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Gino In The News

Security Masterpieces By Ginger Hill

November 1, 2013

Entering his studio, he elegantly strides over to his shelf filled with brushes and colors of gooey paint. Grabbing several different tubes, he decorates his palette with dots of color that he hopes to turn into a masterpiece on the white canvas that is beckoning him in the corner by the window.

Taking his paint-filled palette in his left hand and selecting just the right brush in his other hand, he slowly dips the tip into one of the dots, then another and another, his fluid strokes allowing the bristles to fill the canvas with various shades of color.

As he smears color after color, blending, using his brush to shape images, his creative mind of limitless possibilities and steady hand create a masterpiece.

Just as meticulous as an artist, so is the security integrator, taking a blank canvas and using products from different companies to create the perfect security system masterpiece for each customer based on their specific security needs.

Recognizing this connection, Tyco Security Products developed a campaign centered on security as an art form. After looking at the diversity in each category of their growing portfolio, they realized that their customers truly are their inspiration.

"Working on a campaign that adequately reflects this just feels right," commented Linda Mansillo Kear, vice president of global marketing and communications, Tyco Security Products.

The Palette

Tyco realized that by offering products in access control, video, intrusion and location visibility that this created a palette of truly-inspired, best-in-class solutions that form security masterpieces. By giving people choices of technologically-inspired options, the company allows their customers to take collective pieces of technology to create a palette of choices to develop their own security-based work of art.

A "dot" on Tyco's palette is Proximex Surveillint, representing integration with more than 250 systems allowing bi-directional communication so that users can mitigate risks, enforce compliance and lower overall costs by offering a complete view of all activity in a single view in real time.

Software House adds iSTAR Edge to the company's palette of choices, an access control device that uses PoE to reduce installation costs by using the existing infrastructure.

Intevo by Kantech represents the access control, IP video and intrusion part of this palette. This intuitive security solution uses the Web to access the full security system anytime, anywhere.

Adding the power of mobile to this palette is Elpas' Elris Go, a mobile app that allows field personnel to receive immediate, up-to-date, indoor positioning data.

Illustra 625 PTZ was added to American Dynamics' IP camera portfolio, giving Tyco's palette a bit of video flair. This camera uses ultra-low latency performance where locating, tracking and zooming in on a subject's details is critical.

Concluding this palette of options, exacqVision by exacq is a cross-platform, event-driven, video management solution that integrates with all leading IP cameras, allowing limitless third party integration opportunities.

Each of these solutions and companies has colors associated with it, whether it is the color of the product, the logo or a specific part of the solution, which made Tyco think about palettes of color and the creation of masterpieces with their customers as the artists.

"As the campaign developed, we thought about how we could extend and reflect this in ways to help influence," Kear said.

The Artist

Planning for a tradeshow is never a simple task, and ASIS 2013 proved to be no different for everyone involved. Held in the "Windy City", Tyco decided to commission a local artist to create three works of art that reflected characteristics of Chicago in relation to their campaign, "Inspired Security."

"We stumbled across Gino Savarino, a Chicago artist who we felt represented Chicago with the inspiration of the city as reflected in his art work," Kear said.

Over the course of three days, Savarino's studio became Tyco Security Product's ASIS booth as he created three masterpieces with Chicago themes including the skyline, Wrigley field and a pop art piece by combining several different elements of Chicago.

Tyco's goal was to demonstrate that each color represented a security product or service and, when put together with inspiration, creates a masterpiece.

"When I was told that I was going to be painting for Tyco, I was ecstatic," Savarino said.

Savarino emigrated with his parents from Argentina to the United States when he was eight years old, and it was through drawing and music that he was able to escape his reality. He missed Argentina and to cope with the drastic life change, art was a great pacifier for him.

As he got older, he fell in love with street art and pop art, so he took some college courses focusing on art, but he didn't have the patience for it and decided that college wasn't for him. He did, however, take a class that focused on expressionism and he fell in love with that right away.

Years went by and Savarino opened and closed a few businesses but about eight years ago, he realized that art was his passion, and after selling a few pieces, he decided to become a full time artist.

"I enjoy painting, especially for charitable events," explained Savarino. "I'm always out there looking for opportunities to help out. Of course, I can't help everyone who contacts me, but I try to pick about four to five charitable events a year."

The Gift

Perhaps the best part of this story is the ending, because you see, instead of keeping or auctioning off the paintings, Tyco decided to share all three pieces of art that Savarino created.

"We wanted to donate to a local hospital so that the art work stayed in Chicago where it was created to inspire," said Kear.

And, that's exactly what Tyco Security Products did to bring joy and inspiration to the children and their families at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital located in Chicago.

"The pieces are colorful, and this is a great way to bring cheer to young patients and their families," said Savarino, speaking about the three pieces he created. "I can't even imagine what the children and their families must be going through, so if I could add just a little bit to increase the children's and their family's happiness, then this makes me happy."

When asked what part of the creation process is his favorite, Savarino answered, "Always the end because I go in with an idea in mind, but it never turns out like what I envisioned. I'm always happier with the final masterpiece, especially with abstract art. You either love it or you hate it."

In this case, it seems to be all about love.

About the Author

Ginger Hill - Associate Content Editor.

Multilingual mural ensures Maine East ‘welcome' not lost in translation
By JENNIFER JOHNSON  August 9, 2011

Maine East High School's ethnic diversity will be represented through a new mural that welcomes students, staff and visitors to the Park Ridge school in 16 different languages.

The mural was painted this summer by 33 students and features the word "welcome" written in the most widely spoken languages at Maine East: English, Spanish, Polish, Gujarati, Hindi, Tagalog, Malayalam, Urdu, Assyrian, Arabic, Greek, Korean, Serbo/Croatian/Bosnian, Bulgarian, Russian and Mongolian.

Maine East's "international representation" made the mural a "perfect fit" for the school, said Kathy Malyszko, a mental-health counselor at the school-based health center and a coordinator of the project.

"We wanted something so when students first come in they see their language," Malyszko said.

There are more than 60 languages spoken by Maine East's student body.

The mural, designed by Chicago-based abstract artist Gino Savarino, features geometric shapes painted in earth-tones and will hang in the staircase above the English as a Second Language Office, adjacent to the main-entrance rotunda. An unveiling is scheduled to take place after the 2011-12 school year begins.

The project came about through a grant from the Park Ridge Rotary Club. Malyszko said she approached Principal Michael Pressler about the possibility of using the grant for students to create something decorative for the school's largely barren walls.

"He actually was the one who had the idea of doing something for the front entrance that was welcoming to future students," Malyszko said. "We just went with that and it took off from there."

Students who took part in the creation of the mural were Jazmin Alarcon, Jincy Alex, Ayah Allam, Zurisaday Castanon, Bulgamaa Chinbat, Jesus Cisneros, Jocelyn Cruz, Claudia D'Amore, Robin Eapen, Kate Gebultowicz, Pedro Gonzalez, Kamil Isak, Nicholas Juister, Shaba Koshy, Sharon Koshy, Jacqeline Lam, Marcus Luckado, Tara Matti, Lesley Trinadad, Alexandra Grochowski, Fabiana Nafea, Chamiram Odicho, Natalia Olek, Beatriz Palillero, Michelle Przeonznik, Bakhtawar Qamar, Anilet Thomas, Samantha Tilbrook, Emi Tomera, Josh Torres, Jennifer Vazquez, Maggie Wierzchucki and Adrian Washington.

Members of the Park Ridge Rotary also volunteered their time in the mural's creation, Malyszko said.

 September 25, 2008

Posted in Website/Product Reviews By Jake Pitts
Of all the reviews I've done over the last half year or so, this has to be, by far, one of the coolest. Part has to do with the fact that I love abstract art and actually have several paintings up around my flat, but the other part has to do with how hot the paintings that Savarino creates really are!

Savarino Art Studio is an online art gallery that features paintings by  popular, trendy Chicago artist Gino Savarino. All of the paintings are hand painted, one-of-a-kind, and LARGE some more than 6 feet across. Yeah, that big!

Gino was born in Argentina. His parents immigrated to Buenos Aires from Italy for a better life and, after Gino was born, from Argentina to Chicago in 1978 for an even better life. Soon after arriving in the U.S., he needed some way to deal with the culture shock, and for him, the best way was through painting, drawing, and listening to music. After graduating high school, Gino enrolled in formal art classes for two years, but soon decided hed rather do things his own way.

Gino believes there shouldnt be rules and guidelines in art, which is why he loves painting abstract pieces so much. If you truly feel what youve created comes from the heart, its already a masterpiece. There is nothing more rewarding than to experiment with colors, shapes and styles, taking a step back when youre finished and having a sense of artistic accomplishment.

The first thing that jumped out at me about the paintings on savarinoart.com was the use of bright colors in each and every painting. Im a minimalist when it comes to decorating my place a lot of black and white, stainless steel, and bamboo. But to me, nothing finishes a room off, especially one that has these same minimalist characteristics, like a big, bright, colorful painting. Too many artists these days paint in a dark, depressing, minimalist way, but I prefer my art to stand out and command a room, just like I used to have to do as the youngest guy in the boardroom. (Maybe this explains my love for these guys paintings a little.)

Another thing that I love about the paintings at Savarinoart.com is that while they are abstract, and some of Ginos are VERY abstract, you can still tell in every single painting that theres more there than just some paint thrown up on a canvas. Theres no other way for me to describe the paintings than having soul. The use of many colors, the different shapes and textures, the way you can just sit and stare at them for what seems like hours just taking in the soul of the paintings. Very, very cool, unlike any group of paintings I've every seen.

Finally, while still a good chunk of change, the paintings really arent expensive at all when compared with other paintings of comparable style and size. In my opinion too, a painting is worth spending a few hundred dollars on (or more, depending on your income), as it is the focal point of a room. On top of that, how many other things that just sitting around your house can really evoke the emotion that your perfect painting can?! Whether for your living room, bedroom, office, or bar, paintings from
Savarinoart.com are WELL worth it.

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but it really doesnt get any better than at Savarino Art. If you dont want to take my word for it, then take Donald Trumps: Gino was commissioned to paint for the Donald, and the 5 foot x 6 foot painting now hangs in the lobby of the new Trump Place here in New York! Ready to have your own original painting from Savarinoart.com?!

 

October 10, 2007

Original Modern Abstract Art - Buying Large Contemporary Paintings Online at Affordable Prices
By
Jonathan Stanley

As more people move in to larger homes, over-sized paintings are needed to fill the walls and double staircases. A painting measuring 36" x 48" or larger is considered over-sized and investing in an original piece this big can be overwhelming.

Going into a galley is many times intimidating when dealing with snooty sales people. Thank God for the world wide web. With sites like verybigart.com it's a breeze, offering large original works by well known Chicago artists, Gino Savarino and Thomas Fedro. All paintings come with a certificate of authenticity valued more then 4 times the actual price. These discounted prices are only found on this site. Their works sell for as much as $3000 in galleries in Chicago as well as New York.

Modern abstract art has become one of the favorites styles in recent years. Investors seem to go for the "indescribable" and allow the artist to interpret it in his own form with a brush and vibrant colors. Even objects that are recognizable like faces, bottles, or flowers seem to be more interesting in an abstract style.

Many artists are not comfortable painting in such a large format, but Savarino and Fedro love to take on the challenge. "The larger the better" Savarino said. "Art should be displayed as big as possible" adds Fedro. The two artist owned three galleries combined, but "nothing beats selling online" states savarino. "We cater to the world. We have collectors in Greece, South Africa, England, Australia, Italy, Canada, and many other countries" says Fedro.

Savarino's and Fedro's resume include: The Broadway show "Rent", the 40th anniversary of "The Second City" and Chicago's "Cow's on Parade". Corporate commissions include pieces for IBM, Hotel Allegro in Chicago, historic Navy Pier, Decor magazine, Toogood winery, Sweet Riot Candy, Trump Place, Extreme Home Makeover and Washburn Guitars.

July 27, 2006

Camp results in mural, friendships at Maine East

BY PAULINE FORTE | STAFF WRITER

A group of eight students, participating in a summer camp at Maine East High School, have painted a 60-feet-long mural under the guidance of Argentina-born artist Gino Savarino.

It took three days for the group to complete the two-part mural, located in one of the school's lower level hallways between the family center and the health center.

The camp was organized by the English as a Second Language (ESL) program, which developed a series of activities for the summer, including swimming, soccer, volleyball, and mural painting.

"The idea is to give students some activities outside of academics that will make them more comfortable in the school setting," ESL teacher Sharon Baima said.

The students, ages 15 to 19, picked the colors they wanted to mix and were each given an area on the wall to paint. Savarino, who has been painting abstracts for 19 years, chose cubism abstract for the mural project to "allow each and every one of the students to have their own section, and within that section they could be as creative as they wanted to be."

Last year's camp was geared solely for Latino students. This summer it has been open to all cultures from ESL classes as well as recent graduates. Asian, Ukrainian, and Latino students participated in the mural painting.

"We invited all ESL kids because we felt they tend to be less connected to the school," Health Counselor Kathy Malyszko said.

Many of the ESL students recently moved to the United States and still are overcoming a language barrier. "We wanted to get them engaged, said Malyszko, who helped coordinate the camp.

The first day, the young artists were pretty apprehensive, according to Savarino. But on the second day, they were laughing together and felt free to express themselves. "They were extremely creative by applying texture, mixing colors, and using the wall as their palette," he said.

He said there is a little variation between the two walls. One was painted first and looks more "serious" than the other one, which he said shows more freedom.

Franklin Ortega, 19, who moved to the United States from Ecuador in 2004, said, "The experience was awesome. When I painted, I felt something special."

"I was so impressed with how these different kids from different cultures, different ages, and different background bonded," Malyszko said.

The two-wall mural brings color and life to the long and rather bland hallway. Each mural is about 30 feet long by 9 feet tall. It is made of hundreds of shapes, outlined in black lines, and painted in lots of primary colors.

"We gave it definition by mixing two or three colors within the areas," Savarino said.

Students painted several sections on each wall. At the end, they signed their name and Savarino sealed the mural with a varnish to protect it.

Each signature represents the individuality of each culture coming together, Malyszko said.

Savarino decided to get involved in the mural project because it is a good way to give back to the community. "I know how it is to want to fit in," he said.

Savarino left Argentina when he was 8 because of the country's bad economy. "One of my ways to deal with the sadness of living my country was to take art classes in high school," he said. He graduated from Maine South. He later started doing abstracts, after realizing he didn't have the patience to work in graphic art design.

Three years ago, he shifted his hobby for painting into a career opportunity. He listed some of his art on e-Bay and it sold very well. Based in the Chicago area, he sells most of his work online but also has paintings exposed in galleries in New York, Atlanta, and Canada, and has sold to collectors in Puerto Rico, Australia, South Africa, Greece, and the Netherlands.

The students finished painting the wall July 12 but haven't named the artwork yet. Malyszko and the students want the title to emphasize unity. Ortega, who painted on a wall in the school's cafeteria last summer, suggested "Friends" as a name for the new abstract mural.

 

January 10, 2006
A creative seller’s market

Local artist finds lucrative business through eBay

By Elena Ferrarin
Reflejos Staff Writer
Posted Tuesday, January 10, 2006

How does a talented but unknown abstract painter make a name for himself in today’s competitive art world?

Through eBay, the online bazaar where people bid on everything from nail clippers to luxury cars.

Gino Savarino paints out of a studio in his Elk Grove Village home, takes photos of his colorful paintings and uploads them on eBay, where his average selling price is $225 per painting.

In the last year and a half, he has sold more than 400 paintings, and in November alone he made $25,000 in sales. Custom-made works range from $400 to $1,000.

When Savarino first tried his luck on eBay in April 2004, more on a whim than with real conviction, bidding started at $5 and ended at $125.

“I’ll never forget that. I was in shock,” Savarino said. “I never thought that my hobby was going to turn into a career, but this is the land of opportunity, and I am taking every single opportunity there is.”

Savarino, 36, was born in Argentina to Italian immigrant parents. When he was 8 years old, the family moved to the United States, settling in Chicago’s Brickyard neighborhood. To this day, he and his younger sister speak Spanish to their parents, who answer in Italian.

“It’s the same sob story that you hear from everyone else,” Savarino said. “My parents worked for minimum wage and had to leave us alone at home while they worked, though they called us five times a day to make sure we were OK.”

Savarino discovered abstract painting while studying graphic arts at Triton Community College in River Grove.

“I got an A+ in the class, but how much money can you make as an abstract artist? I just messed around with it as a hobby,” he said.

During the next few years he tried his luck as a factory worker, pizza maker, clothing store clerk and landscaper. He eventually started a wedding DJ business, which he ran for about 11 years.

“I would always come home late and not be with the kids,” said Savarino, who is married and has an 11-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. “I got burnt out.”

These days, life consists of painting to his heart’s content, said Savarino, whose models are Miro, Dali, Picasso and Jackson Pollock. “I’m not trying to recreate the recognizable,” he said. “What I like to think is that I am expressing everything on canvas through color, through shape, through composition.”

His work will be showcased by an art gallery expected to open in late January in Westchester, N.Y.

Joseph Thomas Galleries co-owner Abe Abdallah said he purchased a few of Savarino’s paintings for himself before deciding to display his work.

“He has a very unique style,” Abdallah said. “A lot of artists don’t have much variation, but his colors go from cold to warm. He has a great color scheme.”

Savarino also works on commission for Chagall Inc., a small construction and interior design company in Alberta, Canada.

“We build condos and custom homes, and the majority of our clients are young professionals,” said Chagall Inc. owner Shirley Louie. “Lots of young professionals really like the big, art deco-type abstract paintings.”

No matter what peaks of fame he may reach, Savarino said he will always remain loyal to his Internet-based customers.

“You used to see a lot of starving artists, but thanks to the Internet you see a lot of stuffed artists,” he said. “It’s a great way to reach out and be seen by the entire world.” 

January 6, 2006

Artista local encuentra comercio lucrativo a través de eBay

POR ELENA FERRARIN
Reportera de Reflejos

¿Cómo logra darse a conocer un pintor de arte abstracto talentoso pero desconocido en el competitivo mundo artístico?  Por medio de eBay, el bazar cibernético donde la gente hace sus ofertas para comprar desde cortauñas hasta carros de lujo.  Gino Savarino pinta en el estudio de su casa en Elk Grove Village, toma fotografías a sus pinturas coloridas y las muestra en eBay, donde obtiene un precio promedio por pintura de $225. 

En el pasado año y medio, ha vendido más de 400 pinturas, y tan sólo en noviembre hizo $25,000 en ventas. Las pinturas hechas al gusto del cliente, cuestan entre $400 y $1,000.  Cuando Savarino probó suerte por primera mera vez en eBay, en abril del 2004, las ofertas comenzaron a $5 y terminaron en $125.

“Nunca podré olvidarlo. Estaba tan sorprendido”, dijo Savarino. “Nunca pensé que mi pasatiempo se convertiría en mi carrera, pero éste es el país de las oportunidades, y yo estoy tomándolas todas”.

Savarino, de 36 años, nació en Argentina y es hijo de inmigrantes italianos. Cuando tenía ocho años, sus padres se mudaron a EEUU, estableciéndose en el barrio de Brickyard en Chicago. Hasta el día de hoy, él y su hermana menor hablan en español a sus padres,
quienes les contestan en italiano.

“Es la misma historia triste que tenemos todos”, dijo Savarino. “Mis padres tenían que trabajar por un salario mínimo y nos tenían que dejar solos mientras se iban a trabajar, aunque nos llamaban cinco veces al día para asegurarse de que estábamos bien”. 

Savarino descubrió la pintura abstracta mientras estudiaba arte gráfico en Triton Community College, en River Grove. 

“Me saqué una A+ en la clase, pero ¿cuánto puedes ganar trabajando como pintor
abstracto? Sólo lo hacía como un pasatiempo”, dijo. 

Durante los siguientes años, probó suerte trabajando en una fábrica, haciendo pizzas, como dependiente de una tienda de ropa, y como jardinero.  Más adelante comenzó su negocio de DJ de bodas.

“Llegaba siempre tarde a casa y casi no pasaba tiempo con los niños”, dijo Savarino, quien está casado y tiene una hija de 11 años, y un hijo de 8. “Estaba totalmente saturado
de trabajo”.

En estos días, su vida consiste en pintar hasta el cansancio, dijo Savarino, cuyos modelos son Miro, Dalí, Picasso y Jackson Pollock.  “Me gusta pensar que estoy expresándolo todo por medio del canvas, a través del color, la forma y la composición”, dijo.

Su obra será exhibida en una galería de arte que, se espera, será inaugurada a fines de enero en Westchester, N.Y.

Abe Abdallah, copropietario de Joseph Thomas Galleries, dice que compró unas cuantas pinturas de Savarino antes de decidir exhibir sus obras. “Tiene un estilo único”, dijo Abdallah. “Muchos pintores tienen poca variación, pero sus colores van de fríos a tibios.  Tiene un muy buen esquema de color”.

No importa cuan alta llegue su fama, Savarino dice que siempre permanecerá fiel a sus clientes de Internet.

“Antes se veían muchos artistas hambrientos, pero gracias al Internet, ahora ves a muchos pintores colmados de trabajo”, dijo.  “Es una gran de forma proyectarte y ser visto por el mundo entero”.