United & Proud 2003 Artist Bios

Jose Arce    Jose was born in Chicago and relocated to Florida at the age of 9.  Art was always his passion since he was a small child.  Mr. Arce enjoys all types of art...drawing, painting, pottery, photography, etc.  What he focuses on now is computerized art.  Jose draws characters and gives the color on the computer.  Later I put them on live photograph background.  I also like to take photograph of a person and manipulate the colors and do something funky to it.   When I came out at the age of 26 I felt free inside and through my art work.  Now I want to be known as a gay artist in our community.  I hope to inspired young gay artist to come out and to be free to show their art too

Tony Beall     Being a mixture of Native American Indian, Danish and English descent, it seems only natural that Tony craved to experience more of the world than was available on the small tobacco farm in Southern Maryland where he was born and raised. It is his endless desire to experience as much of life, and as many places as possible that has led him to the art of Neon Lighting. Mr. Beall has always been fascinated with the glow of the Neon tube and the "humming" of the transformers that ignite it.

Andre Besner Andre Besner was born in Montreal born and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in commercial photography in 1978.  He soon realized that the photographic process as an artistic medium should be the ultimate focus of his quest to communicate.  Through it, creating momentary visions of beauty in order to instill them with eternal life, let if be in studio using the human body juxtaposed with cutting edge technology or let it be in the midst of nature capturing and transcending it into a panacea for the soul, his work has been exhibited in Europe and North America.

Lee Brady Lee Brady studied in Chicago and Rome, Italy. He and his life partner David Sanderson invented edible underwear and have continued inventing and marketing products.  Mr. Brady has developed his own unique technique of combining film, photography and painting. He resides in Miami Beach and his work has been published in books and magazines worldwide.

Mary Ellen Britton Mary Ellen Britton was born in Brooklyn, New York,  and moved to Miami from Pittsburgh in 1962. She was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami where she taught graphic design, illustration and the business of art. Mary also taught photography and art in several Dade County Public Schools, including the Norland North Center for the Arts. In l988 she participated in the highly promoted Picture South Florida Project sponsored by The American Society of Media Photographers. She has always promoted the arts and supported artist¹s rights, which lead her to serve as President of the South Florida Chapter of the National Graphic Artists Guild from 1988-1993. Her photography has received awards and appeared in various shows and publications.

J W Calcaterra (Pompano Bill)    Born January 12, 1926, in Norway, Michigan, J.W. Calcaterra served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He attended Ferris State College and Detroit Institute of Technology and worked for IBM from 1953 to 1987. With IBM, Mr. Calcaterra lived in Detroit,Chicago,New York, White Plains, San Francisco and Los Angeles.    After retiring and moving to Pompano Beach, Florida, J.W. took up photography as a hobby. In 1992, J.W. Calcaterra, affectionately known as “Pompano Bill”, started a new career as a photographer covering the local scene for Scoop magazine, then Outlook and currently 411 magazine. Bill is a regular contributor to The Express .

Robert Cauvel  With a Masters Degree in Education, Robert taught art in the Pennsylvania Public School System for many years. While living in Pittsburgh, he attended several film makers’ classes as well.  His work was presented in a solo exhibit at “New York, New York” in Pittsburgh.  He is a member of the Association of Artists of Pittsburgh and the Craftsmen Guild, and won the Frank Ross Award in 2001.     Mr. Cauvel moved to Fort Lauderdale in 2001, and has been active with the Broward Art Guild and ArtsUnited.  A former potter, Robert focuses his artistic talents on painting and photography lately. He is particularly fond of black and white photography, because it displays emotions so readily. Currently, he is painting a series of Key West homes on vintage plates for private collectors.

Xiomara Cotton    Xiomara was born in Bronx, NY to her 16 year old African-American father, and 15 year old Puerto Rican mother. Xiomara displayed proficiency for artistic expression early. She took notes from her manic mother who painted and waged wars with demons on the walls of their small South Bronx apartment. Xiomara lived in various foster care settings until she was placed at Good Shepherd Services where her soul and her talent were nurtured. She walked into her first formal art class in Cathedral High School on the east side of NYC and stumbled upon the beginnings of her artistic development. After encouragement from a close and dear friend Angelette V. King, Xiomara began combining her influences: hip-hop music, the www, and advertising to participate in her first show.  "My art is inspired by my experiences. I am inspired by my life and look forward to using my art to translate those experiences into powerful visual messages," states Xiomara.     Xiomara's first show, "exposure ", which featured new urban artists; gave Xiomara a taste of what it meant to be an artist, and she was determined to do it again. Her studies at New York's Parsons School pushed Xiomara into a new period of inspiration. In 2000, Xiomara and her two children moved to South Florida where she becoming a new voice on the South Florida art scene.

Matthew Cottrell Since Matt was a little boy he was always creative.  He was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan and grew up in a suburb of Detroit called Harper Woods.  There his interest in photography started to develop in his early teenage years with his disk camera.  His artistic eye did not awaken until years later with his 35mm Sony camera in Dayton, Ohio.  There he began to capture the world from his unique perspective.      Now living in Ft. Lauderdale, Matt's photography subject matter is varied.  His artistic eye may be drawn towards something architectural, a shadow, objects around his home, nature, landscape...and of course his latest interest, the male butt!  Although he has had no formal training in photography, he became a member of ArtsUnited and exhibited for the first time in the 2003 Art Explosion.  This is only the beginning!

Larry Danecke  Larry was born in Chicago and schooled at the American Academy of Art and Art Institute of Chicago. Larry entered the field of commercial art in Chicago, then continued in New York and Miami.  Later, Mr. Danecke was a fashion illustrator and instructor at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale for several years. Larry now channels his talents full time to painting in varied mediums: Watercolor, Acrylic and Oils. He is represented in galleries throughout the country, and has won several national awards.

Dennis Dean      Formerly an Off-Broadway performer, Dennis toured the United States and Europe before ditching his acting career and moving to South Florida.  The beaches, palms, and beautiful people there gave him the backdrop and the cast for a new kind of drama:  art photography.  “I love Fort Lauderdale,” he says, “there are wonderful people here with so much talent."  Dennis adds, "Many aspects of Fort Lauderdale continually inspires me, my work and my liveliness...I truly love being apart of the arts community.”     Dennis Dean focuses on the form of his art, cultivating a composition in symphony with his unique style. He combines a location and its lighting with the model, creating on film an often spiritual, erotic and always sensual celebration. Since the late 90's, Mr. Dean has been exhibiting his work locally, nationally and internationally.  Dennis published a 144-page, polo-themed book Within Reach back in August 2001.  The success of the book led to the 2003 calendar, Polo Men at Play, produced by 10% productions.  His images are also featured in David Leddick’s latest book, Male Nude Now,  Dreamboys 3 by Blue Magazine and in GayLauderdale.com's Men of GayLauderdale 2003 Calendar.

Dyan Dyan has lived in South Florida for the past 30 years. She began painting a few years ago, after a long creative hiatus.  She often incorporates the "pride" colors of the rainbow flag within her paintings.  "I believe being true about who I am, can create healing for all," stated Dyan.

Brent Nicholson Earle    For over 30 years, Brent Nicholson Earle has been a contributing member of the artistic community in New York as an actor, writer, director, stage manager, lecturer, photographer, optical designer and art gallery administrator. For all of his creative talents, Earle is perhaps best known as an athlete, orator and AIDS activist. He has been on the front lines of the battle against AIDS since the onset in the early 1980’s. He founded The American Run for the End of AIDS (AREA), a not-for-profit, volunteer AIDS education and advocacy organization.    Aside from his many photographic series-in-progress, Brent is currently working on a multi-media performance piece, “For the Love of Friends”, about his experiences while running around America and the fight against AIDS.

Steed Jay Edwards Steed Jay Edwards was born in Phoenix, Arizona.  Mr. Edwards’ past accomplishments include various exhibits and awards in Arizona State Fairs, The State Capitol and Unocal Corporation.  Steed moved to Southern California where he graduated from the University of Southern California and exhibited his abstract paintings, combining geometric and fluid concepts, at Dyansen Gallery in Beverly Hills.  Steed currently lives in Pompano Beach where he works on his human figure watercolors and operates his business “Antiques and Art Appraisals”.

Abby Frank    Abby W. Frank, a long time watercolorist from New York, turned to acrylics after moving to Florida.  Abby has been working on a sports art series for the past two years. Her focus is sports that emphasize roughness and power searching for freedom of movement and strength.

Mario Garcia    A Cuban native, Mario's life is the arts.  Mr. Garcia was a classical ballet dancer for nine years, and has an Associates Degree in fashion design with a continuing portfolio as a make-up artist. Recently, Mario has turned his artistic endeavors to painting. He has been perfecting those talents for the last four years.

James Goodson    James is the”kid in the candy shop” when it comes to the arts. He started his exploration at the age of twelve by going on stage. He performed as an actor, dancer, poet, and playwright until he was thirty. He then worked in the commercial visual arts of wholesale and retail visual displays. Eventually he got into computer technology where he works today helping instructors at Nova Southeastern University create visual presentations for their classroom lectures. He has published a ten year collection of poetry, "A Few Degrees South of Everywhere" and begun working in graphic art again. He works with latex house paint, and acrylic. James also does photo manipulations on the computer.

Jerome Guzy    Jerome Guzy resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He received his Bachelors in Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University. As an assistant to Professor Zeljko Kujundzic for an extended period of time, Jerome tempered his rigorous esthetic concept. His work searches for purity of a combined space as it limits itself on grids of color tones and values. Jerome's intent in his vibrant work is to set harmony in what otherwise may be considered a chaos of shapes. His art is well established in galleries from Pittsburgh to Manhattan and in private collections in the USA.

Don Hanover Hanover was born in Columbus, Ohio, (a long time ago), and taught Art and Photography in Ohio for 7 years. Mr. Hanover is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University. After teaching, Don moved to Boston and then New York City doing free lance photography of male nudes for magazines like Mandate, Honcho, Playguy and his own magazine Yearling. Although not known in Florida as a painter, he has a 6x6 foot painting in the permanent collection of the Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale and paintings in collections around the country.

Juan G. Herrera Juan was born in San Andres Island, Colombia.  He found a tutor and mentor at Broward Community College in Florida.  Mr. Herrara first created drawings and designs influenced by his Caribbean heritage: landscapes and the seven seas. Currently, abstracts and puzzle-like works reflect the world through the eyes of this artist.

Doug Houston Award winning, Doug Houston uses his Ph.D. in Physics to harness the energy of the natural world in his photography.  His influences include Robert Mapplethorpe and Georgia O’Keefe. A school teacher by day, Doug spends his free time photographing the people and objects around us. Houston won “Best of Show for Color Photography” at the New York State Fair. Mr. Houston’s work was featured in April, 2003 in ArtsUnited’s solo exhibit at the Stonewall Library and Archives in Fort Lauderdale.

Elyahou Lallouz   "To discriminate is to despoil one of their entitlements for security.  It is the pusillanimous person who perniciously provokes likes a pestilent disease.  It is through my artistic expression that I hope to emancipate all minds of prejudice," stated Elyahou.

Allison Lefcort    Allison has been painting since early childhood. In her early twenties now, she is becoming widely collected and recognized for her own style of portrait painting. She accepts commissions for personal portraits of individuals and families, as well as celebrity portraits.

Chris Linden    Award winning artist Chris Linden is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts. Chris also studied at the Massachusetts College of Art and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School. He moved to Florida in 1989. He works mainly in acrylics, mixing them with enamels, wax or metallic. He combines traditional and experimental techniques, using multiple layers of glazes that give his work a unique sense of depth and vibrancy.  He is active in both the Broward Art Guild and ArtsUnited organizations.

Manuel Lubian Manny was born on New Year’s Day in 1958 in Havana, Cuba. Now living in South Florida, his interests include photography, illustration and painting. His eclectic photographic images have been featured in numerous ArtsUnited shows, including a solo exhibit at the Stonewall Library.

Claudio Marsiglia A native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and now a resident of Fort Myers, Claudio earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Instituto Metodista de Ensino Superior in Sao Bernardo, Brazil. He moved to the United States in 1996 to pursue a visual communications degree at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.    Marsiglia works with acrylic on canvas to express what he sees that inspires him, be that an Afghanistan child holding a gun, or a mother and child at the playground. His work was described by artists and critic Bruce Helander as a “fascination for exaggerated facial features, large eyes in a near cubist style reminiscent of a Picasso abstract face influenced by African masks.”

Glen Mitchell   Glen Mitchell was born in New York in 1959. Mitchell's relationship with photography began on the other side of the camera as a model when he was photographed by such renowned artists as Horst, Steven Meisel and Joyce Tenneson.    Drawing from his training in dance, fashion and art, Mitchell creates sensual images that have been likened to those of Bruce Weber and Cartier-Bresson. Mitchell's publications include "Male Nude Now" (written by David Leddick) and "Fit Together" (written by Eddie Goicolea). Glen lives in Miami with his longtime partner, Ian McMinn, where he is currently working on his next book "Great Men of Miami" (written by Rene Czhar).

Mode Montemayor Born in McAllen, Texas in 1976 but raised in Mexico, Mode is the youngest of eight children, 3 brothers and 4 sisters.  After completion of High School, he attended Superacion Escenica para Teatro y Television (S.E.T.) and worked for Televisa  (Spanish television network). While working throughout Mexico, Mode attended art classes in Monterrey and discovered an interest in Repujado En Lamina (Impressions in metal).  Mr. Montemayor was a teen television celebrity in Mexico, but gave that career up to move to the United States. After settling in Wilton Manors, Mode started developing his art once again. He was a volunteer helping produce ArtExplosion2001 and 2002, then entered his work as an artist in ArtExplosion2003.

Anthony Novembre    Born in Washington, Missouri 1970, Anthony grew up along the New Jersey Shore.  With strong influences from New York City, he started in the professional art field 15 years ago.  With an Interior Design Degree, Mr. Novembre now focuses on Interior Design and Mural artwork.  Living in Florida for 12 years, he now resides in Ft. Lauderdale Florida.  Using mixed media on canvas with a contemporary flair, Anthony's career as an artist and Interior Designer is on the rise.

Len Paoletti For the past thirty years, Len Paoletti has summered in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and wintered in Fort Lauderdale.  His paintings, done with a bright, impressionistic palette, are realistic in style.  The subjects range from land and seascapes of the Lower Cape and of Southern Florida to the many men, individually and in groups, who inhabit both locales.

Steve Shires   Steve developed his artistic talents as a second career, and earned his Associates Degree in Photography at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. A local commercial photographer for David Magazine, Scoop, Outlook and The Express, he is often seen covering the gay and lesbian community events in South Florida.     When he is earning his living, Mr. Shires specializes in portraits and special event photography, such as weddings. Only recently has he expanded his subject matter, and the results were positive. Steve entered work in ArtExplosion2003 as well as the Hortt Exhibit for the first time this year.

Joel Shapses    Joel Shapses has traveled the world gaining knowledge of stones and uses that knowledge to develop prize-winning sculptures. Joel’s work is included in private collections and public exhibits throughout North America.  Born in New Jersey, Mr. Shapses relocated to South Florida in 1972. He is a past President of the Broward Art Guild, and very active in the local art community.    Mild mannered and introspective, Shapses’ work is the quintessential expression of art communicating feeling. Joel is part owner of Gallery 421 in Fort Lauderdale.

Sanjay Sood    Sanjay Sood was born in Nairobi, Kenya of East Indian decent. He is known for his use of vivid colors and textures.  Mr. Sood specializes in “Khazana” block canvas art in a multitude of geometric, tribal and contemporary patterns. Certain styles express is cultural heritage; others express the family nucleus, union of family or continuation of life and death.

Barry Sparkman   Originally from Tennessee, Barry has lived in Miami for the past eight years. He has also live and worked in Pennsylvania, Texas, South Carolina, Montana, and Louisiana.  He earned a Masters of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. Both degrees are in studio art, and he continues to paint and exhibit regularly.    Barry has held a variety of teaching positions at universities including Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Florida International University, New World School of the Arts in Miami, and the College of Charleston. In addition to teaching experience, Mr. Sparkman has worked as a museum registrar, gallery director, and in various other capacities at museums, and commercial and university galleries. Currently, he is the Gallery Manager at the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami.

R.L. Sternberg “To possess the ability to express oneself in a way that can enrich the mental perception of others, is truly a remarkable trait that bears great power.  Hence, it is via my literary works that I deliver tolerance to those who fear by way of nescience.”