Tribute to Gary DiBenedetto, Composer/Artist (1948-2017)
My tribute to:
Gary DiBenedetto (1948-2017)
Gary DiBenedetto was a colleague and friend, who I met in a Chelsea Gallery as he was installing his next exhibition. Gary was the recipient a NJ State Council on the Arts Composition Fellowship and a Crafts Fellowship as well. He received his MA in Performance and Composition from New York University.
Gary's efforts encompassed creating interdisciplinary performance works. In 2016 he received a grant from the Puffin Foundation. This work “Exploitation” was a performance piece that incorporated a script, actors, dancers, kinetic sculptures and electroacoustic composition. As the name Exploitation indicated it highlighted the psycho-social and financial degradation of workers by contrasting capitalism with socialist theology.
"Many artists dedicate their lives expressing outrage over the effects of capitalism and oligarchy. Few of these artists play an integral role in Leftist organizations. Are artists relevant to the Left? How do we get artists' voices heard? The panel participants will describe how their Leftist concerns are manifested in their work and the difficulties of gaining an audience. We will then open a conversation concerning the lack of Left solidarity with radical artists."
Where do we go from here?
Is radical art relevant to the Left?
May 31st, 2015
at
John Jay College of Criminal Justice,
The City University of New York
Gary "put together a panel and invited me to take part at John Jay in NYC. Other talented artists participated as well. Gary was the moderator. We often spoke about the difficulties in the art world. Gary is still missed.
The family of Gary DiBenedetto would like to find permanent homes for many of Gary's unique and creative sculptures.
Galleries, museums, corporate and public sites or art collectors may contact Gary's family at [email protected]