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Philomena Marano
Coney Island Tondo, screen print, colorful graphic shooting gallery, shadow box

2019

About the Item

NOTE: There is NO CHARGE for the frame on this work Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly ornate nightmare,” as Ann Aptaker describes, through the prints and cut-paper collage in her “American Dream-land” series (1979-). These colorful, graphic style works evoke the energy and amusement of Coney Island through depictions of the rides, the boardwalk, clowns, and food vendors. Many are large-scale papier collé installations, a technique Marano learned from Robert Indiana in whose studio she formerly assisted. In conjunction with “American Dream Land,” in 1981 Marano and Richard Eagan co-founded the Coney Island Hysterical Society, which undertakes projects such as restoring old rides in response to the alarming rate at which they were shutting down in the fabled amusement park of their childhood. Ms. Marano is a daughter of Brooklyn. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute, is an intimate of the visual poetry of Coney Island, created the winning poster for the first Spirit of Brooklyn poster competition, and is a master of papier collé, the elegant cut paper technique she learned as a studio assistant to preeminent artist Robert Indiana. Marano’s acclaimed series, “American- Dream-Land,” a decades-spanning project of papier collé originals and limited edition prints, penetrates the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and gritty raw excitement. Her ornate compositions are cut out of “color-aid” paper - a type of paper coated with vibrant screen printers ink, the same paper which Romare Bearden frequently incorporated into his collages. Marano’s work has been exhibited by Tabla Rasa Gallery, ACA Galleries, by Prince Street Gallery, Smart Clothes Gallery, the Municipal Art Society, the Museum of the City of New York, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Coney Island Museum among others in the New York area and at the George Krevsky Gallery in San Francisco and are also represented in private, corporate and museum collections including the Brooklyn Museum. “American Dream-Land” and Marano’s work as a co-founder (with artist Richard Eagan) of the Coney Island Hysterical Society were featured in Charles Denson’s award-winning book “Coney Island Lost and Found” (Ten Speed Press, Berkeley/Toronto, 2002). Additional publications featuring Marano and “American Dream-Land” include Amusing the Zillion, 24/7 Magazine, the New York Times, the Daily News and others. Her current work expands into the larger city, exposing elements of urban life: the underappreciated grace of an out-of-the-way tire shop; the disquieting lure of an exit sign at night. In addition to creating papier collé images for this examination of the city’s overlooked beauty, she is also working on a cut-paper animation, “Take Me There,” a fantasy inspired by both her early train rides to Coney Island and a proposal for the Franklin Avenue subway. The ”Take Me There” trailer is posted for viewing on You Tube. Born in Brooklyn, NY Lives & works in Brooklyn, NY and in Sarasota, Florida
  • Creator:
    Philomena Marano (1952, American)
  • Creation Year:
    2019
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13 in (33.02 cm)Width: 13 in (33.02 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
    Hard-Edge
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Brooklyn, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU133915704071

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Clock & Chute, 1981
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
Edition of 200 Coney Island Philomena Marano is known for her colorful cut paper technique. She worked with Robert Indiana. Ms. Marano's work is in m...
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Bill-Board-Walk, Burning/Coney Island, Bright colors, popular culture, New York
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"Bill-Board-Walk, Burning/Coney Island" is a portrait of the vernacular signage and architectural wonder of the billboard attractions at America's most famous amusement park, Coney Island. The original art was created in cut paper, 50" X 37" and is in the collection of Chase Bank. It is part of Marano's "American-Dream-Land" series and was recently translated into a ltd ed. (25 ) archival pigment print, 30.5 x 24 inches. Bold, bright and with a daring figure diving in flames, this piece transcends location and time. Philomena is a daughter of Brooklyn, a master of cut paper and a former assistant to Robert Indiana where she learned the cut paper practice that she continues to explore in her work. She has been exhibited by Tabla Rasa...
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THRILLS, Coney Island wonder Wheel, night, neon sign, amusement park, colorful
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Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ltd ed archival pigment print., ed 50 Original art was created as part of Marano's"American-Dream-Land," Coney Island series and later translated to an edition. Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly ornate nightmare,” as Ann Aptaker describes, through the prints and cut-paper collage in her “American Dream-land” series (1979-). These colorful, graphic style works evoke the energy and amusement of Coney Island through depictions of the rides, the boardwalk, clowns, and food vendors. Ms. Marano is a daughter of Brooklyn. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute, is an intimate of the visual poetry of Coney Island, created the winning poster for the first Spirit of Brooklyn poster...
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Shooting Gallery #2, colorful playful whimsical pattern graphic serigraph
By Philomena Marano
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Silkscreen Edition of 200 Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly ornate nightm...
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I Hear the Brooklyn Bridge Singing, bright colors, urban landscape, new york
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Edition limited to 50 Size: 22" x 28" Philomena Marano has spent decades “penetrat[ing] the soul of Coney Island to reveal its twin promises of candy-colored paradise and garishly or...
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High Flyer circus trapeze artist bright colors blue sky clouds bold
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Although "High Flyer" is a contemporary setting of a bungee jump in an American traveling circus it is also a tribute to "Miss La La," a circus performer of...
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