Featured on Channel 39 KIAH-TV, Houston TX - November 24, 2009

Going Green with Yolanda Green
“Natural Recyclers” and “Wasted Resolve” Art Exhibitions
Featuring two installations by Divya Murthy and Nicola Parente

Houston, Texas – Art League Houston announced the opening of "Natural Recyclers," which features an earth media installation by Divya Murthy and Nicola Parente, created for the Art League patio, and its accompanying installation. "Wasted Resolve," takes place in the ALH project gallery, Nov. 13 through Dec. 3. "Natural Recyclers" is a long-term project, and the first installation to take place in the Art League Patio since it opened to the public in 2008.

"Natural Recyclers" opened in conjunction with "Obsession of the Essential," which features the mixed media works of Brent Kollock, in Art League Houston's Main Gallery.

Using mainly recyclable and renewable resources, Parente and Murthy have created a site specific installation for the Art League Patio, consisting of three giant mushrooms, whose bases are fabricated from rebar, soil and moss. The mushroom caps and stems are planted with Texas native and non-native, edible and herb plants. The use of the mushroom reflects the important role the fungi play in the ecosystem through its use of decomposing materials as its source of nourishment. Parente and Murthy feel that the mushroom and its symbiotic relationship with the root structures of plants is the ideal symbolic gesture to promote environmental consciousness within our community.

"Wasted Resolve," an installation created by Parente and Murthy for the front gallery, is inspired by a 2008 New York Times article that ranked Houston as the worst recycler among the nation's 30 largest cities. "Wasted Resolve" is a visual categorized summary of un-recycled waste created from debris collected during a week-long period from an eight-block area surrounding Art League Houston. The intent of "Wasted Resolve" is to make the viewer more aware of our city's waste consumption and to create a dialogue with the audience that focuses attention on the importance of reducing waste.

About the Artists
In 2000, Divya Murthy graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.F.A. in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston, with a Minor in Art History. In 2006 she received an M.F.A. in Studio Art from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts University in Boston. Her photographs, videos, and installations have been exhibited throughout the United States at venues that include the Galveston Arts Center, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Baltimore Contemporary Museum, and the Blaffer Museum at the University of Houston. Her awards include a 2006 Yousuf Karsh Prize in Photography, First Place from the School of The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, a Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship from the Houston Center for Photography, and a 2005 AIGA World Studio Foundation Grant.

Born in Mola di Bari, Italy in 1966, Nicola Parente currently lives and works in Houston. He has a B.A. from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Earlier this year, Parente's work was exhibited in Transparent/Translucent, curated by Wade Wilson at the Museum Gallery, University of Texas, San Antonio. In 2008 he collaborated with the Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in designing and creating the set for the world premier production of Terminus, a dance inspired by Parente's paintings. The artist's work is represented by Gremillion & Co., Fine Art, and can be found in public and private collections in the United States, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Ethiopia.

About Art League Houston
Art League Houston is one of Houston's longest operating non-profit visual arts organizations and was the first alternative art space in Texas. Founded in 1948 and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1953, Art League Houston (ALH) was created to promote the public appreciation of and interest in the visual arts. During the past 61 years, ALH has provided over 760 exhibitions to the Houston community, showcased the work of nearly 22,200 artists, and instructed over 35,000 students through the Art League School and Outreach Program.


Photo: Mushrooms Installation, Photograph from Art League Houston
Copyright © 2009, KIAH-TV

Houston artists go green in a big way - 2009-Nov-19 - CultureMap Houston

Houston artists go green in a big way
News-Nancy Wozny-columnist
By Nancy Wozny
November 19, 2009

Making art out of plants holds a certain excitement for any green-leaning girl, so I just had to pop over to the Art League of Houston to see what Divya Murthy and Nicola Parente were up to with their living sculptures.

Parente and Murthy were off getting supplies, so I visited with Linda Phenix, former choreographer and now Art League's development director. During her dance-making years, Phenix, and her dance partner, Chris Lidvall, investigated Germany's deep ecology movement to create Green Pieces way back in 1991. Vintage dance fans remember that quirky Coke can dress and the bubble wrap bride.

“That Coke can dress was fabulous, but dangerous,” recalls Phenix, who looks pleased to see Parente and Murthy taking up the cause.

I finally found Murthy and Parente unloading their art supplies for Natural Recyclers and Wasted Resolve, which in this case consisted of a 20 bags of dirt. The eco art team was finishing a set of giant mushroom sculptures that will soon be covered with native, non-native and edible plants. The stems will be covered with a moss milkshake (beer, sugar and moss in a blender).

“I like working with living media,” says Murthy. Both hark from farming families, Parente in Mola di Bari, Italy and Murthy in Bangalore, India.

Natural Recyclers will be up for eight months, possibly longer, and will go through its own evolution.

“If the plants die, they die,” Murthy insists. “That's the life cycle. ”

For Wasted Resolve, the gallery part of the show, they collected trash from an eight block radius around the Art League. “We are going to clean it up before we put it on the walls,” Parente promises.

Motivated by a New York Times article citing Houston as the one of the worst recycling cities in the United States, the trash transforms into a graph on the gallery's walls. “It's concept and craft,” says Murthy.

Both hope visitors leave the exhibit armed with more facts and become motivated to improve Houston's sorry recycling reputation.

Parente and Murthy have been on an eco art streak for a while, but after attending the Systems of Sustainability: Art, Innovation, Action (SOS) conference held at University of Houston, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts last spring, their ideas began to solidify.

“SOS pushed us to take our ideas seriously,” says Murthy.

Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center director Karen Farber is pleased that local artists are running with the SOS ball. “We managed to inspire a dialogue, which has gone on long after the event and exceeded my expectations,” she says. “When we started talking about sustainability, we were making a commitment. We opened up the conversation, and it would be irresponsible of us as an institute to abandon the cause. ”

Farber also sees Karyn Olivier's Inbound, featuring billboards showing what we would see if they weren't there, as tied to her mission. Olivier's work invites questions of what we accept in our visual environment.

Farber continues on the green mission with the recent launch of "Live is Living" at Discovery Green. It entails a two-year residency of spoken word artist Marc Bamuthi Joseph, culminating in a performance work, red, black and GREEN, a blues.

Discovery Green's programming director Susanne Theis has been championing green art since Dan Phillips created the Recycled Gazebo with found objects, giving new life to materials the rest of us discard. And did you know the park's panels generate between nine and 25% of the power consumed and the remainder is from 100% renewable sources?

“We recycle, and provide the public with opportunities to bring their recycling here on Saturdays,” Theis says.

Houston's greenest choreographer, Travesty director Karen Stokes, chose the sustainable park last season to show off her own designed for the great outdoors dance, Green. Following in Phenix's footsteps, Stokes has taken up the green mantle once again in her recent show, The Recycle Club, a combination concert, party and educational event. Stokes' approach encompasses recycling at every level, from the costumes to the dancers (old timers Farrell Dyde and Roberta Stokes). She even used her old choreography for the show.

Why make up new stuff when you have perfectly good old stuff?

Parente to Participate in this Years Art on the Avenue on November 14, 2009

Two of Nicola Parente's painting will be auctioned off in this years Art on the Avenue. Avenue CDC mission is to improve the Washington Avenue and Near Northside community by developing affordable housing and increasing economic opportunities, while preserving our area's cultural, economic, and historic diversity.

Location:
Winter Street Studios
2101 Winter Street
Houston, TX 77007 6 p.m - 10 p.m.

n.p. news brief November 2009

Natural Recyclers, By Nicola Parente and Divya Murthy,
Art League Houston Patio
Photo by Aaron Courtland, www.aaroncourtland.com

Please join me this Friday, November 13, 2009, 6 to 9PM at Art League Houston for the opening reception of two site specific sculpture and installations, Natural Recyclers (outdoor patio space) and Wasted Resolve (front gallery). Feel free to invite others who may be interested. Have a wonderful week and hope to see you there!!!

Project details...
What: Natural Recyclers and Wasted Resolve, two site specific projects by Nicola Parente and Divya Murthy
When: Friday, November 13, 2009
Where: Art League Houston, 1953 Montrose Blvd. Houston, TX 77006
Time: 6-9 PM (Artist Talk at 6:30)

Natural Recyclers... using mainly recyclable and renewable resources, Parente and Murthy have created a site specific installation for the Art League Patio, consisting of three giant mushrooms, fabricated from rebar, soil, moss, herbs, Texas native and non native plants. Runs through 2010.

Wasted Resolve... an installation created by Murthy and Parente for the Front Gallery, is inspired by a 2008 New York Times article that ranked Houston as the worst recycler among the nation's 30 largest cities. Wasted Resolve is a visual categorized summary of un-recycled waste created from debris collected during a week long period from an eight-block area surrounding Art League Houston. Runs through December 31, 2009.

PS: I have created an artist page on Facebook, please become a fan so that I can keep you posted on future projects. Thank you!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicola-Parente/59709524186

Natural Recyclers and Wasted Resolve Featuring installations by Nicola Parente and Divya Murthy

Art League Houston is pleased to announce the opening of Natural Recyclers, which features an earth media installation by Nicola Parente and Divya Murthy, created for the Art League patio, and its accompanying installation, Wasted Resolve, which takes place in the ALH project gallery, November 13 through December 31, 2009. Natural Recyclers, is a long-term project, and the first installation to take place in the Art League Patio since it opened to the public in 2008.

The opening reception for Natural Recyclers and Wasted Resolve is Friday, November 13, 2009, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., with an artist talk at 6:45 p.m.

Run date: November 13, 2009 - December 31, 2009
Art League Houston Sculpture Garden
Opening reception November 13, 2009 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Nicola Parente, one of three featured artist at Italian Style Expo - September 25 to 27

ART - FASHION SHOWS - DANCE - OPERA - MUSIC - FENCING - COOKING CLASSES - WINE TASTING - LANGUAGE CLASSES -

When: Friday, Sept. 25th to Sunday, Sept. 27th, 2009
Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, HALL B

Hours:
Fri 2:30pm - 9:00pm
Sat 11:00am - 9:00pm
Sun 11:00am - 6:00pm

Italian Style Expo is America’s largest "Made in Italy" expo that is held annually in Chicago, due to its great success, it is proudly expanding to Houston for the first time this year. Italian Style Expo is an exhibit for the public to see the excellence of high-quality fashion apparel and luxury design, taste Italy’s world-renowned cuisine & wine, and plan their next Italian vacation with our tourism experts, all while enjoying the cultural entertainment!

This festival showcases the best of Italy in the areas of food, wine, tourism, design, fashion, art & entertainment. Over 100 companies from Italy and the U.S. exhibiting.

TICKET SALES: $10.00 Presale or $15.00 at the Door (Children 12 and under-Free)To purchase tickets visit ITALIAN STYLE

Art for Arthritis, This Years Featured Artist - Nicola Parente

Houston based visual Artist, Nicola Parente, was selected as this years featured artist by the Arthritis Foundation. The fourth annual "Art for Arthritis" benefit and auction will be held Friday, October 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM at Hotel Inter Continental Houston. For tickets and information contact Sofia Perches at 713.942-9063, sperches@arthritis.org

Paper City - September 2009 - Press

"Viva Italia" by Catherine D. Anspon

Houston Endowment 2008 Annual Report

Article and photo by: Steven Fenberg

The Houston Endowment recently issued their 2008 Annual Report. Visual Artist, Nicola Parente was pictured and interviewed by Steven Fenberg in this years report. The article discusses how DiverseWorks, "helps artists manage and build their creative careers through DW2 workshops that focus on strategic planning, communication skills, fiscal management and marketing". Diane Barber and Sixto Wagan are DW co-executive directors. Read more by clicking on the article.

Houston Modern Luxury Magazine - August 2009

Scene in Houston
(page 98)

Pictured: Aaron Courtland, Sofia van der Dys and Nicola Parente at Nox, Neil Hamil Modeling Agency's "Sexy Summer White Party".

Parallel Universes – The Art of Quantum Physics

Nicola Parente to participate in Parallel Universes - The Art of Quantum Physics.

Parallel Universes showcases a collection of Houston’s best artists, through the exploration of the relationship between art and quantum physics.

Sixty artists collaborated to create an “Exquisite Corpse” integrating their individual art pieces into a whole work of art incorporating their ‘Parallel Universes.’

Sixty artists created sixty universes, while pursuing the connections between art and quantum physics, as reflected in the creation of their art and envisioned as a series of paintings and photography in inter-connecting parallel planes of existence.

The nature of another reality is often mysterious, known only by its effect on our own world as seen through art.

A total of 120 canvases will be exhibited at Winter Street Gallery. The artwork is available for sale, with 75% of the proceeds going to the artist and 25% of the sale proceeds supporting the Spacetaker Artist Resource Center.

Additionally, a set of limited edition prints will be made and sold to benefit the Houston Artist Field Guide, a new online project for Spacetaker.

Artists will also exhibit additional paintings at Winter Street Studios, which are available for sale.

DATE: Saturday, August 15, 2009
TIME: 4:00pm - 10:00pm
4-5 pm Panel Discussion on The Impact of Art & Physics for Artists, Scientists & Collectors.
5-10 pm Opening Artist Reception at Winter Street Gallery & Open Studios .
HOST: Spacetaker & Winter Street Studios (open to the public. Parking is free)
LOCATION: 2101 Winter Street
Winter Street Studios (Panel Discussion & Exhibition 2nd Floor Gallery)
Great Music By Harmonic Tonic 6:30 - 9:30 pm.

UTSA hosts "Transparent/Translucent" art exhibit by Scott Sherer

UTSA hosts "Transparent/Translucent" art exhibit by Scott Sherer

Nicola Parente's first group museum exhibition opens at UTSA Art Gallery in San Antonio Texas on JUNE 3 to JULY 2, 2009

TWO LARGE PAINTINGS BY ARTIST NICOLA PARENTE WERE SELECTED BY CURATOR WADE WILSON AS A PART OF THIS EXHIBITION. PARENTE WILL BE PRESENT ON JULY 3rd FOR THE OPENING RECEPTION. This exhibition is free and open to the public.

San Antonio: Dr. Scott Sherer, director of the University of Texas at San Antonio Art Gallery (Main (1604) Campus) is pleased to announce a special exhibition, Transparent-Translucent, curated by Houston-based, art historianand critic, Wade Wilson. The exhibit opens with a reception for the artists from 6-8 pm, Wednesday, June 3, 2009 and will remain on view through July 2, 2009. Tranparent/Translucent includes works by artists Anila Quayyum Agha, Lucinda Cobley, Michael Crowder, Danielle Frankenthal, Meredith² Butch²Jack, Yoko Motomiya, McKay Otto, NICOLA PARENTE, Gordon Terry and Joan
Winter.

Working from places which reflect both literal and philosophical elements of the transparent and/or translucent, the artists in the exhibit,Transparent-Translucent remind us that things are not always as they appear and we cannot always see through them.² American playwright Lillian Hellman wrote in the Prologue to her memoirs, Pentimento, ³Old paint on canvas, as it ages, sometimes becomes transparent. When that happens, it is possible, in some pictures, to see the original lines: a tree will show through a woman¹s dress, a child makes way for a dog, a large boat is no longer on an open sea. That is called pentimento because the painter ³repented,² changed his mind. Perhaps it would be as well to say that the old conception, replaced by a later choice, is a way of seeing and then seeing again. The paint has aged now and I wanted to see what was there for me once, what is there for me now. The exhibit incites us to look carefully at what it is we are seeing and what we "think" we are seeing. So much of our vision falls between the two. Things which we deem transparent may in fact become more illusory or translucent.

The exhibit focuses on the myriad interpretations of exactly what it means to express a vision which engages either the physical and/or metaphoric aspects of that which is transparent and/or translucent.

Curator Wade Wilson has curated and co-curated more than 200 exhibitions over the past 25 years and has published more than 300 essay s and reviews since 1983. Wilson is president and owner of Wade Wilson Art, a contemporary art gallery in Houston.

W H E N: The exhibition will run from June 3-July 2, 2009.

The gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 11-2, and by appointment. The
exhibition is free and open to the public.

OPENING RECEPTION: Wednesday, June 3, 6:00-8:00 pm. UTSA Art Gallery, Main
Campus. Free parking is available in Lot 8 during the opening reception.

W H E R E: UTSA Art Gallery, Arts Building, UTSA Main Campus, One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249

DIRECTIONS: The UTSA Art Gallery is located in the Arts Building on UTSA¹s
Main (1604) campus. From I-10, take Exit #557 to UTSA Blvd. At the second traffic light, turn right onto James Bauerle Blvd. Turn left onto O'Neil Ford Ave., and then make an immediate right into Lot 8. The Arts Building will be on your right at the top of the walkway to the center of campus.

Parente presenting in Spacetakers SPEAKeasy, Wednesday May 20, 6:30PM - 9:30PM

Tonight's Artist SPEAKeasy, featuring three fantastic local artists: filmmaker/animator Sharad Patel, musician/audio engineer Cesar Inserny, and fabulous painter Nicola Parente! Join us this evening for casual conversation, cocktails, and nosh!

Every third Wednesday of the month at the Artist SPEAKeasy, Spacetaker hosts two to three artists from varying disciplines (visual, performing, literary, etc.) to present, in an informal atmosphere, creative dialogs/talks/presentations about their work followed by a question and answer session where the audience can glean further insight into the artist, the artist's aesthetic and creative process. The evening is designed not only to bring together artists and those who appreciate the arts, but also to introduce local artists to each other to encourage conversation and cross-disciplinary collaboration between artists and their chosen media.

Presenting artists this month are painter Nicola Parente, video producer/animator Sharad Kant Patel, and musician/audio engineer Cesar Inserny!

Nicola Parente:
Nicola Parente creates expressive abstract paintings from his studio in Houston, Texas. Born in Italy, he draws from his rich Italian heritage and a deep well of cross-cultural experiences to bring his art to life. Working in a variety of media, he engages the viewer in dialogues of human encounter within the urban environment. Inspired by changes in metropolitan communities, his art defines the intersections of daily urban life and timeless multi-cultural celebration. His paintings capture the fluidity and static elements of the urban matrix, referencing the architectonic images, reflections, and rhythms of its landscape. Mr. Parente competed his undergraduate studies at Kings College and his masters from the University of St. Thomas. Recently, Parente collaborated with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in designing and creating the set for the World Premier Production of Terminus. He is represented in Houston by Gremillion &Co. Fine Art, which featured his new work at a solo exhibition in July 2008. This June/July, Parente will take part in a group exhibition entitled Transparent/Translucent at the University of Texas Art Gallery Museum in San Antonio (curated by Wade Wilson). His works can be seen in public and private collections in the US, Italy, UK, Germany, and Spain.

Sharad Kant Patel:
Sharad Kant Patel has enjoyed a career as a creative director, video producer, animator, and writer at companies like Sybilmedia, AXBG, and Hexagroup in Houston Texas. Many of his animations and designs are on permanent display at the Houston Museum of Science. As a teenager, he attended the Glassell Junior School of Art for six consecutive years, by earning annual scholarships on the basis of his
portfolio of drawings and paintings. He went on to graduate from the University of Texas at Austin and with two BS degrees in Radio-TV-Film and Advertising. He began making videos and short films as a child and continues to produce such works both commercially and as personal projects of artistic expression. His short films have screened and been awarded at Aurora Picture Show, SXSW, WorldFest Houston, and the Beverly Hills HiDef Film Festival. He is currently in post production on his first feature length film entitled “Christian Roane."

Cesar Inserny:
Cesar Inserny is an Audio Engineer, Sound Designer, Musician, and a self-proclaimed Music Producer with expertise in film and television post-production audio, music production, and composition. Cesar sings and plays guitar for his band, The Watermarks, and collaboratively writes, records, mixes, produces, and masters all the band's music in his studio. He works as a freelancer under his company's name, Watermark Audio, with high profile clients such as MTV, Good Magazine, and The Fashion Network.

Mayfair Art Tour

Painting by Houston based artist Nicola Parente, will be featured at the Mayfair Art Tour, 5400 Hidalgo (Unit 5409A) in the heart of the Galleria area. This event is on Wednesday, April 29, from 5 to 8 PM and is open to the public.

Houston Chronicle - Gloss Magazine - April 2009

Thank you Shelby Hodge, Houston Chronicle Society Columnist, for including me in this months issue!

Houston Press - Coverage of Open Studios

Photo by Bill Olive

ICA - OPEN STUDIO THIS SATURDAY APRIL 4th, 2-9 PM

Join me this Saturday, April 4th, 2-9, for the 4th Annual Inner Corridor Art - Open Studios Tour. This is the largest gathering of artists in Houston's Washington / Houston Avenue corridor.

My studio is located at Winter Street Studios, studio 15, 2nd floor. Hope to see you there!

Facebook Artist Page - Become a fan!

Nicola Parente's Facebook Artist Page includes an online portfolio of his art works. If your a Facebook member, become a fan and stay up to date to future exhibitions, press, and activities.

Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicola-Parente/59709524186?ref=mf

A New Beginning, Inauguration 2009 (Poem)

A seemingly perfect flag blows in the wind.
People gathered as never before to see and
Feel the presence of our 44th President Obama.
Echoes of the past all around,
A new day is upon us.

The world watching intensely,
Listening to every word.
This is a day that many never imagined would come.
This is a day full of new beginning.

A day of hope, peace, and joy.
A day of acknowledgment, of spoken truths.
A day of freedom.
A day of new beginnings,
New beginning for all.

Looking back, yet moving forward,
Rebuilding unpleasant decisions made
Will be the task at hand.

Now is the time for all to do our part.
To make this a better place,
A place free of prejudice.
We hold the power to make this United States a place of
Unity, justice, and freedom.
This is a new beginning for all.

© Nicola Parente, 2009

One of Parente's paintings to be auctioned during Art4Life

Saturday, January 24, 2009,
Vine Street Studios (FotoFest Building)
6pm Patron Reception
7pm Art Auction
9pm Dance Party featuring Molly and the Ringwalds



One of Parente's paintings to be auctioned during Art4Life.

The Mukuru "Arts for AIDS" Series, named by an African God of compassion, combines art with a social cause. All proceeds from Mukuru events and performances, including those raised by Art4Life, fund housing, food, prevention, youth and benefit counseling programs for those living with and/or at risk for HIV/AIDS infection in Greater Houston.

To purchase tickets or sponsorship, please call 713.623.6796, ext 224 or visit www.mukuru.org

Parente to participate in Artopia 2009 - Houston Press and Spacetaker

Food. Art. Fashion.
January 24, 2009
8-11PM

Houston Press is hosting it's inaugural event Artopia on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the Winter Street Studios (2101 Winter Street, Houston). Join us from 8 p.m.-11p.m. when we bring together a stimulation of the senses in the form of visual art, performing art, live music and fashion.

Artopia is dedicated to highlighting the Houston area's rich and diverse artists, musicians, fashion designers, culinary masters and cocktail creators. The MasterMinds Award Ceremony, awarding $2,000 each to 3 local visionary artists, will be held during the event.

General admission tickets are inclusive of complimentary food, wine, cocktail, and beer sampling. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Spacetaker.org.

Featuring musical performances by: The Sideshow Tramps, Arthur Yoria and Karina Nistal

Featuring dance performances by: Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Dominic Walsh Dance Theater

Featuring art by: Nicola Parente, Patrick Medrano, Uncle Charlie, Anthony Butkovich, Steve Harris, Carlos Hernandez, Brian Boyter, Char Koehler, Alison Brown, Saba Jawda, John Sweeney, Howard Sherman, Kimberly Gremillion, Cody Ledvina, Rodger Standridge, Phillip Perez, Micah Simmons, Sorange Castillo, *ankah*, Y. E. Torres

To purchase tickets, please click on the link above.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a super exciting, art filled, love making, friendship nurturing, memory making 2009!!! Happy 2009 Everyone!

On the Eve of a New Year (Poem)

On the eve of a New Year,
I reflect on the days gone by.
People speak of disappointments,
Of unfulfilled goals and of the uncertainty in life.
I reflect on the bountiful lessons learned and love gained.

Disappointments are the salt of life,
With which without, growth is limited.
Creating awareness of what
We really want or don’t want in life.

People may come and go,
But those that are true will
remain with us forever, even if in spirit.

As days go by,
We learn,
We live,
We care,
We share,
We listen,
We trust.

Follow the senses of
Your heart and mind for
They will lead you
To true happiness.

© Nicola Parente, 2008

2008 Reflections (Poem)

The days have passed,
The year complete.
Time was gained,
Moments lost.
Lessons learned,
Creativity abound.
Fun times had,
Good friends made.
Good friends lost,
Disappointment to lessons learned.
New encounters,
New lovers,
New friends,
Old friends bright.
Today is a new day,
Like many others to come.
Much love, happiness, success,
Good health, good cheer, and much creativity
Awaits us in this New Year.
Happiness and good cheer to all,
For promising days are abound in 2009.

© Nicola Parente, 2008

002houston December 2008 - Cover Contest Honorable Mention

Bayou City Art Festival - Selected Juror

Nicola Parente, was honored to be selected as one of six jurors for the 12th annual 2009 Bayou City Art Festival - Memorial Park. Other jurors include; Franny Koelsch, Koelsch Gallery, Diane Barber, Diverseworks Executive Director, Sandra Zilker – Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Glassell School of Art, Richard Fluhr, Painter, and Bart Truxillo, ACA Board member. The Art Colony Association (ACA), producer of the Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park, is a Texas non-profit organization that, to date, has donated close to $2.5 million to Houston charities from the proceeds of 69 festivals (including its sister Festival, the Bayou City Art Festival Downtown.) The Bayou City Art Festival has become on the most prominent art festivals in the United States.

Art on the Avenue 2008

Please join me at a great event which supports the affordable housing programs of Avenue Community Development.

Saturday, November 8, 6-10 p.m. is ART ON THE AVENUE, a silent auction of the works of more than 200 Texas artists. Two of my paintings will be available to bid on. Come to enjoy great art, live music, food and libations. Admission is $25 in advance or at the door.

You are also welcome to attend the PREVIEW PARTY Thursday November 6, 6-9 p.m. for the first opportunity to see and buy the art. Remarks by Mayor Bill White at 7 p.m., and a special performance of "Plywood Love Song" by Loreta Kovacic and the Ludewiggs at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $100; for tickets call (713) 864-8099, ext. 229.

The location is Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter Street, 77007.

Lawndale Art Center's 21st Annual Día de los Muertos 2008

I created a retablo for this wonderful exhibition... on exhibit through November 8th. Please stop by and show your support, Lawndale is an exceptional organization!

Paper City Houston, October 2008 - PRESS

Social / Fine Arts Editor, Catherine Anspon mentioned my solo show at Gremillion during ArtHouston in the October issue of Paper City...

"...Nicola Parente's complex and emotive mixed-media painting..."

OutSmart Magazine - Article by Brandon Wolf - September 2008 - PRESS

Thank you Brandon Wolf and OutSmart for this beautifully written article!

Emerging_II Collaboration with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater's final duet from "Terminus" April, 2008. Nicola Parente scenic design. Two Star Symphony music,

KUHF - NPR - Radio Interview 08/07/2008 - PRESS

Interview with Meghan Hendley, KUHF NPR Houston Public Radio 88.7, The Front Row, August 7, 2008. (Click on the link above to listen).

Solo Exhibition continues through August 25th, Gremillion &Co. Fine Art, Inc.

Nicola Parente's Book/Catalog on current exhibition Journey, now available...

Journey, Paint...

By Gremillion &Co. Fi...

Book Preview

fave [houston] magazine - summer 2008 - PRESS

Thank you Keith Collins, Fave Publisher, for featuring my artwork in the Fave Art section of the magazine! The second issue looks great... You rock!

HOUSTON Modern Luxury Magazine - Feature by Natalie Bogan - July 2008 - PRESS

Thank you Natalie Bogan for such a beautifully written article. Also, thank you Jeff Gremillion (Editor-in-Chief) for your continued support and always friendly smile! [Click on the page to view larger image]

002houston July, 2008 - PRESS

Thank you Chris Dunn and David Brown at SPACETAKER for including me in this months ARTSCENE... Also, thanks 002houston for your continued support for the arts!

<==== click the image to view larger.

Spacetaker Recommeded - July 2008 - PRESS