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PLEASE VISIT MY GROUP BELOW, WHICH REPRESENTS SOME OF THE FINEST ARTISTS ON FLICKR!!

 

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MY ART BIOGRAPHY

ON FLICKR!!

  

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In 1978 I came to New York City from Bozeman, Montana to attend Fordham University. While I was at Fordham I began to experiment with painting. At the age of 22, I was accepted into a select group show of internationally emerging artists at The Bronx Museum of the Arts. I was one of the youngest artists selected, and one of a few that had no formal training.

 

During this same period, I was MICHAEL ALIG'S close friend. Michael and I, along with a group of our friends, were attempting to create the NEXT WAVE within the UNDERGROUND DOWNTOWN SCENE. Michael was promoting parties at the infamous, DANCETERIA, and I decided to show my art at the club. The positive response which I received from the large crowd of the young, fashionable audience, led me to use nightclubs as a venue for sharing my artwork.

 

In the 1980's I had several shows in New York City's MOST EXCLUSIVE NIGHTCLUBS.

 

Then in 1991, I was very fortunate to have been able to became involved with the creative forces behind the legendary nightclub: THE SOUND FACTORY, and I had the first showing of my paintings there. FRANKIE KNUCKLES was the D.J. and was making his name as one of the World’s greatest music producers and mixers. The nightclub became a MECCA for some of the most talented individuals within the music, fashion, art, movie, and dance worlds.

 

Figures such as MADONNA, KEITH HARING, PATRICIA FIELD, CINDY LAUPER, GRACE JONES, DEBORAH COX, and JOHN PAUL GAUTIER, were just a handful of the many talented people who frequented this club.

 

In 1992, I had two more showings of my paintings at the SOUND FACTORY. JUNIOR VASQUEZ was the DJ at the time and had already gained international recognition within the music industry for his work. I had a viewing of my artwork at Junior’s birthday party, and it was at this show that I met MADONNA. Later with the grateful help of her former manager, CARESSE HENRY, I was able to gift some of my paintings to MADONNA.

 

In 1996, with the help of MADONNA’S friends, INGRID CACERES and CHRIS PACIELLO, I painted a grand mural within the entrance to their nightclub LIQUID, in South Beach Miami, Florida. At the same time, I participated in a celebrity auction for the SUSAN G. KOMEN FOUNDATION. MYSELF, MADONNA, K.D. LANG, GLORIA ESTEFAN, NIKI TAYLOR DENNIS HOPPER, ANTONIO SABATO JR., ROMERO BRITTO, and KENNY SCHARF all made masks which were then auctioned to help raise money for the fight against breast cancer.

 

From 1999 to 2002, my goal was to share my artwork with students in New York City public schools, as well as to help charitable organizations raise money from my artwork. I worked with the "NEW YORK CARES" organization in creating several murals within New York City public schools. I also contributed several artworks to New York City Public schools. In addition, I collaborated with students at THE MICKEY MANTLE SCHOOL in Manhattan on art projects that were then donated to other public schools. During this same period, I donated paintings to the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION, in conjunction with MICHAEL JORDAN and his N.B.A.basketball team, THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS. I also donated my paintings to several foundations that help to fight AIDS and other gay and lesbian causes.

 

In 2003, I was invited to participate in the distinguished international art show, the FLORENCE BIENNIALE, in Florence, Italy. There were 900 artists representing 72 countries, and I was very honored to have received the fifth prize in Painting.

 

Currently, I continue to pursue my work as a guidance counselor for five to 14 year olds in New York City. As I have worked in public education for 25 years, I find that in our post modern society, children are under tremendous stress and no longer have the time to relax and reflect upon their daily lives. Therefore, I am developing projects that incorporate my paintings into mazes, so that children will have the opportunity to reflect and get in touch with their creative spirit. In the hope that these children will be empowered to make nurturing creative contributions, which in turn, may benefit our whole society in a positive and meaningful way.

 

TO VIEW MY ART VISIT: FLICKR.PAINTBYAJ.COM. COLLECTORS OF MY ART INCLUDE: MADONNA CICCONE, INGRID CACERAS, CHRIS PACIELLO, JUNIOR VASQUEZ, PHIL SMITH,WENDY DAUGHTRY, JOSE XTRAVAGANZA, CARESSE HENRY, BEVERLY VISTA, JAIME A. CARDONA, KEVIN WILLIAMS, KEVIN McHUGH, MICHAEL ALIG, KEOKI (SUPERSTAR D.J.) LOPEZ, CARL HAJEK, TERESA KENNA HINTON, JEFFREY S. FRIED, BARRY DAUB AND JANET PATTI, DAWN SANTIAGO, T.K. McKINNEY M.D., AND MANY MANY MORE!!!!

 

PEACE AND LOVE!! A.J. WAGENHALS 2009!!