Biography
Name: Alexander Caserta. Born 1951 Providence, Rhode Island. USA
Additional Citizenship: Italy
Artistic Discipline: paintings photography, documentaries.
Best Known For: Cityscapes, landscapes, still photography, documentaries.
Subjects: Representational images from Italy and New England.
Notable exhibitions
2003 May Northwest Folklife Festival. Seattle Center, WA USA
1980 - July-Oct. Department of State - Diplomatic Lobby, Washington, DC USA
1961 – June International Sculpture Conference. Benson Gallery,
Rhode Island School of Design Providence, RI USA
!995-1996 Newport Art Museum, Newport, RI USA
Collections
2024 Library of Congress and GBH American Archives of Public Broadcasting, Boston, MA US
2013 Rhode Island PBS, documentary films on Passport.
2000-2024 Rhode Island Historical Society Archives. Providence, RI USA
2000 Library of Congress. American Folklife Center, Local Legacies Project. Collection of photographs in American Folklife Center archives. Washington, DC USA
1980-1984 Department of State--Washington, DC. Art in the Embassies Program USA
1974 University of Rhode Island
International Exhibition of photographs in American Embassies abroad.
1981-1982 U.S. Mission--Geneva, Switzerland.
1982-1985 American Embassy--Bangkok, Thailand.
1982-1984 American Embassy--Georgetown, Guyana-South America.
1982-1985 American Embassy--Niamey, Niger-Africa.
2024 Library of Congress and GBH Boston. American Archives of Public Broadcasting.
Residency
1978 National Endowment for the Arts. Chairman’s Office. Washington, DC USA
Artistic Practice
As an artist, photographer, and documentarian I has lived most of my life in the small historic state of Rhode Island. I have been active in creating work since the mid nineteen seventies. My paintings and photographs taken in the USA and abroad work concentrate on capturing a direct eloquent realism, and sensitivity that creates “A Sense of Place”. The elements of historical characters are present in the subjects I select. My attention is focused on the color, light, shadows, shapes, and lines that enhance the image and I am alone and absorbed into the subjects. The paintings invite the viewer to focus intently on the formal elements in the landscapes and buildings, creating an emotional connection and response that is both meditative and grounding. Some of my works are realistic while others are abstract in nature.
My teaching practice extended over thirty-eight years in painting and drawing. This included twenty-nine years teaching custom black and white printing in a darkroom and four years in a computer lab using a digital format in photography. My drawings are made working with oil paint, conte’ crayon, and pastels creating a transformation using layers and intensity of colors developing a push and pull interaction. Drawings that represent realism are done in graphite and pastels.
My documentary work as a photographer began in the 1970’s with various historical subjects and folklore.
I produced and hosted forty- seven films aired on Rhode Island PBS and Connecticut Public Television. The films and photographs are a documentary series on the food and fishing industries in the State of Rhode Island and Connecticut. They provide educational information to the public and support the idea of buying local, the food to table movement, supporting local farmers. The last series of films were on Climate Change and farming. Beginning in 2024-25 I worked with landscapes in New England. My new direction will continue working with an emphasis on color and atmosphere with abstract paintings.
Social Media
YouTube: Documentary films.
GBH American Archives of Public Television Documentary films.
The films can be viewed on American Archives of Public Broadcasting Reading Room, this website and Rhode Island PBS Passport.
Website: casertaproductions.com