The Arts of John Cutruzzola
About the Artist
“In some respects I have always been in conflict with the world – the struggle of providing work and financial stability, while a necessity – is not the only thing that makes for a rich life. There should be creativity and imagination and good will toward others. You should have good intentions “to be noble” not for the recognition but because you want to do better. Whether it is for you, for your family or in whatever you do; do it with dedication, care, intelligence and humility and never think of yourself as better than someone else.”
Many believe they know John Cutruzzola. Indeed his reputation as a person of business, a community champion and a philanthropist is unparalleled. But at his core there resides a renaissance man: an artist, musician, Patron of the arts, a master craftsman.
John Cutruzzola has been passionate about art from his time as a young schoolboy in Italy where he would spend time gazing reverently and in wonder at the magnificent frescos on the ceilings of the small local churches in his hometown of Gagliato, Italy and the many other churches in surrounding towns. It is where he first formed those thoughts that later crystallized, as an adult, into the dual philosophies of building beautiful buildings and painting stunning personal works of art.
“Art is not just what goes on the canvas,” he says, "the artist has to build the environment and the place where his endeavors can flourish. Art is creativity and creativity comes from inspirations.” “For me,” John goes on to explain, “a community that inspires is a rich community and in that type of community life is better. Painting is both passion and emotion. I feel my work is better when I can draw those senses and paint from my inspirations."
John built a career around the construction of buildings, but he has built a life around his passion for art. “I paint with my emotions. I paint what I feel and what I see.” This is John’s story:
The Two Giovanni’s
Born during the ravages of World War II; sharing a primary school classroom as young children, separated at age 8 and then reunited as adults – the “Two Giovanni’s” share a passion for art that transcends both time and place. Giovanni Federico and John Cutruzzola once scribbled with charcoal but now create visual masterpieces reflecting a tone and style reminiscent of the great masters yet with a vibrant, modern and expressive style.
Both born in Gagliato, Italy they reconnected while vacationing there the summer of 2005, rediscovering their mutual passion for art. Resuming their early friendship, while painting from the vistas of their hometown, Giovanni Federico eventually invited John to visit Italy and to paint together with him in his studio located at Via Tigre-Rome. John visited frequently and here, their mutual admiration and respect for one another’s work took up residence alongside their vivid, meaningful and unique art styles. Each is known to instill both form and feeling into their artistic work and what stands out today is plenty of colour - a far cry from their days of charcoal sketches.
Not for the first time this collaboration has led to Mr. Cutruzzola sharing his gallery space in Canada with his friend Giovanni – creating an opportunity to display the art of his fellow artist to a broader Canadian audience. Mr. Federico’s style is described as “brilliantly refined” and art that is both “expressive and intellectual.” Meanwhile, John describes art as “not just what goes on the canvas. The artist,” he says, “has to build the environment and the place where his endeavours can flourish. Art is creativity and creativity comes from inspirations. For me,” John goes on to explain, “a community that inspires, is a rich community and in that type of community life is better.” It seems only fitting that in occasionally sharing both a studio and gallery space, the two men have in some sense, created their own “community.” Together, the “Two Giovanni’s” have built around them an environment of creativity, and a community of inspiration. In each of their paintings, passion and emotion are both fully evident.
Clearly, working in collaboration with one another brings out the best in these two painters. Mr. Cutruzzola’s gallery is a fitting location for the paintings of the “Two Giovanni’s.” It’s visually arresting art, born in Italy, painted both at Via Tigre-Rome and the Brampton studio of John Cutruzzola and now currently residing at the gallery “The Arts of John Cutruzzola.” Come and see for yourself the beautiful renditions of childhood friends and lifelong artists John Cutruzzola and Giovanni Federico.
The Story of the Crayons
As a little boy, around the age of 6, John loved to draw. His older brother went to “the big city” to pass exams for service in the army and upon his return brought John the most precious of gifts, a box of 6 crayons. John vividly remembers the first time he was able to draw not just a cherry but to colour that cherry a beautiful and vibrant red. He has treasured the value of that gift his entire lifetime. He began to dream of one day painting magnificent frescoes himself.
Dreams Should Always Be Encouraged
In his early teens John realized he would need to work to help support his family and took a job in construction. Even there however, on the site, he would sketch on the mortar board and people would encourage him. As he describes it: “if that’s what people think I am, they think I am good, that’s what I have to be.” That early encouragement contributed to another of John’s philosophies - that it is always important to encourage children and support them in their dreams no matter what they are. Despite his work on the construction site, he felt supported and encouraged to do what mattered to him. He would go on to take some music lessons, he continued to sketch and later, began to paint in both watercolours and oils, his canvas getting larger with each project.
John the Painter
John paints in his studio every day, often after 5pm. It is a modest space where he is constantly surrounded by finished oil paintings, marvelous pieces that each tells a story. Large canvas and small, both people and landscapes, stately buildings and historical architecture, all jostle for space on the rolling walls. He has travelled the world for inspiration and while on the road he sketches. With advances in technology, these days he’ll also take photos on his phone and return to his studio ready to recreate the beauty he has captured. John attended Sheridan’s School of Art and trailed many, many painting masters to France, England, California, Maine, Arizona and New York to learn from them. He has “spent a lifetime dedicated to learning and striving to create pieces that are meaningful and of value to the community.” John’s primary medium is oil and more recently, he has taken to creating large canvas oil paintings that are true signature statement pieces. He has also painted in watercolour and his studio (and a new upcoming gallery located on Queen St. W.) will have both on display and for sale.
As an artist John says, “I needed to share a larger vision, for my message to be truly understood.” Never content, he describes the process of painting as emotional and as one where perfection is not possible but one must always believe they can do better. “The challenge for the artist is to never be satisfied….to always hope to do better.” He shares that each piece of artwork tells a story that he personally wants to share with the world but saying this, he acknowledges, “others might see something different in my work but that is ok, I am ok if people see something different.”
The Artist and his Body of Work
Mr. Cutruzzola shows his work at the beautiful Baci Gifts located in downtown Brampton and soon you will find his oil paintings, oils on canvas, watercolours and original artwork for sale, housed in a new and gorgeous permanent gallery located at 37 Queen St. W.
Much of John's art revolves around the female form and the story of “why” is powerful. Painting the beauty of a woman often, and nude, isn't about nudity but rather to exploit the vulnerability of us all. John says that this idea is not new just to his work. In fact, he reminds us again how he was first inspired by the beauty of the female form as he gazed at the various church paintings all those years ago and that he continues to draw inspiration from those memories.
Another example of his work finds an oil canvas of a young woman playing the violin on a street corner but she is veiled. It’s a stunning piece of work. The translucence of the veil is captured on canvas magnificently. But why is she veiled? John doesn’t know who she is, “she’s a nobody,” he says, “but the music is beautiful, her beauty IS the gift to the world, her music too, so her face is veiled because it doesn’t matter who she is.”
It’s this dichotomy that John represents so well in his art but also, in his life. Not content just to paint, he also loves music and occasionally sings as a Tenor at the Rose Theatre or in Toronto as part of fundraising initiatives for causes he is passionate about. He continues to take music lessons and loves the opportunity to sing every chance he can.
John’s landscapes are often a reflection of the places he has travelled with Roman architecture featuring prominently and Italian landscapes that truly capture the essence of Italy.
Occasional portraits of family and one of a dear friend and artistic mentor are also a part of his body of work.
His original oil paintings are for sale and while rare, the artist has also done the occasional commissioned work for organizations, charities and causes that he believes in, supports, or is a patron of.
In short, his artwork is eclectic. “I would be bored if I painted the same subject all the time. I follow my emotions, you have to put something of yourself in the painting.”
John Cutruzzola and his Legacy
“In life, at some point you have to choose to feel comfortable with what Nature, or God (whichever you believe in) gave you as a gift. I found what was attractive to me was a brush and a canvas. My fascination was always with arts, culture and with the urban form. In fact, there was music, the painted medium and also, city building. My legacy, I hope, is to be successful enough for people to enjoy my art - to stir up emotions and to touch them in some way. If that’s the case I have been successful and I’ll be happy.”
Fini
John Cutruzzola is well-known throughout the Brampton community and indeed well beyond our borders, once even recognized as he travelled by train through Italy. He is of course the founder, together with his two brothers, of Inzola Construction and is responsible for a number of important architectural sites around the City of Brampton and beyond. What remain his proudest achievements however, are those that relate to art, music and culture, namely:
● The Art Gallery of Peel - PAMA
● The Live Art Competition – created from an endowment that I fundraised for and began hosting over three years ago.
● The creation of the Rose Theatre
● John plays an active role in the arts, promotion of culture in community, as a patron, sponsor, through charitable endowments, and more and is the recipient of a number of prestigious awards and honours.
