement for a financial debt the King owed Penn. It would be safe to assume
Dickinson’s ties with the interests of the British Empire were more than
passing friendship and more than likely involved banking investments. The
‘Crown’ was making a ton of money from the colonies. Why would they want to
change that? Dickinson appears to have been rather close to the British fire
and he consistently voted down attempts at independence, wishing instead to
argue on behalf on reconciliation.
Whether voluntarily or politically suggested, John
Dickinson was absent for the unanimous vote required to adopt the Declaration
of Independence and formally announce to King George the formation of the
United States. Benjamin Franklin, on behalf of Pennsylvania voted for adoption,
and in one of the most dramatic events leading up to the signing of the
historical document, Ceasar Rodney made the now famous ride from his home in
Dover, Delaware to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in time to cast the deciding vote
for a Delaware majority in favor of adoption. At the risk of rapidly failing
health due to skin cancer Rodney dedicated his life to the struggle that
ultimately resulted in separation from the tyrannical rule of King George. With
the rank of ‘Brigadiere General’ of the Delaware militia, Rodney fought
alongside George Washington in the Battle of Yorktown, and Dickinson served
under him. In downtown Wilmington, Delaware there is a statue of Caesar Rodney
on his horse, immortalizing the famous ride. He is also commemorated in
Delaware’s State quarter. I will propose that even with a fleeting glance at
this story you too will agree Rodney did the right thing. He had no Ego
whatsoever and as proof he died unduly young at 48 due to unattended health. He
is buried in his farm in Dover and in over 200 years, he has not been
forgotten.
During the Revolution and in the years after Dickinson
was involved in the shaping of the country’s rule of government but nobody
respected him. He is not a particularly known figure associated with the
foundation of our government. There are the Founding Fathers and that’s it.
Nobody knows of John Dickinson but maybe now, with his new App, and my article,
his littered grave in the heart of the ‘hood may see a little more action.
Caesar Rodney and his overnight ride to Independence Hall in Philadelphia helped put into motion much of our nation's history. He battled bad weather and poor health, among many other things to break the tie which put Delaware in the column supporting the revolution. The story has taken on a legendary quality over the years.
