RPAC Art Center and Academy Owner’s Letter - Dee Dee Perrone Colabella

Pictured above from left: Brooke Heinen, Partner and CFO bheinen@RPACartcenter.com 2020 has been quite challenging for many small businesses and independent retailers across the globe during Dee Dee Colabella, Co-Founder and Owner these unprecedented times. As a dcolabella@RPACartcenter.com result, long-standing businesses Greg Mursko, Co-Founder had no choice but to shut their gmursko@RPACcartcenter.com doors, while new businesses faced shutdowns due to COVID-19. RPAC was affected by COVID and like many others had to temporarily close our doors. During this time, we commenced a deep cleaning with CDC approved sanitation methods. RPAC was able to reopen safely in late May under Phase I of the CT Reopening Plan. RPAC Art Center and Academy slowly welcomed our Resident Artists back to their studios in June followed by our academy students in a limited capacity to properly maintain social distancing as our top priority is the safety for all.

Like many, we have had our share of challenges. Our first year has been noteworthy, to say the least, yet we have had more victories than I can begin to tell you. Together with our RPAC students, artists, and staff, I feel personally and professionally confidant that what we have built is wone-of-a-kind and precious.

RPAC currently has 16 active Resident Artists whose styles range from representational to conceptual. I gratefully thank our artists for their amazing creations and everything I have learned from them. Our ability to create around each other has expanded our minds, our ideas, and our respect for each other’s creative process.

RPAC Academy has welcomed numerous students that have entrusted us to bring them to the next level who have the willingness and drive to learn and develop their craft. They have created professional portfolios, some have been placed in local jobs with the assistance of RPAC Academy, and many have expanded their practice by exploring through our amazing instructors. Stay tuned for some more amazing workshops coming in 2021.

While growing and moving RPAC forward, our team decided to give back to the entire visual arts community by founding ArtFul, Visual Arts Initiative. ArtFul is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help as many artists as possible to overcome the obstacles in their way, to empower artists to further their craft, continue their education, and have access to the resources and environment to produce and show their work. In subsidizing arts education and resident artist programs, ArtFul supports opportunities for working and aspiring artists. ArtFul is committed to supporting the enrichment of arts education to our community as well as local and national organizations that align with our main principles.

What started as a talk among fellow artists to what RPAC has become today is a dream come true. I am genuinely fortunate to be a part of a community of wonderful people, work with amazing artists, instruct future artists, and support the mission to create a better world for the Visual Artist. I am privileged to be able to bring this vision to life to the Ridgefield Visual Arts Community.

Thanks for creating with RPAC! Dee Dee Colabella, RPAC Co-Founder and Owner

Special thanks to Greg Mursko and Brooke Heinen, with whom I couldn’t have done this without you! (Above) Peacock Dee Dee Perrone Colabella This large pastel on canvas was created during the “In the Window” series at the RPAC Gallery. On-lookers were amazed to watch the progress.

Pablo Piccaso once said, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Completing my Master of Fine Arts in May 2019 has become my way to live inside that idea. I am inspired by the masters including Casper David Frederick, Vermeer and Andrew Wyeth who captured a mood and atmosphere through figures and landscapes. I work to find the light and beauty in what I see. I adjust a brush stroke, the thickness of paint or a gesture to recreate my memory and mood. The use of oil paint or pastels allows me to use several layers to move and change the painting over time leaving a history on the canvas. Art is my way to share the journey of making and to dust off some daily life.

RPAC Gallery Storefront rpacgallery.com/DeeDeePerrone