Drawn to the flexible medium

A local artist recently rediscovered acid-free paper as a way to create more immediate art. And folks viewing it at the Globe Coffee Lounge are getting in on the fun, too.

By BRANDY STARK

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 21, 2001

Floral (still life), 18x24 inches

Porcaro describes his style as "kind of casually cartoonish." He derives inspiration from doodles he kept in his high school notebooks. Most often, he creates three-dimensional images, using acrylic paint on wood. But in "Unsupervised" his works are done on acid-free paper.

"I wanted to experiment. I learned that paper, being so disposable, is fantastic. It freed me up to be able to do things I wouldn't do on canvas or wood for fear of making a mistake. It's also mobile, and multiple pieces can be done at the same time," Porcaro said.

This exhibit is divided into a variety of themes, including a series of still lives depicting birthday cakes, fruits, flowers, men's underwear and women's shoes. Floral shows Porcaro's style, with painted flowers in bold colors creating a bouquet that nearly vibrates with energy.

"Nervous Skulls" is a series of nine individual pieces depicting skeletal beings in blues, blacks, pinks and reds. Two of the figures display hearts on their shoulders: an allusion to wearing one's heart on one's sleeve? Instead of horrifying, Porcaro's audacious style makes this subject eye-catching.

Skulls, to the artist, are a "terribly trendy" theme, but he continues to use them for their symbolic content.

"Skulls, often associated with death, can be very controversial. Society is often confronted with images of diseases and cancers, of which people don't want to be reminded. However, I see skulls as a manifestation of a calendar page, and I think they represent the unifying factors found throughout all life."

The 12-piece "Pink Vessels" is inspired by Porcaro's pottery collection. Each vessel is painted with a figurative bone structure. The paintings present free-form shapes on paper, with bold black-and-white lines capturing animated energy from inanimate subject matter.

Porcaro has made the show interactive, drawing dozens of different images on 8- by 11-inch sheets of white paper for visitors to color in with crayons, adding personal elements. Take them home, or leave them on display at the Globe. The idea has been a hit.

"Hugo Porcaro's art is very playful. At first, the works may seem to have only childlike qualities, but they are actually very accomplished," said Globe owner JoEllen Schilke. "It never ceases to amaze me how many people are able to identify with them."

PREVIEW: "Unsupervised: Works on Paper by Hugo S. Porcaro Jr.," at the Globe Coffee Lounge, 532 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Through July 7. Hours: Tue.-Thur. 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-3:30 a.m., Sat. 1 p.m.-3:30 a.m. Call (727) 898-5282.

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