Q & A Interview With Artist Tony Vita Currently Showing "Strange Terrain" Exhibition At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Octagon Gallery - Describes AI Working Process Following Down The Rabbit Hole To Making Digital Paintings Of Strange Terrain

The Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery at the Octagon building (888 Main Street) is currently exhibiting the paintings of artist and Roosevelt Island resident TonyVita. According to RIVAA Gallery:

Digital Painting by Tony Vita

Encounter the beautifully surreal, unique and slightly unsettling digital paintings that comprise the world of Tony Vita’s latest exhibition, Strange Terrain.

You can immerse yourself in the absorbing world of Strange Terrain anytime from July 1- September 27, 2024 at the Octagon. You will be glad that you made the trip. 

Here are some scenes from the July 12 opening reception of Tony Vita's Strange Terrain exhibition at RIVAA's Octagon Gallery. 

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Roosevelt Island resident and Gallery RIVAA member artist Laura Hussey interviewed Mr Vita recently about his Strange Terrain exhibition in this question and answer format.

Q - Tony. You currently have an exhibition at the Octagon called Strange Terrain. Why did you select that as a title?

A - Most of pieces in the show suggest places that are familiar and based in reality at first glance but are in fact strange and dreamlike.

Q - Did you come up with the title first or did you create the work and then make up a title?

A - Titles are the last thing I think about. If I had my way, everything I've ever done would be titled “Untitled 1- Untitled 2 and so on. I'm not thinking in terms of words.

Q - Where did you get the ideas for the works in this exhibition?

A - I almost never plan my pieces. I start with a notion or an image I carry in my head and sit at the computer or sketchbook and play. Sometimes in the working process, something that I hadn't thought of takes shape and I follow down the rabbit hole. You have to trust your instincts.

Q - The works on the lower level and the ones on the upper level appear as two distinct visual entities. What connects them so that both are considered “strange terrain”?

A - I like to think of those pieces as representing some of the inhabitants of the strange terrain. The fact that they were in a separate space allowed me to show pieces that were lighter in spirit. I thought that kids would enjoy the strange menagerie.

Q - All the artwork is digital. What program(s) did you use to create the pieces in the exhibition?

A - Adobe Photoshop is at the top of the list. It's essential to any artist working in the digital medium. I've only recently started using AI in process. I use Adobe Firefly for that but I'm investigating other software such as Luma which is an AI animation program.

Q - Why did you select  those programs?

A - Trial and error. Is the software compatible with my goal? Does it have creative flexibility? Can I afford it? How long did it take to create each piece?

I work very fast. A piece can take one or two hours, but refining it can take weeks .

Take a walk down to the RIVAA Octagon Gallery at 888 Main Street to check out Tony Vita's Strange Terrain exhibition through September 27, 2024.

The Shape Of Truth In Words, Images & Sculpture On Display In New Gallery RIVAA Window Exhibition By Roosevelt Island Artists Tony Vita And Victoria Thorson - Ideas From Mark Twain, Plato, Paul Cezanne, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Dalai Lama, Coco Chanel & More

Roosevelt Island residents and artists Tony Vita and Victoria Thorson are collaborators on an exhibition currently displayed at the Gallery RIVAA Rivercross building window  

which examines the nature of Truth, Values and Civics.

I spoke with Mr Vita and Ms Thorson recently about their "The Shape Of Truth" exhibition.

 

Take a close up look at The Shape Of Truth words and images from Mr Vita

and sculptures by Ms Thorson.

The Shape of Truth exhibition will be displayed until the beginning of December.

You're Invited To Opening Reception For Roosevelt Island Resident and Artist Tony Vita's Solo Exhibition "Emporium" Saturday April 23 At Gallery RIVAA

You're invited to the Saturday April 23 opening reception for Roosevelt Island resident and artist Tony Vita's solo exhibition Emporium

at Gallery RIVAA.  

According to Gallery RIVAA:

Dear all, 

You are cordially invited to the opening reception of RIVAA artist Tony Vita's solo exhibition - EMPORIUM, on Saturday, April 23rd, from 6-9 pm at Gallery RIVAA.

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 23, 6-9 pm 

Exhibition Dates: April 16, 2022 - May 15, 2022 

Location: 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York, NY 10044 

Website

Hope to see you there! 

Regards, RIVAA

Take a virtual tour of the exhibit with Tony Vita (click on full screen icon at bottom right of video for better viewing)

but make sure to see it in person.

For more info about Mr Vita's work, check out his website

Roosevelt Island Jazz Jam Session Sunday July 11 At Gallery RIVAA - Come Enjoy The Afternoon With Some Great Music

You're invited to a Sunday, July 11 Roosevelt Island Jazz Jam Session. According to Gallery RIVAA:

Gallery RIVAA is pleased to invite you to the Jazz Jam Session this Sunday, July 11th at 2:30 pm.

The session will showcase the improvisations and talents of Roosevelt Island's jazz musician community and their friends. It will run from 2:30 - 5:30 pm with non-stop jazz music! So, please come, join us and enjoy the evening with some great music.  

Date: July 11th, 2021 

Time: 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

Venue: Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island 

Facebook Event Link 

Here's a sample from last week's Jazz Jam at Gallery RIVAA celebrating the return of live music after the past year of Covid shutdown.

 If you want to play in the Roosevelt Island Jazz Jam, please contact 10044jazz@gmail.com

Lush Life, New Work By Roosevelt Island Artist Tony Vita Exhibiting At Octagon Gallery Presented By Gallery RIVAA - You're Invited To Opening Reception Thursday June 17

You're invited to June 17 opening reception for Lush Life, a new work by Roosevelt Island artist Tony Vita, from 5-8 PM at the Octagon Gallery (888 Main Street) presented by Gallery RIVAA.

For more info about Mr  Vita, check out his website and enjoy these whimsical Roosevelt Island banners. 

Local Artist Tony Vita And RIVAA Celebrate Reopening of NY Public Library Roosevelt Island Branch With Amazing Poster Art At Main Street Window Display - Library Is Where The Incredible Takes Flight, Mystery Lives, Imagination Happens, Inventions Begins, Adventure Happens And Imagination Lives

Roosevelt Island resident and artist Tony Vita, together with the Roosevelt Island Visual Artists Association (RIVAA), are showcasing a visual celebration of the New York Public Library Roosevelt Island branch reopening with amazing posters by Mr Vita that are currently being presented in the Rivercross building window at 531 Main Street.

According to Mr. Vita:

A few years ago I designed a series of posters honoring our local library branch. Two of them were displayed at the entrance of the old library location. I never got to display the rest of the posters.

The opportunity came when it was RIVAA, The Roosevelt Island Artist Association's turn to mount an installation in the Rivercross Display Window. I thought it was perfect timing to celebrate the opening of our beautiful new library and RIVAA's 20th year in the Roosevelt Island community.

On a personal note, I've always loved libraries. As a kid I remember being enthralled by the picture books in the Wakefield library branch in the North Bronx where I was brought up. 

Later on in that same library I discovered Rachel Carson, Jules Verne, Adlous Huxley, H.G. Wells and Ray Bradbury. As an adult I took refuge in that library when my Dad was dying where I sat in the reading room with a copy of The Name Of The Rose by Umbeto Eco when I could get away.  

I hope my posters help folks to recognize the importance of our Roosevelt Island Library Branch and RIVAA to the community.

As Mr. Vita's posters illustrate, the Roosevelt Island Library is a place:

Where The Incredible Takes Flight, Mystery Lives, Imagination Happens, Inventions Begins, Adventure Happens And Imagination Lives

Take a look at some of Mr Vita'a other work. It's wonderful!!!

The brand new Roosevelt Island Public Library re-opened last January 25. Branch librarian Carlos Chavez gave us a tour.
 

The library is currently open for grab and go service only due to the Covid Pandemic.

Discover more of Tony Vita's work at his website and Instagram Page.

Play The Blues Tony - Roosevelt Island Resident Tony Vita Coronavirus Apartment Music Video, The Legend Begins

It's almost Friday night. For most of us, we've been stuck in our apartments and not gone off Roosevelt Island for at least a month. If there ever was a time, now is it for some Roosevelt Island blues.

Play the Blues Tony Vita!!!!!



Watch out Edge, Bono might bring Tony in for U2's next gig.

Read more »

Local Artist Tony Vita's Unique View Of Roosevelt Island Tram - Rocking Roller Coaster, Traveling To The Stars And Moonlight Over East River

Roosevelt Island artist Tony Vita shows us his unique view of the Roosevelt Island Tram.

As a rocking roller coaster,

traveling to the stars

and moonlight over the East River.

Also gorgeous photos of Roosevelt Island:

This piece is a kind of visual poem or love letter to the place I call home.

Learn more about Roosevelt Island artist Tony Vita at his web site and you can also purchase prints of his work.

UPDATE 1/7 - You can contact the artist directly at his email address to make purchase or more info.

Past, Present & Future Exhibits Of Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA - Creating An Island Of Art & Continuing The Journey With Your Help

Roosevelt Island artist Tony Vita illustrates the 17 year history of Roosevelt Island's Gallery RIVAA with flyers and scenes from past art exhibits, dance performances, music concerts, poetry readings as well as upcoming plans for the future of Gallery RIVAA and Roosevelt Island as an "Island Of Art".

Watch the video and message at end asking your help to continue the journey by contributing what you can.



During the June 6, 2018 unveiling ceremony of Roosevelt Island Plinth sculpture at Good Shepherd Plaza,  RIOC President Susan Rosenthal announced plans for a Roosevelt Island Art Trail and thanked our local Gallery RIVAA for its contribution to the Roosevelt Island art scene.



Also, Gallery RIVAA's Tad Sudol made this October 2015 presentation of his idea for an Island Of Art on Roosevelt Island to the RIOC Board Of Directors.



Here's one possible future exhibit

 Image From Tony Vita's Island Of Art Video

for the Roosevelt Island Of Art.

Local Artist Tony Vita's Visual Poem And Love Letter To The Place He Calls Home - Roosevelt Island

Take a look at these gorgeous photos of Roosevelt Island taken by local artist Tony Vita. Mr. Vita adds:

This piece is a kind of visual poem or love letter to the place I call home.

Click here to view photos in larger format.

Mr. Vita also created wonderful banners depicting Roosevelt Island scenes that used to be displayed on Main Street light poles.

Image From Tony Vita Art

Would be great if they could be brought back.

Mr. Vita will be selling his wonderful and unique illustration and photography at the Roosevelt Island annual Holiday Market

on Saturday, December 10th and Sunday, December 11th at the Senior Center: 546 Main Street.

More photos from Tony Vita - this time, Manhattan.



Beautiful.

Check out Roosevelt Island artist Tony Vita's web site.

UPDATE 5:45 PM - Tony Vita shows us his Roosevelt Island banners, some of which were displayed on Street Light Poles and others were not.

Roosevelt Island Photographers Prints For Sale At The Saturday FarmersMarket - Excellent Photos By Paul Katz And Tony Vita, Stop By And TakeA Look

I spotted two new vendors at last Saturday's Roosevelt Island Farmers Market. Lloyd Woltz and Tony Vita were selling photography prints.  Mr. Woltz was selling prints on behalf of Paul Katz and Mr. Vita was selling his own prints.

Image Of Lloyd and Tony Selling Photography Prints At July 12 Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

Mr. Woltz reports:

I've been a Roosevelt Island resident since January 1989. I first met Paul Katz shortly after he moved to the Island in 2003. A few months before his passing (in August of last year) he asked if I would be interested in helping him sell his prints. When it became obvious that he didn't have much time left, he told me "to do whatever [I] wanted" with his work. When I proposed that his share of the proceeds go to the Youth Program to help facilitate Island kids' access to photography (by hopefully providing equipment, supplies, etc.) his eyes lit up.

Image Of Lloyd Selling Paul Katz Photography Prints At Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

His family has graciously offered their full support to this endeavor.

Paul loved it here, and in retrospect, it is apparent just how important it was for him to remain at home on the Island as long as he possibly could...

Island residents may recognize some of Paul's work from the Main Street Wire and Trellis, where his prints cover a couple of walls.

Image Of Paul Katz Photography

Also familiar to many, though more anonymous, is work of his that has been featured in print ads and on websites over the years.

Paul's personal history can best be described as just as eclectic as his work is. He commanded military photo units in Vietnam and later Central America. At different times he had his own studio, worked for and taught at colleges around the City (including NYU, where he met and befriended Island resident, artist Tony Vita over 35 years ago,) and also served as an auxiliary police officer and part-time Federal Marshall.

Many will remember him as the white-haired 'gentleman' regularly at Trellis, who liked every small child (as well as most women) he ever met.

 Image Of Paul Katz From Reserveinc

His work encompasses an incredibly broad range of styles and methods too numerous to elaborate on here. Suffice it to say that he saw every new advance and innovation in photographic technology as a toy that he would play with until he found what he considered 'neat' things to do with it.

Prints will be available for purchase (and browsing) at the Island's green-market on Saturdays when weather permits. As noted earlier, proceeds from all sales will benefit photography at the Roosevelt Island Youth Program.

If you are at the Farmers Market tomorrow, stop on by and take a look at some of the prints for sale by Lloyd and Tony,

Image of Tony Vita At Roosevelt Island Farmers Market

chat with them and maybe even buy a print or two.