AUGUST EXHIBIT AT GOURGAUD GALLERY – PROFILE OF THE ARTIST – ZARA FINA STASI

AUGUST EXHIBIT AT GOURGAUD GALLERY – PROFILE OF THE   ARTIST – ZARA FINA STASI

BY BOB GILBERT

ZARA FINA STASI

The August exhibit at the Gourgaud Gallery is entitled “21 Years of Painting: Travels and Experiences from Around the Globe”, and features the oil and watercolor paintings of Ms. Zara Fina Stasi.  The collection represents Zara’s travels abroad as well as scenes from Cranbury and Cape May, and includes landscapes, portraits, and still life. 

Zara is a native of Cranbury and is presently a senior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, where she is majoring in Art and History. 

Zara turns twenty-one years of age shortly, and I wondered about the title of the exhibit, which seems to indicate that she has been painting since she was born.  She explained that “I have been painting since I was old enough to hold a brush for no reason other than I love to paint”, and that the title conveys that painting has been an important part of her life from early childhood.  In fact, she participated in juried art shows at the Gourgaud Gallery as a child, and even at that time, there was a bid to purchase one of her paintings.

 Many of the paintings appearing in the current exhibit have been made in the last two years, but Zara is also including a number of paintings that she created as a child, as early as seven or eight years of age.  This will demonstrate the progression of her work. 

Zara states that she has a passion for art history, and that she has been greatly influenced by Van Gogh, de Kooning, and Rothko.  She describes her style as leaning toward expressionism.

Zara is a very well rounded individual involved in many interesting extracurricular activities at school unrelated to art.  She is a Tour Guide at Historic Williamsburg and is the Chief Justice of the Undergraduate Honor Council at her College.  With respect to the latter, she is one of twenty-four elected Justices on the Council.  As Chief Justice, she is in charge of the Council, which enforces the school’s honor code by adjudicating cases involving alleged student misconduct.  Zara has gained valuable experience through this position, including learning how to be a manager and how to use advanced computer programs.

Could her position as Chief Justice on the Honor Council mean a possible legal career for Zara?  Probably not, as her first love is art.  She is considering a career as a full-time artist, as an art teacher, or as a member of the Art or History Departments of a museum.

All are encouraged to visit the Gourgaud Gallery to view Zara’s work.  The show runs from August 5^th – August 28^th, with the Artist’s Reception on August 5^th from 6PM – 8PM.  The Gallery is open Monday through Friday (9AM – 4PM), and the first, third, and last Sunday of the month from 1PM- 3PM

Additional information and sample paintings are available on Facebook on the Gourgaud Gallery fan page:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Gourgaud-Gallery/108657442495068

                                                     SAMPLES OF ZARA'S PAINTINGS