All posts by Marzword

Michael Marzolla work explores his fascination with color, light, space, shape, Michael Marzolla Artist Bio movement and the creative process; Learning to look and learning to see; The freedom of abstract expression: these terms best describe his motivation to make art. He is an inspired eclectic. He was born in Oakland, CA in 1948. The son of an oil company executive, he spent his early childhood in the Bay Area and the family moved to Rome, Italy in 1958. As a child he spent hours drawing and painting. He began cartooning and doing illustrations in middle school in Rome. Returning to the states in 1962 the family settled in Seal Beach, California and he attended high school in nearby Long Beach, where he became the cartoonist and illustrator for the school newspaper. After high school, he went on to serve in the US Coast Guard. Michael went on major in art at Humboldt State University, where he studied under Jim Anderson, Leslie Price and Stephen Daley, graduating in 1973. He entered the Peace Corps in 1973 and served in Guatemala, Central America until 1977. Michael’s assignment included developing educational illustrations and cartoons. In Guatemala, he met and traveled with the painter and sculpture Peter A. Bradley who encouraged After the Peace Corps He attended graduate school at UMass in Amherst, Massachusetts, and majored in non- formal international education. he went on to work in Lesotho, Southern Africa with a local community education organization.His assignment included the training of the organization’s local artist/illustrator team. Michael has lived in Santa Barbara since 1983. Michael had a 30 career as an educator with the University of California. He is now focused on painting, drawing and photography. He exhibits with the Abstract Art Collective. Influences: Goya and El Greco,Turner, Honoré Daumier. Morris Graves, Sam Francis, Hockney, Rothko, Stella, Morris Louis, Motherwell, Peter Bradley, and the Mexican muralists Ribera, Orzoco and Siquieros. Cartoonists R. Crumb, Danny O’Neil, Ralph Steadman, Bill Mauldin, Walt Kelly.

First Thursday at CASA Magazine February 5, 2015

February 5, 2015 Marzword

Please join me here in Santa Barbara for First Thursday opening reception at at Casa Magazine’s office and gallery located at 23 E. Canon Perdido St.. this Thursday, February 5th from 5-8:00 PM. I have one piece in this juried show (see below). The show’s theme is Valentine’s Day.

“M. Halibut: Le gran besier”, 12x12” framed acrylic on canvas; © 2013 A. Michael Marzolla $375.00 — “M. Halibut: Le gran besier”, 12×12” framed acrylic on canvas; © 2013 A. Michael Marzolla $375.00

Limited Palace Abstracts and AbstraX@Karpeles and the Santa Barbara Sculptures Guild Show

January 6, 2015 Marzword

Limited Palace Abstracts, AbstraX@Karpeles and the Santa Barbara Sculptures Guild Show have opened! Two shows and are at one venue. The Limited Palette Abstracts is located upstairs at the Karpeles Manuscript Library. The Santa Barbara Sculptures Guild Show is now open at the Faulkner Gallery in the downtown public Library. There will be a reception for the Guild show this Thursday, 5-7:30pm, Thursday January 8th.

My work at the Limited Palette show:

"O donne, che d'amore angeli siete” ( Oh women, what angels of love you are” Dante), 11”x14”x1.5”; Acrylic on panel, © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla — “O donne, che d’amore angeli siete” ( Oh women, what angels of love you are” Dante), 11”x14”x1.5”; Acrylic on panel, © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla

And two pieces at the Guild show at the Faulkner Gallery

“ A Tribute to Ned Kelly II”, mixed media & acrylic on canvas; 24”x36” framed; © A. Michael Marzolla, $1,200.00

"We are going where?", acrylic on board, 18”x24”, © A. Michael Marzolla $1,250.00 — “We are going where?”, acrylic on board, 18”x24”, © A. Michael Marzolla $1,250.00

"Giardino della Delilze”, 18”x24”x1.5” acrylic on panel; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla — “Giardino della Delize”, 18”x24”x1.5” acrylic on panel; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla $675.00

Abstract Art Collective: abstraX@Kareples oPening!!

December 3, 2014 Marzword

Stop by the Karpeles Manuscript Library for our First Thursday reception. I will be there to greet you.

Untitled, 2013, 16”x20”, framed, acrylic on board, © A. Michael Marzolla

Elektro-sketch & paint

November 25, 2014 Marzword

Rosa

This is selection of my iPad artwork. I refer to it as elecktro-sketching. I never would have imagined that one day I would be drawing with electrons.

These pieces are available for purchase as limited edition giclee prints.

Topo

Raizes y sombra

Tripa

Adonis

Alambres

Manchas

Well dressed

Techos

Bandera

Rosa

Nariz illuminado

Updates for November 2014

November 17, 2014 Marzword

One of my untitled pieces is hanging in an ongoing show at the Karpeles Manuscript Museum in Santa Barbara. There will be opening receptions on two First Thursdays, December 4 and March 5. Please drop by.

Now at the Karpeles:

I have finished my last panel for the Vera Cruz House here in Santa Barbara. The panel is a light-hearted flash-back of symbols of my time in Roma from ’58-’62’; La Boca de Verita, a Roman theatre mask and the She Wolf with Romulus & Remus.

“Roma Memories” - acrylic on hardiback panel, 8.5”x36”; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla Panel installed on Vera Cruz House, Santa Barbara, CA — “Roma Memories” – acrylic on hardiback panel, 8.5”x36”; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla
Panel installed on Vera Cruz House, Santa Barbara, CA

Reunited with Abstract Artist Friend

October 29, 2014 Marzword

On a recent trip to New York City I reconnected

with an old friend and fellow abstract artist, Peter

A. Bradley. We had not seen each other for over

thirty years.

Peter and I first met in Guatemala, where I was

serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He and his

Basenji dog Kota appeared at my door step lost,

looking for lodging. A Peace Corps colleague told

Reunited with Abstract Artist Friend

Michael and Peter Bradley in the Village, NYC

him to look for an artist named Michael living

in the town of Mixco, just outside of Guatemala

City. Peter ended up traveling with my black

Labrador Mars and me for three months,

throughout Guatemala. I learned that

Peter was an extraordinarily well-know

member of the arts scene in New York

City and an accomplished abstract artist.

He was a member of the color field

school. I also learned that his father was

Miles Davis.

Peter has done well as artist. On one

occasion he traded one of his paintings for

a brand new custom-made Ferrari. His

biography is impressive. Here is a link to

his web site: www.peterabradley.com

Our recent reunion was joyous. Peter

credits me with having saved him from

wandering aimlessly in the jungles of

Central America. On our most recent

vist we spent time at his East Village

apartment and then we travelled north

along the Hudson River to his studio and home

in Saugerties, near Rhinebeck, New York.

Peter Bradley in his studio in Saugaties, NY

There I was able to view his recent work, as well as

some of his earlier pieces, including several

sculptures. It was inspirational experience.

Peter and I are committed to staying in touch.

We talked about him visiting Santa Barbara

and the possibility of Peter teaching an artist’s

workshop while he’s here. Perhaps organized by

the Abstract Art Collective.

Peter and a recent work in his viewing room.

Last chance to visit the Abstract Artist Collective’s “SB Abstract Open” show at the Faulkner Main Gallery

October 29, 2014 Marzword

Do you appreciate abstract art? Then take a moment and visit the Faulkner Gallery at the downtown library here in Santa Barbara to see one of the best art shows on the South Coast. I am happy to report have two pieces in this juried show. Hurry over. The show comes down this Friday, October 31st at 10 AM.

“Excogitation to the 3rd Power”, 2013, framed triptic; acrylic & mixed media on board & canvas; framed, 16”x36”; © A. Michael Marzolla $2,500.00

Two of my works hanging in the AAC Abstract Open

A panoramic of the AAC show at the Faulkner

“Beyond Your Dreams” gallery exhibit September 29 thru November 1st, 2014

September 30, 2014 Marzword

This piece is located on the upper part of the gallery.

Look for this piece at the foot of the stairs on the left.

You are invited to visit Gallery 113 (http://sbartassoc.org/gallery-113/) Located at 1114 State Street in the picturesque La Arcada court in downtown Santa Barbara. Gallery 113 is open seven days a week, excluding major holidays. The gallery hours are: Monday- Saturday, 11am – 5pm and Sunday, 1 – 5pm. Call 965-6611 for more information.

I have two juried pieces that are in the show. Please stop by!

"Creatura”, acrylic on panel, 18”x24”x1.5”; © 2014, A. Michael Marzolla $750.00 — “Creatura”, acrylic on panel, 18”x24”x1.5”; © 2014, A. Michael Marzolla $750.00

"Cosmic Splash”, acrylic on panel, 16”x20”x1.5”;© 2014, A. Michael Marzolla $650.00 — “Cosmic Splash”, acrylic on panel, 16”x20”x1.5”;© 2014, A. Michael Marzolla $650.00

The Vera Cruz House

September 20, 2014 Marzword

Thanks to my architect friend Glen Deisler who introduced me architect Jeff Shelton who designed the Vera Cruz House at 521 Santa Barbara Street in Santa Barbara. The house is unique as it is covered with paintings by local artists. I have contributed four paintings to the project, two of which have been mounted on the house. Treat yourself- stop by the house and feast your eyes. (It is a private residence, and you need permission to walk around the house).

Vera Cruz House, 521 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA_IMG_4912

Quality prints of my Vera Cruz paintings are available for purchase.

Oso & Einstein on the Beach in Santa Barbara, acrylic on panel; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla

Zambezi Crocodile Mask in honor of Babatunde Folayemi, acrylic on tuff panel, for Vera Cruz House, 15 1/4”x 45 1/2”; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla

Sculpture Guild Show opens at the Faulkner Gallery in downtown Santa Barbara

September 5, 2014 Marzword

I have two pieces that were selected for the Santa Barbara Sculpture Guild show that opened September 4th. The show closes on September 27th. Please stop by for a visit.

"Honda Tropical", acrylic and crayon on panel, 24"x36"x1.5"; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla, $1,650.00 — “Honda Tropical”, acrylic and crayon on panel, 24″x36″x1.5″; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla, $1,650.00

“Amenaza Eliptical”, acrylic on canvas, 18”x24”x1.5”; © 2014 A. Michael Marzolla; $950.00

Marzozart: Original Art by A.M. Marzolla