REDLANDS, Calif. – Palm Springs’ Charlie Ciali will be one
of five artists featured during this year’s annual “Evening
with the Artists” event, hosted by the Redlands Community Hospital
Foundation on Friday, April 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Ciali’s art career began when he earned his B.F.A. Degree in Ceramic
Arts from Daemen College, Amherst, New York in 1978 followed by graduate
studies at Edinboro University, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. He became a flight
attendant in 1980 and while working for the airline was also the Assistant
Director for MC Fine Arts Gallery for seven years after which time he
opened his own gallery, Perspectives Gallery in Minneapolis. He was the
curator and director of Perspectives for six years prior to moving to
Palm Springs where he resides today. After moving to California, Ciali
began working in monotype and encaustic painting. Ciali has become a certified
instructor for Speedball/AKUA Inks and Enkaustikos, encaustic supplies.
He teaches several workshops throughout southern California including
Idllywild Arts Summer Program and Master Classes for the Idyllwild Arts
High School, as well as having taught numerous workshops at the Palm Springs
Art Museum through the Artists Council. In addition, his studio is regularly
used for open assisted studio sessions and private workshops in both mediums.
Encaustic painting is a four thousand year old painting technique using
wax mixed with damar resin to create transparent layers which are then
painted onto the surface. Ciali’s encaustic paintings explore the
patinas created by time such as old brick walls and rusted metal. The
artists says’ he sees paintings constantly in these natural occurrences.
His monotype prints are single edition prints, making each edition just
as unique as the next. He paints juxtaposing pieces with a deconstructed
feel, and is often using found objects such as old magazine prints, photos
and handmade papers to create hidden messages that may be seen in the
layers of his work.
“I like to use iconic imagery – like Robert Rauschenberg’s
enthusiasm with the pop art movement,” Ciali says. “I often
focus on things that are contemporary and culturally relative to what
is happening around me. I like to reinvent the work with my own imagery,”
he continues. “It’s all about letting you the viewer create
the story. The work is about asking the question and your experience as
the viewer creates the answer.”
Ciali is serving his fifth year as a mentor to high school students interested
in pursuing art as a career. Each academic year, Ciali teaches a select
few students through the Arts Institute of Palm Springs High School how
to refine their art skills and style. Additionally, under a printmaking
program in conjunction with the Palm Springs Unified School District,
he instructs printmaking for grades three to twelve.
Ciali joins local artists Bill Hudson, Diana McLaughlin, Lisa McDill, and
r. mike nichols at the annual “Evening with the Artists” event.
Ciali’s artwork will be available for purchase at the Stan and Ellen
Weisser Education Pavilion from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April
24. Proceeds will benefit the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation’s
art fund. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served during the evening’s
elegant event. Tickets are $20.
The Foundation’s art program began in 1978. Today, the hospital exhibits
a collection of more than 800 works of original art and historic photographs
in the Redlands Community Hospital Art collection.
For more information on the “Evening with the Artists” event
or to RSVP, please call (909) 335-5500. To see a sample of Ciali’s
artwork, please visit
www.Charlieciali.com.
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Redlands Community Hospital Foundation supports Redlands Community Hospital,
which is an independent not-for-profit, stand-alone hospital.