Joseph’s son, Max Ascrizzi, who has lived in Maine much of his life, is a painter who comes from a background of three-dimensional work. He approaches his painting not only as pictures of his subjects — images inspired by the real Maine landscape — but also as a physical record that captures the movement of the hand and body and its interaction with material. Using a limited palette, primarily black on a white ground, his paintings express an interest in history, especially of the land that is produced by an interaction of forces over time.

 

Tony Ascrizzi (1952-2014), Joseph’s brother, worked with a variety of materials and techniques to impart the form, mood, meaning or cadence required for a particular piece of art. He taught sculpture, design, drawing, and installation art at Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design and University of Rhode Island. When the Providence Children’s Museum moved into a newly renovated industrial space, he was commissioned to develop and fabricate the hands-on exhibits.  Recipient of a Rhode Island State Council of the Arts grant and a New York State Craftsman Award for his musical instruments,  two dimensional work, video pieces, and fine wood furniture, Tony worked in cast bronze, welded steel, hand-sewn fabric mesh, glass, plastics, wood, as well as sound and moving images. His work was exhibited at galleries and in public spaces in both New York and Rhode Island between 1974 and 2011.

 

The Maine Art Gallery is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and preservation of painting, sculpture and graphic arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, and educational programs for children and adults.  More information can be found at www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook at Maine Art Gallery Wiscasset. The gallery is located at 15 Warren Street, Wiscasset. Hours:  10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays  July 15 - Aug. 18.