Frank Cappello

While evolved from landscape, fundamental ideas drawn from physics and astronomy animate my work. The combination of chance and physical law kick off the unique evolution of extraordinary objects. Order emerges out of chaos, creating harmony through the interaction of dissonance. I’m not trying to depict final images from science, such as, versions in paint of the Hubble and Cassini mission photos. I work from first principles, with an experimental spirit and approach toward using media. It is up to the viewer to complete the picture, although titles help trigger associations and suggest direction. Improvisation is key, which is where my training as a musician comes in. I build compositions by overlapping frequency lines, adding and subtracting as I work. Paint is often mixed directly on the canvas by combining dry pigment and medium along with earth, sawdust, and other materials. Marks are often made in wet, pre-applied paint using masonry tools, sticks or found objects. Always striving to balance accident and control; chaos and order in making each piece, I often use "destructive" drawing techniques. By employing water jets, air pressure, or intense heat to gouge, slice or burn the paint surface after it's been built up, I can al...

1978. MA Painting, S.U.N.Y. at Oswego.1976. BA Printmaking and Drawing, S.U.N.Y. at Oswego.1973. Studied art at the University of Pisa, Italy.

3 large paintings commissioned by the Tyson's Corner Ritz Carlton hotel 2012
See them at both entrances and in the piano lounge.
EXHIBITIONS:April 2006: One person show, Alex Gallery, Washington, DCOctober 2004: One person show, Alex Gallery, Wash.DCMarch 2003: One person show,Gallery A, Washington, DCSept-Jan. 2002,one person show, Cox Communications Corp. Herndon,VAMay 2002: Group show, Gallery A, Wash.DCMarch 2002: One person show, Gallery A, Wash.DCApril 2001: One person show,TRW Corp. McLean, VAJanuary 1999: One person show, Paintings and works onpaper, Logistics Management Institute,Fairfax,VA November 1998: Photograph selected for Fairfax Arts Council Open Exhibition. J. Carter Brown (juror) Northern VA Community CollegeFairfax, VAApril 1997: Two person show, Garrett Park Town Center, Kensington, MDApril, 1995: One person show, First Union Bank, Mac Arthur Blvd. branch, Washington, D.C.December,1994: Fairfax County Arts Council Open Exhibition, Leslie Exton (Juror), Fairfax VA.June, 1992: Three Rivers Arts Festival, Marilyn A. Zeitlin (Juror), Pittsburg, PA.February, 1992: Fairfax Arts Council Juried Corporate Exhibition, TRW Corp., Fairfax, VAFebruary, 1992: Montgomery County Juried Art Exhibition, Helen Frederick (Juror)...