FRANCK DE LAS MERCEDES : FDLM

A Quiet Riot: Latinos Making Noise in Hard Rock & Heavy Metal

New York, September 9 - We all know Ricky Martin has lived la vida loca and Shakira’s hips would never lie, but did you know Latino musicians like Cuban-born Rudy Sarzo and Mexican-born Carlos Cavazo have been making their mark in American Hard Rock and Heavy Metal for over three decades? They may not have “crossed-over” during a high profile VMA performance, but Latinos have been providing the bass lines, guitar licks and vocals for bands such as Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica and Slayer way before J Lo was getting loud on the 6.

A Quiet Riot: Latinos Making Noise in Hard Rock & Heavy Metal is a popstract tribute by visual artist Franck de Las Mercedes to those who ventured beyond cultural assumptions and helped pioneer a movement that influenced lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. Proving that everything is not always what it seems, these rock gods have created their own latin rhythm.

The Priority Boxes Art Series: A Message of Peace and Hope
Franck de Las Mercedes’ Project Comes to SW Florida
Special Edition Boxes Available at daas Gallery Saturday, October 16, 6-9PM

With labels that read "Fragile Contains: Peace, Freedom or Justice", visual artist Franck de Las Mercedes sends abstractly painted, seemingly empty boxes to anybody, anywhere in the world, for free.

The "Priority Boxes" project is a public art series that makes people reconsider their ability to influence change and question the fragility, value and priority of entities like peace. Each box, sent by mail to anyone who requests one, is both a canvas for a unique abstract painting and a platform for communication through art. A mixture of art and activism, the boxes are sent free to show that something of such priority as peace should not have a price and that art can be both inclusive and accessible to all.
The project, which started as an experiment and is funded by the artist and donations from supporters, has evolved into a movement that has been embraced by popular culture, the mainstream media and schools and art educators across America. From his small New Jersey studio, the artist has sent over 8500 boxes around the globe, to countries in every continent.

In support of the Priority Boxes Project, special edition boxes are available at daas Gallery, in downtown Fort Myers, as part of the "Abstract Pop" exhibit now through October 31. With a twenty dollar donation, you can skip the 8 month waiting period and get your box of peace, hope, love or courage now. Proceeds will directly benefit the project.

The gallery will be hosting a "box party" Saturday, October 16 from 6-9PM.
For information about the event or current exhibit, visit www.daasgallery.com or call 239-939-1194

daas Gallery is located at: 1512 Broadway St. Fort Myers, FL 33901
Regular gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

The first opening reception at the newly opened Zen Dog Gallery will feature a collection of works by Franck de Las Mercedes' in addition to works by masters Petar Tale, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

WHAT:
Zen Dog Gallery presents Franck de Las Mercedes Exhibit

WHEN:
Opening Reception
Saturday, September 18th
From 2pm to 7pm

WHERE:
Zen Dog Cafe Gallery
6367 Mill Street
Rhinebeck, NY, 12572
http://www.zendogcafe.com/

The exhibit features Franck's original work and an impressive collection of original drawings and lithographs by masters Petar Tale, Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí.

Located in the heart of Rhinebeck, New York in the beautiful Hudson River Region, the Zen Dog Cafe and Upstairs Gallery are new gathering spot for those interested in stimulating all of the senses through music, art, literature and food.


MORE ABOUT FRANCK DE LAS MERCEDES
Franck de Las Mercedes a New York based visual artist who has emerged as one of the country's most prolific visual artists in recent years. From his provocative portraits to his large scale abstract paintings, Franck de Las Mercedes' work has been featured on numerous national and international television and radio shows including, LatiNation, CNN En Español, Noticiero Telemundo and Univision's "Aqui y Ahora." He's also been featured in prestigious publications including, Selecciones (Reader's Digest), Art Business News, Hispanic Magazine, SoulPancake, Museum VIEWS, American Style and The Artist's magazine. For more information: http://fdlmstudio.com/

MORE ABOUT THE PRIORITY BOXES ART PROJECT:
With labels that read "Fragile Contains: Peace, Freedom or Justice", visual artist Franck de Las Mercedes sends abstractly painted, seemingly empty boxes to anybody, anywhere in the world, for free.

The "Priority Boxes" project is a public art series that makes people reconsider their ability to influence change and question the fragility, value and priority of entities like peace. Each box, sent by mail to anyone who requests one, is both a canvas for a unique abstract painting and a platform for communication through art. A mixture of art and activism, the boxes are sent free to show that something of such priority as peace should not have a price and that art can be both inclusive and accessible at all.

The project which started as an experiment and is funded by the artist and donations from supporters, has evolved into a movement that has been embraced by popular culture, the mainstream media and schools and art educators across America. From his small New Jersey studio, the artist has sent over 8500 boxes around the globe, to countries in every continent.
With his boxes, de Las Mercedes is in the process of creating a phenomenon that is as visceral as it is visual. The boxes fuse elements of painting, sculpture and conceptual art that transform the exhibition space into a broader environment than that of a gallery. By having the art on the outside for all to see, the addressees and spectators are incorporated as part of the work and the concept.

"The way we harm the earth affects all people, and how we treat one another is
reflected in how we treat the earth".

Francesca Arcilesi Fine Art is pleased to present
Running on Empty
on Wednesday, July 14th
from 6-9 PM at 119 West 25th Street
between 6th and 7th avenue.

Running on Empty is a group show including works that convey meanings of Reduction,
Reuse, Recycle, Respect, Repair, Reflect and Responsibility. The works focus on many
natural processes that are violated by greed and mass consumption, challenging the viewer
to rethink and reflect on their personal role in society.

Featured Artists:
Jon Allen
Vincent Arcilesi
Robert Attanasio
Inna Babaeva
Chris Becker
Sarah Bielicky
Alex Callender
Jamie Ellen Davis
Kate Goyette
Max Greis
Jordan Hollender
Jim Isherwood
Jun'ichirö Ishida
Franck de Las Mercedes
Caspar Henselmann
Jurg Lanzrein
Hyo Jeong Nam
Lori Nelson
Roger Laux Nelson
Rob de Oude
Jeffrey Allen Price
Martin Ries
Jeffrey Rothstein
Adam Taye
Ben Shambaugh
Jesse Scaturro
Scott Sjobakken
Emanuele Simonelli
Erik von Ploennies
Steve Zolin

The works range from lush green landscapes to the other extreme, war-themed paintings
and sculptures, stressing the brutality and gun violence as an articulation of power, fulfilling
government and corporate concerns. A desire to preserve the beauty of the world is juxtaposed
with the devastation to the earth and mankind.

El Pintor Franck de Las Mercedes dará un taller de "Las Cajas de Prioridad" cómo parte del festival G-40 Summit en el area Washington, DC

Ya constituidas como un hito en la cultura contemporánea, las «cajas de prioridad», proyecto que iniciara en 2006 el pintor nicaragüense, Franck de Las Mercedes, han recibido una incuestionable aceptación mundial. Enviadas gratis a cualquier parte del mundo, las cajas son, hoy por hoy, una amalgama entre entre el arte y el altruismo, logrando infiltrarse, con gran éxito, en la cultura «pop».
La organización de Washington, DC "Albus Cavus" invitó al pintor Franck de Las Mercedes a dar taller de arte postal cómo parte del festival G-40 Summit.

El taller ha sido organizado por Albus Cavus, es para todas las edades y tiene cómo fin educar y colaborar con la comunidad de una forma artística, en una iniciativa por la paz. Los asistentes aprenderán sobre el proyecto de las cajas, el arte abstracto, arte por correo y pintarán su propia caja para ser embajadores por la paz con su propio arte.

G-40 Summit (Crystal City, VA)
"Arte Abstracto Por Correo" – Taller con Franck De Las Mercedes. Sabado, 27 de Marzo, de 12 a 2 .p.m.
Costo: $30
Incluye pintura y materiales patrocinados por Pebeo Paints and Art Supplies.

Dirección:
223 23rd Street Piso 8
Arlington, VA
.
Para más infomación visite:
http://www.fdlmstudio.com

The exhibit features works by Franck de Las Mercedes, Marc Baptiste, Charlélie Couture, Ron Agam, Cecilia Rodhe, Edward Giordano, Betty K, Gonzalo Belmonte, Olivier di Pizio

A live auction as well as a silent auction has been organized to benefit two organizations: Edeyo Foundation, which educates children in Haiti and Harlem Academy, which provides quality education to children in Harlem.

Reception: Thursday, March 18th at 7:00 pm
Consulate General of France
934 5th Avenue New York, NY 10021-2603
http://consulfrance-newyork.org/spip.php?article1087

For more information on the art work and the auction, please contact Abiol Deng at abiol.deng@diplomatie.gouv.fr at 212-606-3623 or Patrick Lachaussée at 212 606 3627.

To learn more about the artists:
http://www.fdlmstudio.com

The Priority Boxes Art Series: A Message of Peace and Hope

New York, NY - January 26, 2012 - With labels that read "Fragile Contains: Peace, Love or Hope", visual artist Franck de Las Mercedes sends abstractly painted, seemingly empty boxes to anybody, anywhere in the world, for free.

The "Priority Boxes" project is a public art series that seeks to initiate dialogue on peace, challenge people to reconsider their ability to influence change and question the fragility, value and priority given to those concepts. Each box, sent by mail to anyone who requests one, is both a canvas for a unique abstract painting and a platform for communication through art. A mixture of art and activism, the boxes are sent free to convey that something of such priority as peace should not have a price and that art can be both inclusive and accessible to all. From his small New Jersey studio, the artist has sent over 10,000 boxes around the globe, to countries in every continent.

Since its beginning in 2006, the project has been funded by the artist and donations and has evolved into a movement that has been embraced by popular culture, the mainstream media, schools and art educators across America. De Las Mercedes is often invited to visit schools to meet with students and discuss the power of art and one's personal ability to influence change. Students across the country, even from districts that don't receive arts education due to cuts in funding, also build their own boxes and put their stamp on the internationally acclaimed project.

Franck and his work have been featured on numerous national and international television and radio shows including, NJN News, WMBC-TV, LatiNation, CNN En Español, Noticiero Telemundo and Univision's "Aqui y Ahora." He's also been featured in prestigious publications including, The Christian Science Monitor, Selecciones (Reader's Digest), Art Business News, Hispanic Magazine, SoulPancake, Cosmopolitan Greece, Museum VIEWS, American Style and The Artist's magazine.

New York, NY – August 1, 2009 – Visual artist Franck de Las Mercedes has taken upon the task of sending abstractly painted empty recycled boxes, with messages of Peace, Freedom and Hope; to anybody, anywhere in the world, for free.

The "Priority Boxes" project is a public art series that makes people reconsider their ability to influence change and question the fragility, value and priority of entities like peace. Each box, sent by mail to anyone who requests one, is both a canvas for a unique abstract painting and a platform for conveying a message. With labels that read "Fragile Contains: Peace, Freedom or Justice", the boxes are sent free, in order to convey that something of such priority as peace should not have a price and that art can be both inclusive and accessible.

The project which started as an experiment and is funded by the artist, donations and sponsors, has evolved into a movement that has been embraced by popular culture, schools and art educators across America. From his small New Jersey studio, the artist has sent over 6000 boxes around the globe, to countries in every continent without charging recipients a penny.

De Las Mercedes is in the process of creating a phenomenon that is as visceral as it is visual. The boxes fuse elements of painting, sculpture and conceptual art that transform the exhibition space into a broader environment than that of a gallery. By having the art on the outside for all to see, the addressees and spectators are incorporated as part of the work and the concept.

Franck de Las Mercedes is a New York based artist. FdLM's creations, from his large scale neo-abstract paintings, to the acclaimed public project "The Priority Boxes", have attracted great interest in his work recently and given him the opportunity to exhibit alongside important artists like Romero Britto and Robert Rauschenberg. In 2007, FdLM was invited by The Betty K Studio in New York to take part in an International Art Workshop led by teaching artists Olivier di Pizio and Gonzalo Belmonte of the Ateliers des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris. Most recently FdLM is the subject in a film by Dan Yadin.

For more information visit FdLM's website and Priority Boxes page, or to arrange an interview with the artist:
http://www.fdlmstudio.com/