Let me first begin by saying how truly grateful I am with the enormous amount of response & support that I have been receiving from all of you regarding The Ravi Report over the past few months. Many of you have taken the time out to personally email me sharing comments & making suggestions regarding future stories. One particular & repeated request that keeps being mentioned is  doing more profiles on the interesting people I meet and for giving a bit more details about specific & upcoming events and galas.  I’ve decide to take your ideas and comments  and start  a new section called “Profile Of The Week.” I will try to feature on a weekly basis people and personalities that have made a difference in the world and have influenced others along the way. I hope to bring interesting and thought provoking interviews that will hopefully inspire others to live their life to the fullest in every which way they can.

So let me begin this new section with one individual whom I recently met and who  has influenced the world of art with his God given talent and has become a  vital part of the world of art for decades.  He has ignored all obstacles, struggles & hardships that life sometimes unexpectedly throws our way and persevered his love for art through sheer talent, dedication and  determination.

Artist Chuck Close at his opening show at the Pace Wildenstein Gallery, NY

Chuck Close.  That name alone can send chills up your spine. The incredibly gifted American painter and artist known to the world as a “photorealist” recently had his NY show opening at the world famous Pace Wildenstein gallery (www.pacewildenstein.com) in Manhattan (Chelsea) and let me tell you one thing, the man has immense talent and is indeed one of the finest artist we are so fortunate to have among us today. The finest.

Close has for decades made a name for himself with his brilliant massive size self portraits those of celebrities and famous personalities. Born in 1940, the world famous artist is known for his larger then life size portraits using the  method of transposing photographic images onto canvas with a polychromatic grid making them appear from a distance as a visual masterpiece.

Self Portrait of Close is part of the “Selected Paintings & Tapestries 2005-2009” collection

Close’s life came to to a sudden change when in 1988, he experienced what he refers to as “The Event”.  The brilliant artist had a spinal blood clot which left  him a quadriplegic. Some critics and fans thought his career was over. He proved both them and the world wrong. With a paint brush fastened between his teeth, his  photos and portraits of subjects were gridded off by his assistants then Close  used his mouth brush to paint, using the techniques called Grisalle- a painting technique that focuses on using grey tints in images  and also the process called Pointillism– where a white background is covered with tiny dots that are painted on a canvass that when seen from  a distance produce an image within the grids resulting in a canvas filled with mini-paintings which when from a far,  are seen as a single  image.

Close has a world wide followings is also a favorite among celebrities and was requested by actor Brad Pitt to take his photos for the cover of W Magazine 2009 which by the way is part of his current show at the gallery.

Actor & Producer Brad Pitt is one of many celebrities that admire Close’s work.

What I found most interesting and fascinating about Close was his inner drive to pursue his passion for art no matter what the circumstances. At the recent opening of his show, the crowd and devoted fans gathered around the world famous artist for autographs and posed for pictures as if he were a rockstar.

During the reception, people from all over NY came to meet the artist and his work. The gallery was packed wall to wall with devoted fans.  “I am so thrilled to have finally met him,” said a stunning brunette carrying Close’s book in her hand.

“I cancelled a date and boy, am a glad I did, ” commented one sexy art fan carrying images of Close to be autographed.

“I have followed his work for years. I truly blessed  that he is here in person today,” said one beautiful actress and part time model.

The Chuck Close Selected Paintings & Tapestries 2005-2009 is currently on display until June 20 at the Pace Wildenstein Gallery www.pacewildenstein.com.

Chuck Close poses exclusively for The Ravi Report

I

highly recommend this show and you will see for yourself  how incredible this artist is and the contribution he has made to the world of art and culture first hand. Not to be missed!

The journey continues…Ravi