For many years, Frank Maresca purchased cases of small hard-bound editions of “Here is New York” to give away. At first he would give them to new arrivals in the city, then to friends old and new who were unfamiliar with E.B White’s book. “Here is New York” is a glimpse into the past, present, and future.
“When I went down to lunch a few minutes ago I noticed that the man sitting next to me (about eighteen inches away along the wall) was Fred Stone. The eighteen inches were both the connection and the separation that New York provides for its inhabitants. My only connection with Fred Stone was that I saw him in The Wizard of Oz around the beginning of the century. But our waiter felt the same stimulus from being close to a man from Oz, and after Mr. Stone left the room the waiter told me that when he (the waiter) just arrived in this country and before he could speak a word of English, he had taken his girl for their theater date to The Wizard of Oz. It was a wonderful show, the waiter recalled — a man of straw, a man of tin. Wonderful! (And still only eighteen inches away.) ‘Mr. Stone is a very hearty eater,’ said the waiter thoughtfully, content with this fragile participation in destiny, this link with Oz.”
PAST
Over the past 40 years and through books such as
American Primitive (Alfred A. Knopf, 1988), Bill Traylor: His Art, His Life (Alfred A. Knopf, 1991), American Self-Taught (Alfred A. Knopf, 1993), American Vernacular (Bulfinch Press; Little, Brown and Co, 2002), and BLACK DOLLS (Radius Books, 2015). Ricco/Maresca has championed and sought to expand the vernacular art arena.
SELECTED ARCHIVE
PRESENT
ROSE CAMANGA: FLASH!
Postponed
Now opening May 28
(on view through July 2)
Tino (“Rosie”) Camanga (1910-?) moved to Honolulu from his native Philippines sometime prior to World War II. His tattoo flash art segued from standardized versions of classic tattoo designs to eccentric and mysterious scenarios that were his alone. The format of a sheet of flash, crowded with multiple images, or the notion that something might be appealing to someone to wear indelibly for life, were mere jumping-off points for the world he created.
PREVIEW
SINDY LUTZ: SEASCAPES
Online Exclusive
Sindy Lutz’s seascapes reflect the impact of staring at the ocean and bay in all their changing moods, light and color over many years. These small drawings—made of graphite and crayon—are drawn spontaneously from deep memories of living near the sea. They started as an escape from previous figurative work that sprang from frustration and early childhood trauma.
EXHIBITION ONLINE
FUTURE
Ricco/Maresca was in the process of moving to a new expanded gallery space (same building, same floor) when current events changed all of our lives. When the gallery reopens, aside from its regular programming, it will launch Gallery Two: an ever-changing salon that will present and reflect Ricco/Maresca’s history and role in the crossover of self-taught and outsider art into contemporary and modern art.
When the time is right, the gallery will also have the space to host small dinner gatherings involving creative people from all disciplines and the participation of local restaurants—in the spirit of bringing community together. This program will piggyback onto our existing Vernacular Loft private events.