VISUM ET REPERTUM

This month's featured artist:

JOHN PITRE

Born 1942 and educated in the fine arts at the Art students League in New York city, John Pitre evolved to become Americas leading surrealist and social commentary painter, selling more prints world wide than any other artist. Pitre gained extraordinary popularity during the 60's and 70's painting daring themes such as over population, the threat of drugs and the ecological deterioration of our planet well before they become the obvious problems of our times. From his early days as an art student Pitre was fascinated with the most challenging and difficult of all the classical art forms to properly execute "Surrealism". With this powerful vehicle, he has created entire imagined worlds completely from his mind, evoking emotion and response in his viewers more so than with any other medium.

PASSION

The work of John Pitre reveals more than the craftsmanship of a highly skilled artist, it tells something about the man himself. You will find a deep caring and intrinsic understanding of the world through his imagery, and experience the thoughts of a great imagination. "Passion thrusts us to our highest possible emotional state, then slowly fades as a rainbow does from its peak moment of glory. In most things so very intense, the memory always lingers, and we long to feel it once more. Like most great adventures, to feel deep passion can be dangerous. For whenever we soar to great heights, we become vulnerable, and with ecstasy there is always the potential for agony."

REMNANTS OF POWER

Well before they became the obvious societal problems of our times, Pitre's surrealistic renditions of the threat of overpopulation, the ominous shadow of nuclear war, and the ecological deterioration of our planet became wildly popular as poster images, selling in the millions. One image alone, Restrictions, sold an estimated seven million copies.

FATE

Influenced by the works of Salvador Dali, he created entire imaginary worlds completely from his mind, and used artistic expression as a vehicle for powerful social commentary. A modern-day Leonardo Da Vinci, Pitre holds over thirty patents to his name. He is a pioneer in many fields; he explored the depths of the oceans with diving gear he designed himself, long before commercial dive equipment was available to the public. His affinity for the high seas led to a patent for the concept of generating electricity from ocean waves and currents. He learned to fly every form of aircraft available to him, including a unique, one of a kind configuration that he personally conceived, engineered, and built.

THE DREAM

"To dream is to live."

EROTICA

"Executed very early in my career, I used this painting as an exercise to leap from traditional reasim to the outer limits of the medium of surrealism."

TRADE WINDS

Look closely at a painting by John Pitre, and you will look into the mind and soul of a great thinker. Look beyond the surface, and into its depths. Pitre is sharing with you his vision of our purpose in the universe, reminding us of the responsibilities we have as stewards of our planet, to be the caretakers of the creatures that inhabit it, and to hold dear the fragile relationships we build with others. He is trying to tell you about life, warning you about its' difficulties and pitfalls, but encouraging you to follow your longings and aspirations to achieve your dreams.

PREVIOUS ARTISTS:   WIlliam Adolphe Bourguereau   H. R. Giger   Catherine McIntyre   Olivia DeBerardinis   Gustav Dore'   Joseph D. Greenwood   John Jude Palencar

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