Draft:Gaetano Minale

• Comment: "Career development": No source cited. "Artistic style and themes": One source cited: Minale himself.
  I didn't bother looking any further. -- Hoary (talk) 06:18, 18 September 2024 (UTC)
• Comment: The subject has previously employed undisclosed paid editors and the article has been salted on it.wiki due to the disruption caused. This is almost certailny another attempt. It is probably time to SALT this draft as well. SmartSE (talk) 10:05, 18 September 2024 (UTC)

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Gaetano Minale

Gaetano Minale (born July 4, 1938) is an Italian artist known for his impressionist painting techniques. His work explores themes of nature and humanity, and he has gained international recognition for his vibrant and emotive style.

Early life and education

Born in Agnone, Molise, Minale demonstrated an early talent for drawing. He attended the professional training school and technical school in Agnone before continuing his education at the industrial school (I.T.I.) in Chieti, where he graduated as an electrotechnical expert in 1960. At the age of 24, Minale was hired by Unes, an electricity company, and assigned to the counter in Chieti in 1962. In April 1963, he was transferred to Atessa, where he worked for 35 years, eventually serving as Agency Head at Enel. Despite his demanding career in electrical work, which occupied both days and nights, Minale remained committed to his art. During this time, he also married in 1964 and began organizing group and personal exhibitions, which were especially challenging. Since 1975, he has held over 120 exhibitions worldwide. He currently resides in Atessa, where he continues to contribute to the local art community.

Career development

Minale transitioned from engineering to art, beginning his artistic journey under the mentorship of the master painter and restorer Gennaro Bravo. From 1968 to 1975, he attended Bravo's atelier in Atessa, where he studied various painting techniques including oil, pastel, and acrylic. Although largely self-taught, this formal training shaped his approach to art.

By the 1970s, Minale’s work gained international attention. In 1977, he was awarded the Italian Oscar for Visual Arts, recognizing his achievements in painting.

Gaetano Minale's Italian Oscar for Visual Arts, 1977

The award further solidified his standing within the art community, where his affiliations with notable academies such as the 'I 500' Academy and the Tiberina Academy of Rome became key elements of his career.

In October 2021, Minale was honored with the Rotary Award for "The color and expressive power of his painting of the last 50 years." This recognition highlights his continued impact on the art world, spanning over five decades.

Artistic style and themes

In October 2011, Minale underwent a tracheotomy and total laryngectomy, resulting in a total loss of voice. This significant health challenge impacted his artistic and exhibition activities, leading to a transformation in his painting style. Since then, his new works reflect a profound shift in emotion towards nature and the joy of living, with light and color dominating his compositions. Women became the true protagonists of his paintings, depicted in symbiosis with nature, set against expansive landscapes filled with poppies and sunflowers.

Exhibitions and achievements

Minale's art has been featured in numerous international exhibitions. Significant displays include his early show at Gelmi Art Gallery in Sesto San Giovanni (1975), and later exhibitions at venues such as the Royal Palace in Milan (1984), Chou-Ku Gallery in Tokyo (1985), and the Chamber of Commerce in Chieti (1990). His work has also been exhibited in Paris, Istanbul, Budapest, and London.

Minale has received several awards, including the 'Federico Faruffini' Award in 1976 and the Byzantine Grand Prix in Istanbul in 1996. In October 2021, he was awarded the Rotary Award for his painting work, recognizing "The color and expressive power of his painting of the last 50 years.

In a gesture to his local community, he donated 105 pieces to the city of Atessa, documenting the regional landscape over several decades. On 16 May 2017, the city of Atessa paid tribute to Minale's career with the event "A Life for Art.

In 2023, Minale was honored with an artistic tribute titled "The Colors of Spring Between Nature and Freedom," as part of the Contemporary Tour 2023-2024, developed by the Fashion and Entertainment Training and Production Center.

The Gaetano Minale Casa Museo Collection, located in Atessa, Chieti, is a museum dedicated to his life and works. The museum is housed in Minale's home and contains a collection of paintings, drawings, and personal items created during his artistic career. This museum offers visitors a deep connection to his creative legacy and the progression of his work over the years.

Notable contributions

In 2016, Minale made a significant donation of 105 graphic paintings to the municipality of Atessa. These works, which depict glimpses and landscapes of the local area, are permanently exhibited in the Foyer of the Italia Auditorium within the municipal art gallery named in his honor. This gesture reflects his deep connection to the region and its cultural heritage.

Significant publications

To commemorate his 80th birthday, Gaetano Minale published the volume A Life for Painting. This publication provides an in-depth look at his artistic journey and contributions to the art world.

Publications

In the same year, 2016, the Municipality of Atessa published Atessa, The Graphics in the Gaetano Minale Art Gallery, a collection showcasing his 105 donated graphic paintings. These artworks depict landscapes of Atessa and reflect the artist's deep connection to the region's heritage.

Critical reception and media coverage

Minale’s work has been covered by national and international press, as well as on radio and television. His paintings are featured in private collections and public institutions across Italy and abroad. Notable critics, including Giuseppe Martucci, Vito Calogero, Bernard Gauthron, Roberto Mangione, and Giorgio Falossi, have commented on the emotional depth and vibrant colors in his work.

His painting style has been described as emotive and symbiotic with nature, with critics such as Maria Delli Quadri and Enzo Carmine Delli Quadri noting the transformation in his work following his health challenges in 2011 .