Perceptions is a new artistic endeavour that finds myself collaborating with four exceptional Canadian visual artists. The goal of this project is to join music and art in a way that represents what people are currently going through during the coronavirus pandemic. In July 2020, I gathered one word descriptions of people’s emotions towards the pandemic on social media. I then invited each visual artist to pick one of these words and create a piece of art inspired by the chosen word. In turn, I used the four completed paintings as inspiration for four of my own new solo piano compositions.
Every Monday in November I will be releasing one video of the artist painting their creation, along with an associated composition on my Facebook page and YouTube channel. Behind the scenes announcement and updates will be posted on my Instagram page. Make sure you are following those pages to make sure you don’t miss anything. This link will have everything you need. Looking forward to sharing this with you all!
- Anthony
This project is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Perceptions
Out now on Bandcamp!
Click HERE to listen to all the audio from my Perceptions project in one spot. You’ll get all four featured original compositions, plus one bonus solo piano arrangement of Cole Porter’s I Concentrate on You.
Track Listing:
Disbelief
Wonder
Rebirth
Chaos
I Concentrate on You
All piano performances by Anthony D’Alessandro. Released Dec. 4, 2020.
Meet the Artists
Roshni Wijayasinha
Roshni Wijayasinha is a Toronto based visual artist who specializes in large abstract expressionist paintings that are inspired by nature and its energy. Using acrylic and mixed media, these paintings experiment with light, colours, textures and finishes, and many of her pieces can be transformed under a black light or glow in the dark. Her work has been featured at several juried exhibits and galleries across North America, in a solo show, in product launches, at a food festival, in a Hilton Hotel permanent collection, in an art publication, and can be found on the streets of Toronto on traffic boxes, curbside planters and a mural. She has also live painted at ArtBattle Toronto, ArtBoxEvents, and Fresh Paint’s Live Painting Jam where she placed first.
Mekayla Dionne
Mekayla Dionne is an emerging Métis artist who recently graduated from OCAD University. Based out of Toronto, Ontario, Mekayla produces abstract paintings in which she explores colour relationships, composition, and themes of nature, city-living, adventure and self-exploration. Through many—sometimes dozens— of acrylic layers, she creates thick tactile patterns. The landscape of her paintings are laden in ridges, denoting where each masked layer occurred.
Alongside her art practice she also works at a local non-profit, Art City in St. James Town, with a vision of an accessible arts education for all children. At Art City Mekayla has taught various painting, drawing, and mixed media classes to children aged 6-13 years. She takes great pride in bringing art into children's lives who might not otherwise have arts experiences.
Wanrapa Surasao
Wanrapa Suraso is an artist based in Toronto, Ontario. Born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand, Wanrapa has been calling Canada home since 2010. Always interested in the arts, becoming a painter was a natural evolution for Wanrapa. Primarily a self-taught artist, Wanrapa has travelled North America, Asia and Europe to study and develop her acrylic painting skills. She now resides in Toronto and continues to perfect her artwork.
Wanrapa’s vision and skills have matured over the past 11 years. Her contemporary work focuses on the abstract, with paintings based on themes such as landscape and the modern city. Her works emphasize heavy texture, complexity and depth with many layers. Wanrapa uses acrylic paint on Gallery canvas to create her artwork. Her primary goal is to include colour that provokes emotions and also invites individuals to challenge their own perception on each art piece.
Wanrapa has performed live painting in many events and festivals in Ontario including Canadian Tulip Festival 2019, Art Battle Ottawa & Toronto, and the Happening Ottawa. Her artwork can be found in private collections in Canada and Thailand.
Natasha Dichpan
Natasha is varied in every respect; the product of which is a celebration of colour and dynamic ideas splashed on equally diverse mediums and canvases.
Russian-born, Israel-raised and Canadian transplanted; Natasha has informed her art through a combination of raw feeling and formal training. She creates through digital concept art, captures nuance on canvas and experiments with street art and live painting.
No matter the varied medium, her common denominator is that of beauty and passion. Natasha's art calls to the more vulnerable, optimistic and romantic inner-chords so many of us have in common.
Her recent professional projects include murals for StreetART Toronto, as well as digital artwork for Animation studios and Canadian film makers. Natasha was a finalist in the Canadian nation-wide 2016 & 2017 painting competition "ArtBattle" and a Toronto live painting champion. Natasha currently works in the television field of animation on productions for Teletoon, Nickelodeon, PBS and Discovery Kids.