Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Jun. 1--A puddle in Sedona has launched Augie Tantalo to the top of an international artist showcase in New York City.
The Gilbert Junior High School art teacher is one of 10 artists selected to have his work published in the "Art Acquisitor" Magazine, and one of 30 featured artists during the Amsterdam Whitney Chelsea Global Showcase Competition in August, which recognizes contemporary artists.
Tantalo had been painting mostly landscapes until he walked past a water puddle in the mid-1990s and captured a reflection of a tree on film to convert to canvas.
Since then, he has received rejection letters from local, contemporary art showcases. He was asked by a Phoenix art gallery, he said, to remove his artwork from a contemporary showing. He was starting to feel "disappointed."
Then he received his letter from the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery.
"Now, I found some people that really appreciate my work," Tantalo said. "I'll tell you the truth, art is in the eye of the beholder. I am very confident that (being an artist) is what I need to do. You have your highs and your lows."
Tantalo's "Gurley Street" was chosen for the competition. The painting illustrates a store window and its reflections on Gurley Street in Prescott.
Amsterdam Whitney Gallery is located in the Chelsea neighborhood, an artist community in New York City. To view Tantalo's work, including the piece that will be showcased, go to
www.augiesfineart.com.
-----
Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
