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The Last Supper Some information from the artist. Sid Chidiac Before studying at The Julien Ashton Art School (established in 1890) in Sydney in 1995, I experimented with colored glass, and created 15 detailed stained glass panels each of which told a rich story with deep emotion. The series won The Young Achiever award in 1994, given to artists under the age of 24. That's when I decided to make art my career. I studied at Ashton for three years on and off, working to support myself during this time. The school was filled with the most unique teachers and is one of the finest schools in Australia. They taught me a lot about art and helped me to read and criticize art. I studied under Nigel Thomson, who twice won the Archibald Award in Sydney. The principal of the school is Paul Delprat. I began exhibiting my work in Sydney through the school. Following that, I had two shows on my own. I also entered many competitions in Sydney and Melbourne, and won the Young Achiever Award in Art . I have had luck and success in selling my works in Australia on my own, without any agent or dealers. Soon after, I took a break to travel around the world, with the purpose of visiting art museums and galleries from all over I to see what was popular and what kinds of art different countries liked. I returned to Australia again for work to support further travels, and then came to New York in 2002. During my travels, I met many gallery owners who said that New York was a big art center, and that if I could make it in New York, I could make it anywhere. So I returned this year to challenge myself. New York is a funky place. I opened an exhibit at the Australian Consulate April 15, 2003, to run for two weeks, and it was so popular that it was extended to the end of May. I made it a series of Modern Portraits (over Classical) to show that I am a creative person. The bright colors in those portraits are meant to reflect the bright colors found in Australia. And the portraits are positively themed to show the positive character of the Australian Spirit. Two paintings from this show, one of sunflowers and the other of lilies, will be donated to charity to help fight cancer. Plans for the near future include an auction of paintings by me specifically to raise money for cancer research in the U.S. in the name of the Australian people. I never have a problern of deciding what I'm going to paint next. I've got idea after idea waiting to be given life on canvas. The present series 'Modern Portraits' is a reflection of the optimism and positive spirit I've learned from Australia, which I channel into my life as I work towards achieving my dream. I chose portraits as my way of introducing myself to New York. When you view one of the portraits, I am meeting you in a creative way . If you are interested in my work or would like to be on the mailing list for my current work-in-progress, a live painting installation of "The Last Supper" in the display windows of the chashama theater at 135W.42nd Street in New York City starting May 6, please e-mail me at Siddreams@yahoo.com.au For further details contact Robert Archibald, Director of Public Diplomacy at the Australian Consulate. Images from the installation
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