Tonito Valderrama's Page

Relationship status

It's Complicated

College / University

CW Post Long Island University

Member type

Artist

If you're an artist, what kind of art do you make?

Drawing, Painting, Photography, Sculpture

I am...

An emerging environmental artist who has found a niche within nature and art that seems to be my calling. I enjoy teaching, creating and observing nature with my family.

About my artwork

My artwork, especially the installation art that I create, is constructed primarily from site specific, natural materials. These materials inspire the themes in my works and encourage an intimate dialogue between nature and myself. Each site chosen reveals itself over time and an environmental theme emerges. As I work within the landscape my sensitivity to it grows. If the water is polluted, or the soil is unhealthy, or nature is out of balance, I will begin to see an artistic way to show others. The beauty of nature and its resiliency to our misuse is always present in my work. Most of all, I hope that people will experience a connection to the earth when they view my work. I am intentionally trying to foster a sense of interconnectedness and interdependence to nature instead of detachment. We have to awaken to the scope of these environmental problems, so that our children do not have to visit a museum to see white birch trees, piping plovers and honeybees.

Artists I like

Goldsworthy, Noguchi,Brancusi,Rodin
Velasquez,Rembrandt, Van Gogh

Interests

life=Creating, loving, learning
kayaking, hiking

If you wasn't an artist, what other Profession would you do?

Renaissance man
doctor
shaman

Favourite Personal Quote

"You create, therefore you are!"

What exhibitions are good at the moment?

"Truth" Huntington Art Council Petite Gallery

The Centre of the Artworld is

New York

My Web Address is

http://tonitovalderrama@gmail.com

Favourire all time artist?

Andy Goldsworthy