I thoroughly enjoyed viewing Nicholas Carbonaro’s artwork last Wednesday, complemented by copious amounts of nachos and guacamole. His pieces are thick and rich in color- abstract enough to enthrall, but concrete enough to be recognizable (see the piece attached above, nicknamed Journey).  I was inspired that he was a graduate of Ithaca College and a longtime resident of this city (we are in the midst of such talented people).

What I really connected with was Carbonaro’s artistic philosophy, and how he endeavors to show human emotion. For example, during his talk, he expounded upon the meaning of one of his works in particular after an audience enquiry- one which portrayed his experience with plastic surgery. This immediately grotesque image attracts our attention, and draws us in. Carbonaro spoke about how this piece relates to his rhinoplasty, and the complex, disconnected feelings he felt for years following it. Like our feelings, it isn’t clearcut, austere, and obvious, but muddled, intense, and questioning; by looking at this piece, we can attain some understanding (however small) of his state during that period in his life.

I am generally not a fan of modern art, but I appreciate its engagement with what’s most human about us, and for that reason, I hope to see more of Carbonaro’s work in the future. At the very least, it has helped me appreciate aesthetic more.