
artists do what they do for themselves. catapulted by some inner force, they are almost helplessly thrust toward a creation that simultaneously satisfies their desires and fuels their passions for more. they do not do it for us. they do not do it for the glory. and we all know it’s not about money. ¶ this compulsion is more than a way of life. for the artist, it is his life. ¶
and every once in a while, the artist sticks his chin out for us to scratch beneath. and scratch we should. ¶ we do this every month on these pages with our continued editorial on art and music. but once a year, in this, our annual july/august art & music issue, we pause to celebrate a special cache of artists. unique individuals who are doing something exceptional. working artists who are living (and starving and living and playing and dying) by their craft. ¶ we present the 2012 long island pulse magazine Artist VIPs
*to be named an artist VIP, individuals must be nominated, show at least once per year and be considered a working artist living on long island at least half of the year. email words@nulllipulse.com for more info.

Ray Colleran
to call this socially conscience art, anti-war messaging or an attempt at art therapy would be a gross over-simplification.
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Gabriele Evertz
To try to “explain” gabriele’s art would be futile. you have to experience it, the closer the better.
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Gina Gilmour
Laughing is very important to me,” says the artist whose work will (mostly) make you laugh. actually, whether or not the viewer laughs is more an indication of how seriously that person is taking himself as opposed to the seriousness of the artwork.
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Dennis Leri
metal sculpture can be intimidating. what is it about, really? in the case of this sculptor’s metal assemblies, it’s about balance. and harmony. ditto the wood pieces. there are no outcasts here.
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Christian Little
you may never have been part of a water skiing pyramid. maybe you’ve only seen tandem bicycles on tv. still, these make you smile from the inside out at the campy, fresh, outdoor activities synonymous with spending time with family. so what’s new here?
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Aija Meisters
Expressionism fits me…i don’t deal with Realism. it has to be fantastic. i love color and i like Expressionism. and Fauvism. i feel comfortable with distorting reality. it’s about me and my world.
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Clayton Orehek
art is not good just because it doesn’t fit over the dining room table. that doesn’t make it bad either. it can be a visual pun, a one-liner you tuck away for when you’re stuck in traffic. or something more provoking.
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David Slater
Sometimes, the best stories do not go in a straight line. the elements gather in leaf pile fashion: a little red, some orange, a dash of green. slater’s paintings are like this, too.
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Anncharlotte Tavolacci
When it comes to this artist’s work, you won’t get it if you are trying to “look.” everything is about seeing.
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Ellen Wiener
there is an honesty to printmaking. something about a one-of-a-kind (or very limited edition) print transfers a sense of authenticity to the holder.
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Charles Wildbank
Artists take a medium and project themselves to create a whole new medium…nature does the same thing.
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