Homage, Joseph D'Alesandro (2006)
Location: 219th Street

"Form. I have always found that a simple silhouette can communicate a variety of emotions and qualities. The basic shape of a person can be used to express the components of a personality. Sincerity, happiness, excitement, concern, love.a shape is an amazing tool to an artist. He uses it to capture an essence. In these panels, I have chosen silhouette to depict the personality of a populace.a truth we can each find inside ourselves.

Color. Color is the most stimulating component of everything we see. Here, different colors are treated with equal importance. A variety of colors represents a mixture of cultures, nationalities and ethnicities as well as our diverse individualities. Vibrant colors, vibrant people. Simultaneously, the colors are used as a complement to a series of tessellations.patterns created by the repetition of geometric shapes. In the work of M.C. Escher, rich landscapes are developed by using the negative space that comes to life when two geometric forms overlap each other. In this case, I thought it would be an ideal marriage of form and theme to merge this style with the silhouettes. Using all aspects of color.tonality, hue, placement, contrast, and saturation.I wanted to distinguish foreground from background, positive from negative. I strived to achieve an overall effect of simple yet complex design. It is the very quality that I find fascinating about people.

The beauty of imagination, what sparks it?

Theme. The feeling I take with me when I view a piece of art is a direct result of its theme. The figures I.ve used are subjective. There is flexibility in their style and there is, always room for further exploration. I serve the people that appreciate small wrinkles in time. My goal is to achieve a simple reaction. A smile."--Joseph D'Alesandro. Source: cuny.edu.