| Famed Italian artist coming to Cape New owner of gallery met her while visiting relatives By JL Watson |
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| Call it a happy accident or a case of serendipity. When Cape Coral artist Sarah Penna took over Rising Stars Art Gallery from Lois Johnston last November, she wanted the small space to hold the world within it's walls. Less than three months later, a part of her vision is coming true. The gallery is playing host to well-known Italian artist Maria Pia Malerba. "You never know who you're going to meet," Penna said. Penna met Malerba when the Italian artist was visiting her brother in Cape Coral. Despite a language barrier the two hit it off and when Malerba showed Penna her work, the deal was sealed. "Her work is really remarkable," Penna said. Malerba's show this month at the studio addresses what she calls "hyperrealism," a style characterized by realistic graphic presentation. Her work represents existential and ethnic themes. "If something will save us, it will be beauty," Malerba said. Malerba is currently in Italy, getting her show together to ship to Cape Coral. In addition to original pieces she will bring a limited number of prints. "It's important for artists to come here and meet people," Penna said of Malerba's decision to make the trip for the opening of her show. It's not the first time Malerba has had a show in the United States. In 1994 her work was on display at Gallery Anita in Sarasota. |
She has been a selected artist at major Italian exhibitions, including the Biennale of Rome and Biennale of Florence. Both exhibitions include works from selected artists around the world. "The main theme of some of the paintings is water," Malerba said. "This is an attempt of the artist to bring the observer, through an emotional path, to acknowledge the importance of water and at the same time to underline the many problems related to the lack of this element in many areas of the world." Malerba's show at Rising Stars is the first international exhibition since Penna assumed ownership of the gallery. Johnston, whose glass pieces are still part of the gallery, said she is excited to see Penna take the gallery in new directions. "It gives other artists the opportunity to see what the other end of the business is like," Johnston said. Johnston is teaching classes at the studio and at the Cape Coral Arts Studio and Cape Coral Art League. "My experience at the (Rising Stars) gallery was definitely a positive one," she said. "I still help out any way I can." |