New alt_space Exhibition in May April 12 2022
Mark Serrianne:
Forgotten and Found: Recovered Objects and the Stories They Tell
May 7-June 11, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 7, 4-7 PM
Artists Talk: Friday, May 13, 11 AM
Image: Mark Serrianne, Giuoco Piano (Quiet Game), mixed media assemblage, 15 x 10 x 10 inches
About the Exhibition
For his second solo exhibition at Arts on Douglas, Mark Serrianne presents a new group of whimsical and thought-provoking sculptural assemblages. Serrianne explains, “I’ve always believed a story well-told is an art form, and my work brings together an eclectic variety of objects and curiosities for this purpose.”
Highly focused on the aesthetic and balance, each sculpture is assembled using salvaged components and valuable artifacts. They’re often mounted cantilevered on forged and welded iron stands for additional emphasis and energy. The designs for each one-of-a-kind sculpture materialize at their own pace through a mix of careful planning and serendipitous discoveries. In the piece titled Giuoco Piano, for example, Serrianne elaborates on his pairing choices, stating, “As an avid chess player, I learned that the Giuoco Piano is a famous opening move from the 16th century that originated in Italy, so I decided to pair the chessboard with a hand from a late 1800s religious statue, also from Italy. It was the perfect hand to be making the play, and, of course, it had to be holding the bishop.”
As a whole, Serrianne’s unique approach to visual storytelling brings forth a range of ideas, situations, and visual references while leaving room for the viewer to bring their own memories and associations to each piece. His eye for detail and vibrant imagination bring out a sense of joy and wonder in each composition. Serrianne concludes, “Through this work, my goal is to give a new life, a new story, and a little magic, to special objects that had once been forgotten.”
Image: Mark Serrianne, The Hot Seat, mixed media assemblage, 15 x 13 x 7 inches
About the Artist
After a childhood in Niagara Falls, N.Y., Mark received a B.S. Advertising Design degree from the College of Design, Architecture, and Art at the University of Cincinnati. His communications career began in public affairs with the U.S. Army, serving in public affairs as a press liaison in Vietnam during the repatriation of our prisoners of war, and later with the Army’s Advertising Directorate.
Returning home, he joined Northlich in Cincinnati, becoming President/CEO in 1997 and helping grow it to one of the nation’s Top 100 advertising and communications firms. Among their clients are Procter and Gamble, Sara Lee Corporation, Speedo International, Starkist, Finlandia Vodka, Yum Brands, and Jacuzzi. His career is also full of volunteerism for the arts, the Boy Scouts of America, and serving on the boards of a major hospital and university.
Serrianne now dedicates his time to his lifelong passion for art through the creation of his sculptural assemblages. In 2017, 2019, and 2020, Serrianne’s work was exhibited in the American Craft Council Show, a national juried exhibition in Baltimore, Maryland. He resides in Mount Dora, Florida.