Interview with Rochester painter Nancy Jo Gambacurta

Nancy Jo and husband Ken Kassel
Nancy Jo’s work can be seen in the House Artists Gallery at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op.  44 of her paintings are featured in her solo exhibit “October Sunset: The Paintings of Nancy Jo Gambacurta” in our Main Gallery thru October 29th.

Shoe Factory:  Where did you grow up?  Where do you live now?
Nancy Jo Gambacurta:  I grew up in Brighton and Penfield.  I attended Penfield schools, MCC, SUNY Binghamton and Empire State College.  I currently live in Irondequoit in Summerville by Lake Ontario.
SF:  What is your art medium?  What materials do you use? 
NJG:  I started as a sculptor but now I’m an acrylic painter painting mostly on canvas, sometimes on canvas paper.
SF:  How do you make your art? What is your process? 
NJG:  I photograph the subject, draw a thumbnail sketch and then do a small acrylic wash painting. From that I produce a large acrylic painting on canvas, sometimes several on the same subject.  I always work in a series, 3 to 10 paintings at a time.
SF:  What are you currently working on? 
NJG:  I’m currently working on a series of Adirondack paintings focusing mostly on streams and rivers.
SF:  What or who are your influences? 
NJG:  I love the work of many 20th century artists but have been most influenced of late by Georgia O'Keefe and Rockwell Kent.  I also love Janet Fish and Wayne Thiebaud.
SF:  Have you always been an artist? How has being an artist changed or affected your life? 
NJG:  I always loved to paint, draw and sculpt but became determined to be an artist after seeing Michelangelo's Pieta at the World's Fair in NYC in 1964.  I started taking private lessons at age 14.  Being an artist has always satisfied an inner calling and made me feel happy and complete.  It also always kept me broke!  I have worked a variety of different jobs over the years to keep afloat.
SF:  What is your favorite art-related experience in life so far? 
NJG:  Traveling out west and to the Adirondacks and studying sculptural forms in landscapes.  I also love painting the human form and flowers and gardens.  I look for the inner structure in all forms.  That's the sculptor in me.
SF:  What is your ultimate goal as an artist? 
NJG:  To produce a large body of work and continue to grow in my work.
SF:  Why did you become involved with Shoe Factory Art Co-op? 
NJG:  I joined the Shoe Factory to be part of a group of artists I respected and to have contact with other artists.  I also was hoping for some exposure in the cultural district.
SF:  What are your needs as an artist in Rochester?  What would you like to see changed?
NJG:  I would like to see more recognition of non-traditional work and avoid an art scene run by suburban flower painters.   

Teton Range

Roots on Sawyer Mountain